Humans of Penn [S23]

Humans

of

Penn

Editors’ Note ‘Humans of Penn’ is a project intended to highlight the people and stories that make up our campus. Over the course of several months, we walked around campus with a camera and interviewed people we suspected had a story to tell.

Through countless conversations, we were able to curate our interviews into a collection of experiences, perspectives, and memories from all over our campus.

@signal.penn

Q: What motivated you to come out today?

A: It’s so nice out, like it’s literally gorgeous. I feel like I can’t be inside. I feel like it’s a crime.

I’m eating with my own plate because I like to use reusables and this is a dining hall fork that I stole from the dining hall. Last week was my last physics lab, so normally at this time I would be at DRL for 2 hours straight, but not today, so I’m taking advantage of that!

Q: Does it feel nicer to eat off real silverware?

A: Yes, honestly, yes. I avoid eating in the dining hall as much as I can because something about sitting inside feels prison-like almost. I don’t like the silverware and plates that they have there.

This is a plate I thrifted for like a dollar at Philly Aids, and I love it. I feel like for me it makes a big difference making meals on plates that I like.

Q: Could you talk more about your fashion?

A: This tapestry is a picnic blanket that we got at Bali. I’m wearing the pants because it’s warm out. It's flowy, comfortable. I very much use my clothing as a way of expressing myself. I come from Berkeley, California where the fashion is quite different from here, and people dress really cool, and it’s really inspiring. I’ve sort of picked up on that, and now being in Philadelphia, I definitely want to maintain my Berkeley identity, so I feel like I do that through my clothes.

Q: How is the identity of Berkeley different from here?

A: It’s definitely very different culturally. I mean, weather! That’s for sure very different.

The winter was not a fun time. Culturally, I think that in Berkeley, people, at least in schools and in general, it’s a very politically active place.

During classes, we would always be talking about politics and current events, and I think that here, that doesn’t happen very much, at least not with the people I tend to interact with, which is sort of disappointing to me because I really like having that discourse with people and I’m really curious to hear what people’s opinions are. I feel like people here talk a lot about school or classes, and parties, and social drama, which is all great stuff, but I kind of miss talking about what’s going on in the news and having more political activism. Not that there isn’t any here, I feel like it’s a little bit less.

Emily

Anya

Q: How long have you been playing the guitar?

Y: Since sixth grade.

Q: Favorite song to play?

Y: Mainly finger style and pop songs. Like songs from Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, and Maroon Five… pop songs.

Q: What brought you out here today?

Y: Nice weather here today, and sometimes I just don’t want to practice in my home, that’s all.

Q: Do you find it hard to play in public?

Y: Maybe the first time… just will be nervous, but once you practice more, it will be good. I had some live performances in middle school, so solid background.

Yuyang Q: When was the first time you decided to practice your guitar on Locust Walk?

Y: One day, I came here. I think last semester.

Since then, I can check how passengers react. If it’s a good way, then I’m good. If it’s a little bit bad way, then go back and practice this song more… more focused.

Q: What does guitar mean to you?

Y: Life record. Some songs, I learned during life experiences. And also some songs, I learned them so fast because I was emotional. Some songs, I learned to remember someone. It’s like some songs can reflect part of my life.

Q: Well, what's the occasion today?

N: The occasion is enjoying the incredible weather and our beautiful campus! I try to make sure I get out a little bit every day just to take a break and enjoy our campus. The occasion is sunshine.

Q: What are you most excited for today?

N: Most excited for today? Um, going home and seeing if my garden has started sprouting yet. I started growing vegetables and herbs this year and I haven’t done that in a long time so I think this weather will definitely prompt them to spring up soon.

Q: What vegetables?

N: It's gonna be a container garden because our backyard is really small. I'm growing heirloom tomatoes. I think they’re called Cherokee purple; they’re so red they’re almost purple. And lavender and dill and a couple different kinds of basil, many herbs, and some flowers too.

Nadine

Q: Is there any difference between what Penn was like pre-pandemic and now?

