Top 3 Classes I've Taken Outside of My Majors

One of my favourite aspects of my Penn education is the fact that I have essentially free reign to take any classes that catch my eye, provided it fits into my schedule. As a senior, I've accumulated some pretty interesting classes under my belt as I made the best out of the vast and varied academic offerings at Penn. I am an International Relations and Economics double major with a minor in English.

1. Freud (GRMN253), taught by Liliane Weissenberg

Many people write off Freud for being essentially, a hack of a scientist. This class instead examines the life, cultural influences and societal impact of Sigmund Freud. This was one of the first classes where I was consistently engaged in lecture and recitation, delving into not only the cultural phenomenon that was fin-de-siècle Vienna but the philosophies of Freud and his contemporaries. Liliane Weissenberg made the most esoteric of concepts accessible with a dry sense of humour. I left the class with not only a deeper appreciation for Sigmund Freud and his works, but a greater understanding of European history and psychoanalysis today.

2. Information Strategies and Economics (OPIM469), taught by Lorin Hitt

Despite not being in Wharton, I was able to register for this Operations Management class because of Penn's One School policy, which took down many of the bureaucratic red tape surrounding taking classes outside of your school. Despite the seemingly dry name, this class explored how digital goods (like digital songs, e-books, and streaming) changes the way businesses are fundamentally run (think about how the rise of Uber and Lyft displaced traditional taxis) and how we use economics to price and regulate these information goods. Lorin Hitt is at the top of his field and his work as a private consultant for some of the biggest companies in the world meant that every lecture was filled with relevant cases he's worked on before. This was one of the classes that I saw myself applying the most concepts from in everyday life. 

3. Ancient Roman History (ANCH027), taught by Julia Wilker

I had always been a classics buff and I was very excited in my freshman year spring semester to immerse myself in Roman history. This class spanned the entirety of Roman history, from the myth of Remus and Romulus to the rise and fall of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. This was another class in which the lectures and recitations complemented each other very nicely. I would learn about how Romans borrowed many parts of their culture from the Etruscans and then hear my super cool teaching assistant tell me about how she excavated an Etruscan village in Italy years prior in recitation. I loved classes like this one because you were able to be fully immersed in a topic that you have never delved into before and emerge at the end of a semester with your brain full of new information. Taking this class actually prepared me very well for future political science classes that cited various Roman wars and political thought. 

-Ber Ber X. '16

Medicine in Action

Coming into Penn, I knew I wanted to study medicine. Unfortunately, in high school I was only able to participate in hands-off volunteering at a local hospital. So, as I walked down Locust Walk during our activities fair, I desperately searched through the hundreds of tables for a way I could get involved medically. I saw a bright red sign that read “MERT” and in small print underneath, “Medical Emergency Response Team.” I walked over to the table and began talking with one of the people sitting at there. I soon found out that I could not only get certified as an Emergency Medical Technician while at Penn, but also actively participate in medicine as part of a 911-like response service.

One semester after that day I was an active member of Penn’s MERT. I had successfully completed all parts of the certification and was ready to go. Through my past two and a half years as a member of the team, I have been on calls from seizures to drug overdoses to dislocated shoulders, wrists, and everything in between. These serious medical calls have not only taught me about the severity of medical care, but also about patient interaction and other skills that allow me to be a good professional and person. Not only is Penn’s MERT an extracurricular activity, but it is also a community. I have made so many friends through our long days and nights serving the Penn community. With the phrase being, “more than EMS” MERT is truly a family. Being able to get real, clinical experience as a student EMT has enabled me to reaffirm my interest in medicine. With much of the nationwide pre-med curriculum consisting of sciences not always directly related to medicine, MERT allows me to be a medical professional and a student all at the same time. Not only has MERT allowed me to serve University City community, but with my certification I am able to work at home at my local firehouse in an ambulance. With even more medical exposure, I am being an active participant in the Penn community while also doing something that I really love.

