On Halloween two years ago -- with skateboards and pizza boxes in tow -- Wharton freshman Puneet Singh and friends transformed into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They paraded down the hallways of Canfield High School in Ohio, blasting the theme song from the popular '80s cartoon in head-to-toe costumes.
It was no surprise that the group won an award for "most entertaining" that year.
Singh -- who dressed as "Master Splinter," the Turtles' mentor -- can use his energetic spirit and fun-loving attitude quite effectively in his latest role, freshman class president.
"Every night I probably waste a lot of time just having too much fun," Singh admits, but "I'm in charge of making sure freshmen have fun, and if that is my main goal, then I definitely have tons of ideas where the freshmen will have a good time."
Singh beams when he talks about his high school experience.
"It was just amazing. It was the best time," Singh says enthusiastically, noting the close bonds he formed with his high school classmates.
"A lot of people tell me that when you come to college, you lose contact with your high school friends, but we just had such a good time that I really want to make sure that doesn't happen," Singh says.
At Canfield, Singh was involved in student government as both junior and senior class president.
Explaining that he already knew he wanted to take a leadership role when he entered Penn, Singh says, "I just really loved creating new ideas and ways to help the student body."
In addition to student government, Singh was involved in nearly 20 other activities throughout high school, including jazz band, where he played the alto saxophone.
Singh has scaled back his list of activities since he entered Penn, involving himself in just four groups outside of student government -- the Penn Sikh Organization, the South Asia Society, UTV and the Parliamentary Debate Team.
According to Singh, the decision to continue his education at Penn was a fairly simple one.
Coming from a small suburb, Singh wanted to experience a more cosmopolitan area.
Also, Singh says, "I knew that, obviously, getting the opportunity to go to an Ivy League university is something that you should never pass up."
With an aunt living in Philadelphia, the luxury of having family close to campus sealed the deal for Singh.
Currently, Singh is a student in the Wharton School, but his interests remain broad.
"As a freshman, I figure a business degree is very versatile," says Singh, who is also interested in broadcast journalism.
"I would love to be on ESPN doing something like Pardon the Interruption or Around the Horn," Singh continues.
Anyone who knew Singh as a child would likely be shocked to learn that he now dreams of being on television or that he ran for class president. He was formerly known for being shy and somewhat introverted.
"At my [high school] graduation party, my first-grade teacher came and she remarked about how much I'd changed," Singh says.
Friends also attest to Singh's now-sociable nature.
"We'll go to the dining hall together, and he's always saying hi to all these different people," says Singh's roommate, Wharton freshman Mike Kiser. "That's probably why he's president."
Yet Kiser adds, "Even though he knows a lot of people, ... he's a loyal person."
Singh has one sibling, his older sister Manita, and the two are extremely close, talking every day on the phone.
"He's probably one of my best friends. I definitely consider him a great confidant," says Manita, a student at the University of Pittsburgh.
For Singh, family and friends are of the utmost importance
"The way I look at it, family and friends are all you have," Singh says. "My high school friends, my family and hopefully my growing Penn family will be people who I keep in touch with for the rest of my life."
Another of Singh's mantras is to not take himself too seriously.
"If you're not afraid of being embarrassed, then you can really be yourself."
"I'm an open book," Singh continues. "Anyone who wants to know anything about me can just ask."
