Back on Campus
The Spring 2021 semester saw many Penn students returning to campus for the first time in nearly a year due to the pandemic. Two Named Scholarship junior students shared their experiences of being back at Penn these past months, what they have learned over the last year, and their hopes for the future.
Jonathan, W’22
What do you appreciate most about being back on campus?
The thing I appreciate the most about being back on campus is being able to live with my friends. I feel more engaged and independent when I am back on campus. I discovered how beautiful the rest of Philadelphia actually is. This semester gave me more of a chance to explore outside of the Penn campus.
What is the most valuable thing you learned this past year?
The most valuable thing I learned this past year is the importance of friendships and family.
What is something you are excited for in the future?
I am so passionate about my future in the real estate industry which explains why I am a real estate concentration at Wharton. I love the industry and I am so excited to start a career in something I truly love; this pandemic has reinforced the importance of our built environment.
Ariana, Nu’22
What do you appreciate most about being back on campus?
Being back on campus has been great. I appreciate getting back to some type of in-person learning. And Panera had unlimited coffee for three months for students!
What is the most valuable thing you learned this past year?
Over this last year, one thing I gained a lot more awareness for was reaching out to my family more. With the pandemic forcing students to go home, I found myself spending more time than I had in a while with my family. Seeing how much less I had interacted with them while I was at school pre-pandemic really opened my eyes to this.
What is something you are excited for in the future?
In the future, I am excited to see more facilities and activities open up on Penn’s campus—especially with athletics, since I am a student-athlete. I would love to be able to compete year-round. It would be great to have somewhat of a “normal” senior experience, barring that the health of the community remains improving and COVID-safe.