-Jack C. '17

At Penn, There Are No Limits

Creativity is everything to me. In high school, I found my academics deprived of creative agency—I just stuck to the textbooks, to put it simply. I valued my academics, but I also wanted to integrate creative aspects into the curriculum. But, I never quite found a way to go about doing that. Without even knowing it, I was suffocating. Then, I came to Penn. I truly didn’t know what I was missing. Creativity courses through the heart of this school. I’m taking classes where you are encouraged to make something of your own to be proud of. My preconceived notion of academics was completely altered, in the best way possible, when I first went to a class here. I was learning things that I wanted to learn with professors who valued crazy ideas and original opinions. 

I’m surrounded by creative people who unabashedly express that creativity through various mediums. I’m constantly awestruck by the level of vision that exists in each person at this university. There are people starting their own business, social initiatives, cinema clubs, musical groups; there are talented people creating things all around me. I’m not going to lie to you, sometimes this sort of climate can get intimidating and tiresome. It can be hard to keep up with the pace at which my peers function. However, more than anything, my idea of what is possible has been exponentially heightened. Here at Penn, I can hash ideas out with fellow creatives and make something beautiful. 

I can sit in a room with cool people and turn a creative concept into reality. Creativity is everything to me, and some of the things that I always wanted to do in high school I’ve accomplished in college. At Penn, there are no limits. What I learned: collaboration is at the center of creativity. If you come to Penn, you are guaranteed to find amazing people who value the same things as you do. For me, that was creativity, but whatever you are looking for, I guarantee that there will be a community of students here to back you up.

-Karis S. '18

Alternate Spring Break: A New Way to Travel During SB

For my past two spring breaks, rather than relaxing on the beach at exotic destinations, I’ve spent them with  Alternate Spring Break (ASB). Schools all across the country have ASB programs, but each ASB trip goes to a different location and participates in different service capacities. This year, I went on a Habitat for Humanity trip to High Point, North Carolina, and last year, I also went on a Habitat for Humanity trip, but the location was Lynchburg, Virginia.

Some tasks I’ve done at the Habitat sites include painting the interior of the houses and constructing sheds. My clothes often end up paint-covered, and my arms sore from hammering. But, beyond the service work, a very special quality of ASB trips is how close you get to your group. You apply to be a part of ASB, and you are assigned to an  ASB trip with 13 other people, most of whom you don’t know at all despite going to the same school. After just a week, you will have shared endless laughs, inside jokes, and meaningful conversations with these 13 people.

I think it’s easy to get comfortable in your own social circle at Penn, so it’s really cool how ASB allows you to branch out and get close to friends that you otherwise would never have met. On my ASB trips, I have had some of the most honest and genuine discussions about issues in life, social justice, and the Penn experience - and the wide diversity of perspectives and backgrounds within the group make it all the more interesting.

Though some people gawk at the idea of doing service work for Spring Break, ASB is truly a reinvigorating break from school and has always helped me gain more perspective about the important things in life. I have met the best people through ASB and highly recommend it to anybody interested!  

-Emma H. '17

Traveling Abroad Without Using Your Semester or Summer Time

As a student in the sciences, I often hear people saying, I can't travel because of my major. This is completely false. Regardless your course of study or program you are enrolled in, your ability to travel or study abroad is completely dependent on the effort you make to do so. Aside from the countless programs offered within each major to specifically accommodate students within the course of study, there are plenty of options to study abroad in subjects far beyond the major you pursue at Penn. Among these programs are a variety of summer programs (with a wide range of duration times) that all have financial aid options. If summer is not your thing and you don't want to study abroad, there are classes at Penn that you take during the fall or spring, and then travel during the break following the semester.

For example, two of my friends took the same religious studies class on South Asian Shrines last fall. One was a Operations and Management concentration in Wharton and the other was an Art History major in the college. Their class met for two hours once a week and during winter break they traveled to Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia to visit some of the shrines they had discussed in their class. In the spring their class continued with a focus on the trip and how it intersected with the material they were taught (it had the same time commitment 2 hours per week). Both my friends absolutely loved the class; this class is just one of many many options available at Penn if you are eager to explore the lesser known options of traveling as a college student.

