2024-2025 Pals

  • Person

Faruk Ecirli

Contact Ask me about… Other students should ask me, “How was it like not being home for almost 6 months?” As an international student studying in the US, I have navigated the complexities of being away from home for extended periods, but this year was particularly unique. I had not been back home since after…

  • Person

William Li

Contact Ask Me About… I had the exciting opportunity to live in a homestay in Uruguay. While daunting at first, it turned out to be a beautiful experience. This made for the ultimate cultural exchange where I was able to have deep, heartfelt conversations with my host family. We also shared slang in our languages,…

  • Person

Tasmiah Haque

Contact Ask me about… As a FGLI student, traveling abroad was something very inaccessible for me and my family. Traveling in general was always far too expensive, and my parents only ever traveled during family emergencies. This is why I value PGS and Penn Abroad so much. Being able to partake in a PGS course…

  • Person

Melissa Redlich

Contact Ask me about… After reading the itinerary before departure, I knew that a part of my China trip was meeting students at both Peking University (PKU), a prestigious university in the capital of the country, and Qufu Normal University, a smaller university in a fourth-tier city (Qufu). Meeting university students was a very unique…

  • Person

Keanu Natan

Contact Ask Me About… My Experience Abroad My goal is to one day become a neurosurgeon and build environmentally sustainable outpatient surgery centers across the world providing access to the highest quality of healthcare to people in developing nations, without negatively impacting their environment. Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, is one of the fastest…

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Cassidy Whaley

Contact Ask Me About… Students should feel free to ask me about my experience participating in study abroad programs as a highly aided student. I can provide insights into navigating the financial aspects of studying abroad, balancing academic responsibilities with cultural immersion, and making the most of available resources. Additionally, I can share how these…

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Anna Zhou

Contact Ask Me About… Feel free to reach out about fulfilling engineering school requirements while abroad, the difference in academics between the UoE and Penn, and just general advice on navigating life across the pond. My Experience Abroad I always knew that I wanted to study abroad, but at the same time I needed to…

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Amanda Cui

Contact Ask Me About… As a first generation, low-income student, studying abroad was never in my radar initially. The financial barriers seemed insurmountable, and the idea of navigating a foreign country while managing my budget felt daunting. However, through the support of financial aid resources and insightful budgeting advice from students who had previously studied…

  • Person

Samina Kaushek

Contact Ask me about… My experience abroad… Living in Buenos Aires in summer 2023 has definitely changed the way I picture my professional journey. I took on an incredibly creative role this summer whether I was filming content for sustainable clothing brands or interviewing designers at fashion exhibits with my colleagues. I am eager to…

  • Person

Mekhi Sappleton

Ask Me About… My Experience My recent trip to Japan proved invaluable in solidifying my academic interests and future goals. As a biology major aspiring to work in medical research, touring cutting-edge labs and biotech facilities across Tokyo and Kyoto provided incredible insight. Witnessing firsthand the innovative work being done by Japanese scientists inspired me…