Westward un-bound: Don't restrict yourself to life on campus

My take on West Philadelphia will hopefully challenge you to extend your Penn experience beyond campus lines. By venturing just a few blocks further than you originally may have planned, I promise that you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

As I approach the end of an amazing first year here, I would consider myself one of Penn’s biggest fans. This campus is overflowing with intelligence and dynamism from both faculty and peers who continue to impress me every day. Especially during the thrill of my first few months here, I was enamored with Penn — a buzzing microcosm of life that seems to have it all.

While my crush on campus life still remains strong, my decision to work in West Philly schools exposed me to a more understated side of Penn that has come to be an integral part of my life here. 

Leaving campus made me realize that restricting the Penn experience to the boundaries of 34th and 40th streets overlooks the University’s capacity to educate in a real-world context — whether by learning about a local student’s aspirations or simply interacting with people on a SEPTA ride or walk into West Philly.  

As you equip yourself to embark on your next four years, I recommend that you come to campus in the fall with some idea of what you want to get out of that time. 

Excuse me for getting all lofty and Ben Franklin-y on you, but Penn — and higher education in general — is premised on the goal of teaching young people to become productive citizens who contribute to the greater good of society. But why wait until after college to apply what we learn in the classroom, when there exists an engaging neighborhood for Penn undergrads to explore right now?

There were a few moments this year when I realized that Penn has truly become a home away from home for me. At the end of winter break, I subconsciously said that I couldn’t wait to go “home” — meaning back to Penn — for second semester. And one week after taking my usual walk to 47th Street, I was welcomed not only by the lively rowdiness at the elementary school where I volunteer, but also by students who remembered my name and asked where I had been all week. 

My tradition of weekly stops at Koch’s Deli or Honest Tom’s Taco Shop, local favorites, haven’t hurt the sense of home I've gained from getting to know the local community, either.

So, future Quakers, when you inevitably feel overwhelmed by the sea of flyers on Locust Walk, keep West Philly opportunities in mind as a way to give yourself direction amidst the countless opportunities at Penn. In choosing how you will spend your time here, think beyond the charming but sometimes insulating bubble that campus can be. Trust me when I say that stepping away for a short while feels just as good as returning to the familiar bustle of your new home. 

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