-Kelli L. '17

When You Want to Pursue Everything

What do you want to do when you grow up? I've been asked this countless times growing up, and honestly, I've changed my mind on who I am and who I want to be so many times, it's hard to think of a time when I knew everything I wanted. And then I realized, it's okay if you don't. You don't need to have everything figured out to move forward; I am a living example of that. Growing up, I always wanted to become a veterinarian. I came into college with all my plans to work with exotic animals abroad  for several years before and settling down and starting a small clinic back at home. Then everything changed.

We come into college being told there are countless classes, majors, and opportunities there will be, but it's not until we get there, fully immersed in the culture, that we truly understand and appreciate the vast world that stands before us. Realizing how much more was out there and how much I hadn't tried or even considered, I really didn't know what I wanted anymore. So I tried it all. I took marketing classes, geology classes, statistics classes, computer science classes, classical literature classes, south asian studies classes. I took all of them and more, and after everything was said and done I was even more confused with the path I wanted to take. But that's what college is all about.

It's about trial and error. It's about living and loving and learning. After venturing into some higher level classes of my favorite "experimental" subjects, I chose to pursue research and development. It's still in the sciences, but it's far from the Dr. Dolittle that I always thought I would be. 

Penn is certainly not only a place where you can pursue and achieve your dreams, but also a place that let's you discover them.

-Kelli L. '17

Finding a Smaller Family in the Greater Penn Community

The beginning of any semester is incredible for many reasons. It's a new start for classes, for clubs, for you. And while the fall and the spring bring different attitudes, they both offer Penn students the valuable opportunity to take part in something new or simply just to become more involved with a club that they are already in love with.

At the eve of any semester clubs are undergoing a process of "turnover" in which they prepare for the parting seniors by looking for new leadership and new members. This is turn offers Penn students the opportunity to take a chance on a huge variety of extracurricular activities from the arts to business to publications. With 450+ clubs on campus the potential "homes" are endless. I has personally never had a hobby of any kind before coming to Penn, but when I saw all of the clubs looking for new membership I knew it would be a tragedy not to go for it. I tried out of dancing groups, singing groups, acting groups, writing groups, social groups. I  found family among the myriad of clubs I had tried out for. Each club was different but each offered me to tap into a different passion within myself among a group of people who shared the same desired to volunteer, to write, and to heal. Finding these groups came from nothing else than the fearlessness to try something new and the faith that my family was out there in the sea of clubs and it was my job to find it. 

So whether you know what your passion is and you have your eye on a specific club or you're like me and you're still figuring out who you are and what's your thing, go out, go audition, have fun and always have faith that things will work out. They always do, and you'll find your family at Penn; you just need to have to courage to go out and find it.

-Kelli L. '17

Philly Firsts!

Earlier this year, the Lonely Planet ranked Philadelphia as #1 of Best Places to Visit in the U.S. To celebrate, let's look at a couple "firsts" and "bests" that might explain why Philly, indeed, is so great.

+ In 1731, Philadelphia opened the first US library.
+ The first US hospital was established in 1751.???
+ UPenn was the first-ever American university, founded by Ben Franklin in ((()))
+ Philadelphia boast's America's first zoo, just two miles north of Penn (1874).
+ The world's first full electronic computer, ENIAC, was created in Philadelphia in 1946. 
+ Philadelphia experienced the greatest growth in millennial population among major metropolises between 2006-2014, at 6.3% (NYC totaled in at 3.1%).
+ Temple Health was the first researchers to successfully eliminate the HIV from cultured human cells
+ In 2015, the Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania gained international acclaim for executing the first bilateral hand-transplant on five-year-old Zion Harvey.

Notwithstanding all of the above, the city of Philadelphia is still in an upward trajectory like its never seen before, and man, it feels good to be number one.

-Helen N. '18

Philadelphia: A Bite-sized City Tour

From being dubbed "#1 in the US for overall culture and historic sites" by Travel + Leisure, to being named UNESCO's first and only US World Heritage City, there's certainly a lot of exploring to be done in the city of Brotherly Love. 

