My time at Penn is over: here's what I would tell my first year self

I’m a big believer in having no regrets. But looking back as a senior, I’ve certainly made many slip-ups along the way. Although those moments often led to the most profound changes in my life, if by sharing my mistakes I can make your college career a little more easy to navigate, that would mean the world to me. This piece is for anyone, whether they’re struggling or thriving, at any time in their academic journey.

 Firstly, it’s ok to do things alone. I remember back in NSO I felt so overwhelmed with the amount of socializing and information all the events entailed. Not to mention the slight homesickness and anxiety about not making friends, to which I say – that’s ok! You’ll find as you finalize your course schedule, figure out which dining halls you like, and other menial things, the newfound routine will ground you. Establishing familiarity is the antidote to homesickness, so let yourself be carried away by the first waves of change as you adjust to college life. Do you have a concert you want to go to? A new restaurant you want to try? Enjoy some you time and try it out alone – when you lean into the unknown, who knows what exciting things will happen?

 Be prepared and embrace change when it happens. It can be changes in friend groups or maybe a change in heart when you decide to swap majors, but just know that these changes are healthy! When life takes a bad turn, try not to get too down – out of adversity usually comes challenge and success, not to mention a whole lot of growth. Drifting with people is natural, it doesn’t have to be full of drama, but you’ll realize how some relationships are meant to be enjoyed in that short time period. If you keep an open-mind and listen to others well, you’ll never stop making friends even in senior spring! This applies to academics as well, I did a complete 180 changing from pre-med to history and I’ve never looked back. Not to mention that Penn certainly gives a cushion to students who radically change their majors halfway through college. All of this is easier said than done, yet only emphasizes how natural it is to change.

 Never stop asking questions. All the time while I was sitting in STEM lectures, I kept thinking of the same questions: Why did this formula develop the way it did? How did this person’s background affect their thoughts? What is the context of this? It took me so long to realize that those were humanities questions, and that I wanted the depth a humanities education would give me. I encourage you to lean into that curiosity and see where it takes you. It won’t hurt to audit a class in an area that’s always interested you. Also, if you’re confused in class, I guarantee that AT LEAST one other person is too, so never feel shame for asking silly questions.

 Don’t rely on AI. I mean this especially for humanities classes. This is probably the last era of your professors reading your essays, so you might as well write whatever you want! The one thing AI has yet to replicate is human creativity, it cannot generate ideas in the unique way you can, so relish how terrible your writing is and marvel at your growth by senior year. It will pay you back in years to come!

 And most importantly, don’t forget to say thank you. Whether they be the dining hall employees, a friendly stranger, your professors, or your friends, be kind to all those who helped you along the way. Although your theses or job contracts may have your name on them, don’t forget that it took a village to get you where you are now. I’m a firm believer that gratitude can fix almost any mental slump, so as you succeed, please be kind to people along the way. So reach out to those who helped you years ago and offer to buy them coffee, it will make both of your days!

 It’s funny, you often don’t register the important moments in your life as they happen, it’s only when you look back you realize how pivotal they really were. Now that I’m heading into post-grad life, I can say the single-most reigning emotion in my mind is a feeling of weirdness. It might also feel weird for you whilst reading this since graduation seems so far away. But something weird can just be something familiar viewed from a different angle. I wish you the best of luck as you continue on in college – signing off!

-Seyoon C.