After just finishing my first year at Penn State, there are
so many experiences that I already know I won’t ever forget. But here’s a list
of things I did during my freshman year that you all definitely have to check
out at some point. And don’t wait until your senior year because you could be
missing out!
10. Go to the Creamery.
So
you’ve all probably heard about the famous Berkey Creamery ice cream by now,
and if you haven’t, it is literally the most amazing thing you will ever eat in
your entire life. You have to go at least once (although if you’re anything
like me, then you will be a much more frequent customer). And they even have a
bunch of stuff other than ice cream (the bagels are great!). And it’s so close
to East Halls, so if you end up living there, it’s awesome.
9. Attend a football game.
Again,
most of you already know about the AMAZING school pride that we have here at
Penn State. There is no better way to experience this pride than by being in
the student section cheering on the Nittany Lions with 107,000 people. Trust
me, you will find time away from your studying to go. (And it’s so worth it!)
Also, I hope you all already bought your season tickets!
8. Do your homework outside.
I
unfortunately didn’t take advantage of this until the spring semester, and I
really regret it. It is so much better than sitting at a desk in a small dorm
room. And plus, so many other kids are outside playing sports and socializing
that it really does make studying a bit more enjoyable. As long as you can resist
the urge to join in, it’s perfect! Make sure to do it this fall!
7. Order Insomnia/Wings Over/D.P. Dough etc… during finals
week (or just during any normal week)
Finals
week is really stressful, but good food can certainly make it much better.
These places deliver right to the dorms, so all you have to do is walk
downstairs! Insomnia Cookies are delicious and you will soon learn that they
really help when you’re having a bad day. Or, if you’re in the mood for
something other than dessert, Wings Over and D.P. Dough have you covered with
wings, fries, and pizza.
6. Play a sport or join a club (or more than one!)
You
will meet your best friends through what you choose to get involved in. It’s so
important because you meet people that have some of the same interests, but are
also different than you. I’m involved with THON (more on this later) and WEPO
(obviously!) and I also run on the varsity track team. I love that I have so
many different groups of friends and know so many kinds of people. There are
clubs for literally everyone and every interest, so you’re bound to find one
you like. And there’s club and intramural teams for just about every sport you
can imagine! Get involved!!!!
5. Eat a West cookie.
Okay,
so you probably all can realize know that I like good food and have a major
sweet tooth. But seriously, I’m not entirely sure why the West dining commons
have the best cookies, but they do. They melt in your mouth and sometimes you
have to eat them with a fork because they’re so soft. It’s amazing.
4. Climb Mount Nittany.
So as
freshman, this might be a little hard since you need a ride to get to this
mountain. So find an upperclassman with a car, get a ride, and spend the day
(or just a couple hours) hiking up Mount Nittany. The view is breathtaking, and
it’s a lot of fun to do with your friends. Hey, you can even make it a
tradition and go with your roommates once every year. But definitely do it when
the weather gets nice!
3. Go to THON.
THON is
another thing that makes Penn State famous and shows off how awesome our school
pride is. It is so incredible to watch the entire school come together for one
AMAZING cause. THON is a 46 hour dance marathon for pediatric cancer. And you
definitely have to stay for the final four hours and the final total reveal.
You will laugh, cry, and get to listen to some of the most inspirational
stories I have ever heard. Besides being for a great cause, it’s basically a
giant party for the whole school, with bands, performances, dances, and games.
THON is most definitely the most incredible thing I’ve seen in my life so far.
2. Make a meaningful relationship with at least one
professor/advisor etc.
In a
school with 40,000 students, it’s easy to fall into the background and become
“just a number.” But at the same time, there’s so many resources that Penn
State offers to make it seem smaller. As students, you have to do your part and
really get to know some part of the faculty. Whether it’s your advisor, your
calculus teacher, or your physics teaching assistant, form a personal
relationship with someone. You’re going to need advice (and letters of
recommendation!) so it really pays to have somebody on your side.
1. Get out of your comfort zone.
It’s so
important to expand your horizons when going to college. It’s most likely going
to be the first time you’re really on your own, which can be scary, but also
life-changing. I learned more about myself and who I can be in my first year of
college than in my entire life. You have to do scary things sometimes, the end
result will be worth it. And don’t freak out if something goes wrong and
there’s problems; they will only make you grow in the end and you WILL find a
solution!
I hope this list helps you all to make your freshman year as
enjoyable as it can be! You’re entering into a new time of your life and it’s
really amazing to see how much you will change throughout the year. Just
remember there is always someone to help you out when you get stuck! Enjoy your
freshman year since there’s never going to be another year quite like it!
Christina Cianciarulo is a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering, and she is a Rover for WEPO '14!
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