Old City: The cobbled streets of Old City host not only many important monuments to the birth of a nation (thank you, Nicolas Cage and the cast and crew of "National Treasure"), but also some of Philly's most fashionable neighborhoods. Penn's Landing offers amazing views of the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Spruce Street Harbor Park, just one SEPTA token away from Penn's campus. In between the two rivers Schuylkill and Delaware lies Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the oft-photographed LOVE Park.

Northern Liberties and Fishtown: In the early 1990s, there was a movement that pegged these two areas as the city's creative and artistic scene. Known for its quirky bars, indie boutiques, and live music, North Philly boasts open-air plazas, live screenings, and dance performances. You can't go wrong with a part-coffee-shop-part-record-store combo. 

South Philadelphia: Characterized by its large Italian community, South Philly is home to the Italian Market, one of the oldest and largest open-air markets in America. Spanning 10 blocks, it features everything from Mexican taquerias to Vietnamese banh mi stalls, to the (in)famous Philly cheesesteak. 

University City: Of course, the stomping ground for Penn (and Drexel) students lies West of the Schuylkill River. Not without its merits, University City boasts several artsy hang-outs and late-night joints like the Institute of Contemporary Art and World Café Live, a concert venue for up-and-coming artists. Head north and you'll run into the Philadelphia Zoo and several hiking trails, perfect for those much needed afternoon escapes.

Philadelphia is known as a city of neighborhoods, each offering a different perspective of the city and its diverse people.

-Helen N. '18

TEDxPenn 2016: Eureka -- A Show-and-Tell Philadelphia's Most Inspiring

One of the most mind-boggling things about Penn is its incredible web of extracurricular activities that keep its students busy (as if academia wasn't enough...). For the past two years, I have had the utmost pleasure of being part of the organizing team for TEDxPenn, an annual conference that showcases some of the Penn community's boldest, pioneering ideas in 15-minute digestible chunks. Held at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on April 10th, this year's conference hinges upon the theme, "Eureka", or the all-of-a-sudden realization of the solution to a problem. We're bringing in professors, students, and community members alike to talk about their own eureka moments, whether in fields of science, social entrepreneurship, the arts, music, and more. I'm so fascinated by seeing these speakers talking about their true inspirations. It's very easy to forget that, though your Physics 101 professor is teaching you basic kinematics, his actual research involves measuring the diameter of the universe, or the kid you sit next to in Sociology is, in his free time, developing a Google Glass app for the visually impaired. The culmination of TEDxPenn is the perfect marriage of a show-and-tell, a lecture, and a launchpad for getting motivated the nurturing your own eureka moments and sharing them with the world.

Note: The TEDxPenn conference is open to the general public. Information about conference and how to buy tickets is available on www.tedxpenn.com.

-Helen N. '18

Sixer's Games

As a NBA fan, I was more than pleased that one of this month’s Feb Club events was a Sixers game. I had only previously been to one other game (Lakers vs. Sixers!), but that first experience – between the roar of the crowd, the flashing lights, and the energizing music – was more than enough to get me addicted.

This particular event was even more enticing because I got to enjoy it with the other members of my Senior class. It’s not often that you get to see all of your friends in one place, especially since everyone on this campus is so involved that it’s usually pretty difficult to set aside time to hang out or even just to catch up. 

-Rachel T.

How to Adult without Really Trying (Cooking in the Dorm Room)

Most of the freshman dorms (Quad, English, Hill, etc.) do not allow access to kitchens for students and as a result many students can find it hard to access healthy, easy to make and good tasting food. Even with a dining plan, there are going to be times where you just want a good tasting snack, or your club’s meeting went past 8 pm and the dining halls are no longer open. Cooking at home is so much cheaper, and preparing your own food doesn’t have to be complicated!

Many times people think they can’t cook without a kitchen, but don’t realize that they have one of the most underrated cooking machines right in their very own bedroom - the microwave. I didn’t realize how awesome my microwave was for meal preparation until I moved back into the Quad to be an RA my senior year. Without a kitchen, I was worried I was lost with how to cook for myself again so I got creative.

