Back to Campus (For the First Time)

First- and second-year College students on what they’re looking forward to with on-campus living.

By Alex Schein

On August 30, the College of Arts & Sciences held a special welcome event at Penn Commons for first- and second-year students—many of whom would be taking classes in-person for the first time since schools and universities shut down in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked the students what they were most excited about as they began the fall semester.

Andrea Espósito, C’25 and Michał Wyrębkowski, C’25

Andrea Espósito, C’25, Panama

Being new to Penn, I’m really looking forward to learning about people’s backgrounds. One thing I’m excited about is the Integrated Studies Program for the Benjamin Franklin Scholars. The theme for the first semester is Food in Society. I want to major in economics and political science on the prelaw track.

Michał Wyrębkowski, C’25, Poland

I’m looking forward to the research opportunities at Penn and the random encounters that could generate some of the coolest ideas. I would like to do some economic history research, energy research, and environmental research. I’m also taking a seminar about the geopolitics of energy in Russia and Eurasia.

Maryam Almafrachi, C’25 and Gauri Lahoti, C’25

Maryam Almafrachi, C’25, Syracuse, New York

I come from a suburban area, and it’s nice to be in the city and live the city life. I’m Middle Eastern, and it’s so cool that I can take a class called Ancient Middle Eastern History and Civilization. I’m super excited for that, because I feel like I’m going to be more connected to Iraq, where I come from.

Gauri Lahoti, C’25, Morganville, New Jersey

I want to be a biology major, and my bio class this semester seems so interesting. I’m excited about that and look forward to meeting my professors in person. Even small things like walking to class together with your friends and getting coffee and stuff—I think it makes a huge difference.

Joey Chan, C’24 and Joyce Davis, C’24

Joey Chan, C’24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I’m excited to get to know the community better and join clubs and extracurriculars at Penn, like the Pan-Asian dance troupe. And I’m excited to meet my professors and TAs in person. I’m taking intro to computer science this semester, which is something new that I’m exploring.

Joyce Davis, C’24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I can really get to know my classmates, see what motivates them, what they’re passionate about, and then find common interests and build meaningful friendships. I’m also excited for my healthcare management course, because I want to minor in it and eventually have my own business.

Ganen Chinniah, C’24

Ganen Chinniah, C’24, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

I think it will be nice to come into class again and meet my fellow classmates and have that interaction. I’m interested in majoring in neuroscience, and I’m looking forward to a lot of the labs being in person again, to be able to get hands-on and perform experiments.