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Every day when I leave class, I step outside into the wintery Philadelphia weather, take off my mask, and take a deep breath of the crisp air, feeling refreshed. It is almost comedic how an act as trivial as taking off a mask can bring someone so much relief.
I stood in the corner of a dimly lit fraternity house, solo cup in hand, observing the commotion in front of me. The air reeked of cheap beer accompanied by the occasional crisp sound of ping pong balls landing in cups. I had two thoughts in mind: it is surreal that I’m finally at college after a year of online school and I can’t believe how much I’m enjoying a fraternity party.
“I don’t mean to offend. I’m genuinely curious.”
When I first stepped on campus on Aug. 25, I felt a strange symbiosis of familiarity and unfamiliarity, having finished my first year of college completely online from my home in China. Locust Walk bustled with activity as first years headed off to yet another New Student Orientation event while I, a sophomore, found myself lost on my own college campus.
Unlike Fourth of July 2020, this year’s Independence Day was not represented by virtual celebratory events and rising COVID-19 cases. Earlier in June, the city of Philadelphia lifted COVID-19 capacity restrictions, social distancing guidelines, and mask requirements for vaccinated individuals, allowing people to attend Independence Day events in person and maskless throughout the city.
On Monday, the Class of 2021 joined a long line of graduating classes in concluding their time at Penn as undergraduate students. While many classes have preceded them, their experience is unique. After having their junior year suddenly cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, they never returned to the classroom and have now completed their final two and a half semesters virtually. While the Class of 2020's commencement was moved online and an in-person event is yet to be rescheduled, the Class of 2021 was able to have a socially-distanced celebration in Franklin Field.