One of my favorite breakfasts to make is an egg white ‘omelette.’ I buy egg whites, salsa and spinach to keep in my fridge. In the morning, I just add egg whites, chopped spinach and a spoonful of salsa to a coffee mug, mix it up and less than a minute later I have some awesome and simple tasting eggs to put on a muffin to go! Or if you need something more substantial for lunch or dinner, a sweet potato can be ready in 5 minutes and topped with your favorites (cheese, salsa, lime juice, etc). When in the mood for something sweet, I make a single serve brownie (3 tbsp cocoa powder, ¼ unsweetened applesauce, pinch of baking powder and salt, 1 tsp of vanilla and 1 tsp maple syrup, mix, microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds) and it’s gluten free and vegan!

There is a lot of potential within that microwave for some awesome tasting food from the comfort of your room if you’re creative and willing to look for a few recipes online! Learning to use my microwave has saved me so much time and allowed me to feel like I can cook for myself again.

-Jordi R.

Food Trucks an Introduction to Penn Staple

I grew up in a rural town, so when I moved into the Quad my freshman year I was shocked to see large trucks with large lines of people alongside all up Spruce Street. Upon more investigation, I realized everyone was waiting for one of my favorite things - FOOD.  Even with that required dining plan, it will undoubtedly be difficult to resist the dining staple for Penn students that is food trucks. Philadelphia is filled with these restaurants-on-wheels, and fortunately many great trucks can be found near campus!

Although I was really skeptical at first (I mean, food from a vehicle? Not something I was used to at all), food trucks have become a common part of my daily routine. Not only are you pretty much guaranteed great food, the trucks have a bunch of advantages over the dining hall and other restaurants. First, they’re incredibly cheap. We’re talking breakfast sandwiches for less than $4, Lo Mein for $5, Falafel and rice for $5. On a college student budget, this has saved me from so many meals of beans and rice when the funds are running low. Additionally, food trucks are pretty fast - unless you’re going to a super popular truck, your wait time is usually under 5 minutes. This is perfect when you need to get food on the way to class or running from meeting to meeting (once you start getting involved in student groups!).

Food trucks also offer a ton of variety. My personal favorite food truck is the fruit truck that is parked at 37th and the north of Spruce (with the rainbow umbrella). Their smoothies are amazing, and they always overstuff their fruit salad boxes (only $5.50 for an extra large fruit salad!). Or when you’re in the mood for a gyro, you can find a cart just outside the quad, or in front of Franklin. Kim’s Chinese food is incredible too, and their truck can be found tucked in the parking lot along side of Pottruck. The accessibility, affordability, convenience and great taste make food trucks such a good option for food - be sure to check one out when you come visit!

-Jordi R.

A Sport's Tale

Being a Penn kid can be a pretty heavy burden to bear sometimes. The nights are long, the classes are tough, and the expectations are so massive that it becomes easy to feel really small. There’s a big, scary world out there. This is the time of the semester where I begin to feel really grateful for the friends that I’ve made here.  

Too often, elite schools carry the stigma of being a cutthroat, hyper-competitive place. I can’t argue that Penn is a place where competition isn’t prevalent. It’s one of the most beautiful things about being on campus. Great minds rub off each other like flint and steel, and flames of inspiration and innovation can be seen illuminating Locust Walk. This kind of brilliance can be overwhelming. It is easy to think that everyone else has it figured out. The honest truth is, nobody really does. Every student you meet is dazed and confused, letting their ambition replace their doubt and hoping that their hard work opens doors that they can’t imagine just yet. This is something that my friends here have taught me.

I’m proud to say that some of the best friends I have ever had are right here. It’s hard to imagine my life without them. They have quickly become key elements of my existence. They offer warmth, laughter, and comfort in a place that has become my home. Their stories and backgrounds have opened my eyes to worlds that I couldn’t have imagined before. Being a Penn student doesn’t just mean having the best education. It means sharing my campus with some of the brightest young minds in the country. I am very grateful for the opportunity. Whenever things seem rough, I can look back to memories that I’ve made and smile. I can look forward to memories in the future and become excited. Classes can kick my butt all they like. Walking to my dorm room and hearing laughter from the hallway can make all of that go away so quickly.

