Getting involved on campus and beyond through Penn’s many opportunities
/As a junior at Penn, I’ve realized how fast time has gone. Lately as I take a moment to reflect on my freshman and sophomore year, I’ve been reflecting a lot on how my time here has shaped me and my professional aspirations. More than anything, I’ve realized that the best part of Penn is not just the opportunities themselves, but the people and communities that make each memory or the opportunities so meaningful. Each experience has not only reminded me of the collaborative culture that makes Penn so special, but also how I have learned so much just from the conversations I’ve had. From professional experiences to take a step forward in my career journey to friendships that bloomed, I hope to share about some opportunities that if you are a freshman, you should consider exploring if you haven't yet!
Career Services at Penn: During freshman year, I nervously attended my first career fairs. I came in simply hoping to explore, but the conversations I had and advice I received helped me feel more confident when I returned as a sophomore to the career fairs and networking events on campus. Handshake, LinkedIn, and MyPenn were some of the most used tools that I used while networking, but what really made the difference were the small, encouraging interactions from alumni already in the industry that helped me feel ready and passionate about taking the next step.
Research and Internships: Through Penn’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF) research directory, I was able to get involved in humanities research during my sophomore year, which deepened my curiosity about regulations. Hearing from my colleagues in my presentation group, CURF provides students with ample research opportunities to start even the moment when you walk on campus. Outside of research, Penn provides global opportunities to work abroad. My sophomore summer internship, Penn’s Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) , gave me the unique chance to live and work abroad for two months in a country I’ve never been to. This experience working on a policy proposal paper was memorable in itself but it also taught me so much more, from finding affordable housing with strangers to trusting myself to navigate completely new environments and work cultures. This experience spending my summer abroad is a memory I’ll always keep and it reminded me how much Penn supports students in pursuing growth far beyond the classroom.
Student Clubs: Clubs on campus have honestly been one of the highlights of my time so far. From going to various club GBMs and speaker events during my freshmen year to finding communities with common interests, I have loved spending time with people who share the same passions during weekly meetings, and such clubs I have gotten to be a part of have given me some of my closest communities outside of regular classes. They’ve become communities I rely on, whether it’s for professional advice or simply hanging at each others’ homes after meetings to relax from a long day of meaningful work. Because of the plethora of clubs to explore, every student I believe that comes to campus will eventually find their community to find home in.
Classrooms: One of the biggest surprises for me after a few weeks was realizing how collaborative the learning culture at Penn really is. I came in thinking studying for classes and exams would be a solo activity in the libraries, but office hours, class discussions, and study groups have shown me otherwise. Penn professors and faculty genuinely want to connect with you and share their knowledge; I’ll never forget when during my freshmen year, one professor invited me to attend his conference at the end of the semester. This simple gesture ended up introducing me to a whole new field of business and regulations which I had never previously encountered until taking his class.
Looking back on my past two years, I feel like Penn is truly unique in how it provides students with many opportunities to get involved in their career and personal passions. I’m grateful to the professors who’ve inspired me, the clubs on campus that have become home late nights, and the constant learning culture here at Penn that encourages our community to grow together. Campus truly never is empty or quiet with all of the amazing things students partake in. Being surrounded by so many smart people that I can constantly learn from, moving forward, I hope I can give back to that same culture of collaboration and mentorship that lights up campus.
- Yoonjung C.