If playing rugby has taught me anything at all, it is that the most talented team isn’t always the one to overcome the odds. It is the team with the most chemistry and teamwork that goes the distance. You’re only as good as your bond. That goes beyond the field. Everyone here is a genius. That’s something you realize on day one. The people that truly get the most out of their Penn experience are those who allow others to touch their lives and leave their mark forever. That’s what being a Penn student is all about. Wharton kids call it networking. I call it friendship.

-Ibrahim B. '18

Little Campus; Big City

One of the biggest things that swayed me to apply to Penn was that it was an enclosed campus within a larger city, that is to say, a Philadelphian school that's actually in the geographical, actual Philadelphia proper.

How often and where else in the country can you drop $1.80 (the price of a SEPTA token) and leave your dorm, finding yourself with slow-churned ice cream in hand, looking across the river at the next state over?

What's more, is that Philadelphia is also just one bead in a string of pearls that make up the metropolises of the East Coast. Ten bucks can get you to Boston; five bucks will take you to the Big Apple, and MegaBus has just recently announced its $1 service to/from Washington DC(?!).

With the hustle and bustle of the Ivy League lifestyle, getting out of the Penn bubble can sometimes be difficult. However, knowing that these urbanities lie just a cab, bus, or train ride away makes the world—and all its treasures—seem that much smaller.

-Helen N. '18

Impact Beyond Campus

Walking down Locust during the Fall Student Activities Fair as a freshman can feel both exciting and overwhelming - student groups are dancing, singing, beckoning you to come visit their table, and shoving flyers in your face. With so many clubs and students passionate about these clubs, there are endless opportunities and ways to get involved with clubs on campus. For me in particular, I was interested in clubs doing impactful work for causes beyond Penn’s campus.

This drew me to the Penn Microfinance club. Students apply and interview to join various project teams that focus on a certain geographic region in the world. Each team works with an outside organization that is working on microfinance initiatives in that region. I first joined the Rwanda initiative, and through the Rwanda team, we were in contact with a NYC startup that was expanding microfinance in Rwanda. We helped the startup with competitor research throughout the year and ended up visiting the startup office in NYC to meet the startup founder, which was an awesome and fun experience. Some project teams even travel together to their locations, like in the Philippines and Brazil!

I really admire the student-led initiatives at Penn that seek to solve difficult social problems and make a meaningful difference both locally and internationally.

-Emma H. '17

Your Own Two Feet

One of the wonderful advantages of Philadelphia: the ability to travel the city space with your own two feet. Freedom knocks at the doors of us Penn constituents’; all you need is a pair of comfortable shoes to explore a city of cultural prowess. Here at the University of Pennsylvania, times can get stressful rather quickly in this academically rigorous institution. Homesickness will assuredly hit the masses and students tend to get into some type of funk (like at any other college)—eyelids start drooping from lack of sleep and complaints of midterms or papers become more prevalent in casual conversation. However, we are fortunate to have access to the fresh Philadelphian air, access to exploration, access to escape the stresses that accompany the Ivy League. I often take walks away from campus with a couple of friends by my side. We’ll cross the Schuylkill River on the bridge or walk along the river and immerse ourselves in the peacefulness that comes with a nice stroll. Sometimes, I walk into Center City to check out the popular shops on Walnut Street to do a little bit of retail therapy. Other times, I’ll go out to eat in the city with a few peers by my side just to get away from academics for a little while. Philadelphia provides a healthy backdrop for scholarly pursuits because, as a Penn student, you will find yourself occasionally wanting to get away from stress—something that this amazing city will give you. At Penn, you can walk your way to success.

-Karis S. '18

Study Abroad in Retrospect

Studying abroad is full of clichés. I can laugh about how pretentious I must sounds when I recall the best cheese I ate along the Seine and the sigh from my friends as I begin yet another sentence with, when I was in Paris. Many of these clichés take the form of expectations. When I was deciding to apply to study abroad in Paris, I heard countless times how it would be the best few months of my life. I would form lifelong friendships. My language skills would rapidly improve.

I am proud to admit that these hopes did come true and (here’s yet another cliché) I truly did have the most transformational experiences that I know will affect me for the rest of my life. The one thing though that no one really talks about is that studying abroad is hard. The word difficult has too negative of a connotation, so it is best to say that my experience was challenging. The most obvious challenge I faced was the language barrier. Although I could express my basic needs, I could not always represent my feelings or my personally the way I could in English. There were also the normal adjustments of moving to a new place: having to commute on the metro, getting lost constantly, and having to make new friends. The last challenge I had been warned about by every study abroad officer I had met with, but didn’t fully came to terms with until I got to Paris, but I also experiences culture shock.

Over the course of four months, I experienced the cultural differences between France and the United States that are impossible to fully comprehend as a tourist. For example, the culture of being a college student is completely different. In France, the best universities are public ones and tuition is covered by the State. However, college is also meant to weed students out of the system and the idea of liberal arts does not exist.

Overall, I have returned back to Penn as a more independent and open-minded person. My last cliché is this: through my exposure to French culture, I have not only seen ways our country can improve, but I also have a deeper appreciation of American culture that I took for granted before.     

-Hannah F. '17

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway

The Benjamin Franklin parkway that starts from the City Hall is a wide, long parkway that demonstrates the magnificent aspect of Philadelphia. Its magnificence culminates with the Greek Revival-style Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of the largest art museums in the country. On top of such great landmark, the district has many other museums, and the one that I enjoy going is the Barnes Foundation.

Originally located in Lower Merion, the Barnes Foundation holds over 2,500 objects collected by Albert C. Barnes, an avid collector of art. The foundation has a significant amount of Impressionist and Modernist works, such as those by Monet, Renoir, Cezanne and Modigliani.

The prominent characteristic that stands out to me every time I visit the Barnes Foundation is the placement of its objects. Paintings, metal works and furniture are compactly put together, in a way that the ensemble itself becomes a work of art. Although it is sometimes hard to articulate, I sense that Barnes is narrating a story through his collection.

Another aspect that grabbed my attention was the different feelings I perceive from the same painting as the lighting changes. The cloud drifts over the sun during the day, and the brightness of the room adds a new layer to appreciating the collection.

Whether you are a huge museum-goer or are just pleasantly interested, I would suggest walking down the parkway and view the collection. It is one of the ways the city helps me take a break from busy school routines.

-Michelle J. '17

My Double-Major Dilemma

My second year at Penn has been filled with grandiose plans that will hopefully launch me on the track to my post-graduation goals. The glamour of freshman year is fading, the realities of adult life are setting in, and the majors are being declared. One of them, at least…

I am officially declared as a Biological Basis of Behavior Major. Last semester, I wrote about a course that inspired me to pursue a second major in Modern Middle Eastern Studies. I dreamed of going as in-depth as possible, learning about the history, literature, politics, and cultures of the region. However, throughout the winter break, I took a lot of time to think about whether this was the best decision for my academic life.

My main question was whether I truly wanted a packed, regimented schedule for the next three years. When I sat to plan out my classes assuming I would complete the double-major, I realized that I would have no flexibility in my classes for the rest of college. What if I want to take a class for the sake of taking a random class? Does this mean I will never be able to take classes in Urban Studies, Health and Societies, or Computer Sciences if I want to?

Although I haven’t reached a decision yet, I’m incredibly grateful for the fact that I have the opportunity to pursue these various tracks. If I decide to continue with the major, I will leave Penn with a deep, nuanced understanding of the Middle East. If I don’t, I’ll be able to get a taste of the many exciting areas of study offered in the College of Arts and Sciences. Even though it can sometimes be daunting, the academic opportunities at Penn are truly limitless.

-Nitay C. '18