N: I feel like there are a lot more people here. It could be because I’m still not used to big groups of people after being isolated for a long time. It seems like people are just really happy to have in person gatherings again. For a while we couldn’t even have in-person gatherings indoors--it would need to be outside, there couldn’t be food. All of which I understand completely, but I think it really changed things for everyone. So I’m really happy that the vibe is returning, it's sort of pre-pandemic normalcy, from my perspective anyway. And hopefully the students feel that way too.

Cherie

Q: What is the most

bittersweet thing you

remember about high school?

C: I am from Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean. We had this massive sports day celebration and my best friend would come to my place and we would just chill and watch movies, or just talk, or play games afterwards.

That's one of my favorites.

Q: Do you think these memories are heightened because you don’t live in your home country anymore?

C: I don’t think that its heightened because the new memories I have created here are as good, and just this experience, its beyond what I have lived even when I was back home.

Shannon & Kate K: She’s my big so this is a tradition. Usually we get Lyn’s but Lyn’s wasn’t there.

S: So sad that Lyn’s was closed today.

Q: Aww, that’s so sweet. Big for what?

K: We’re in a business frat, Phi Gamma Nu.

Q:That’s so nice. What year are you?

K: I’m a sophomore.

S: I’m a senior.

Q: So how long have you been doing this tradition?

K: It’s been a year since she first picked me up. You suggested Lyn’s the first time.

S: Oh yeah, I think that was when I recently found out about Lyns, so I made her come with me.

K: Yeah, in freshman year I lived in the quad in Riepe, so I would just like go out and meet her there. And I think they have a secret menu too. We haven’t tried it yet, but we’re trying our way through the menu.

Marjorie & Khang Q: What made you sit out here today?

M: Well, since we are both architecture students, we are always stressed and in studio all the time, so we’ve been trying to have new boundaries between school and relaxation. So we found some grass to lay on.

K: We also just had hotpot, so we’re stuffed.

Q: How often do you see the sun?

M: Not a lot. [laugh] That’s why we’re here. We need to touch grass.

Q: What do you want to do

with your degree?

M: Hopefully do cool stuff.

I don’t want to get stuck in an office working 9-5. I want to experiment–combining architecture and fashion maybe. That’s the goal. We’ve actually worked on a project for the Penn charity fashion show where we designed wings and crowns for them to wear. So we apply our design logic to something wearable. We end up making cool stuff. It’s a lot of work but the finished product makes me so proud.

K: Architecture at the end of the day is functional art. At its core, you can apply it to everything.

M: Instead of just doing boxes–

K: Yes. More than just boxy buildings.

Daniella & Maya

Q: I like the blue nails? What’s the inspiration behind it?

D: I try to get different colors. I used to get pink all the time, like my favorite color is pink. I'd get yellow and purple and I was just going through a rainbow, and then I was like, "I guess it's time for blue."

Q: Do you always go for bright color nails?

D: Yeah mostly, I think the only time I might've gone darker is maybe in the winter, like okay it's winter, I'm gonna be darker. But I'm always bright, like with everything!

Q: Do you ride your penny board often on campus?

D: I actually only saw Maya ride one time, but um, apparently—

M: I do! I do! [laughs] I'm a physics major, so all my classes are in DRL, so in the morning I go down Spruce on it.

Alan & Kevin & Michael Q: Why are you guys sitting out

K: Sometimes, you need to

here at 3am while the rest of the

pick things to not give a fuck

world is sleeping?

about. And it goes both ways,

M: Full moon out, you know,

for both positive and

nice weather, good for

negative. Getting a bad grade,

studying.

I'll probably be like, "Damn

A: I was feeling very teenager-y

that sucks." But then

today.

internally, for the next week,

M: Alan's enthusiasm got me

I'll probably be miserable. I'll

out here.

be like, "I didn't work hard

Q: How has the transition to

enough. I'm stupid. I just

Penn as a 17 year old been like?

Q: What’s the best piece of

don't belong here." And I

A: He was 16 when he came.

advice you’ve gotten?

think everyone here goes

K: Our child has been

A: I think the best piece of

through it, but at some point,

transitioning very well. We're so

advice I read is: for the things

I think you gotta realize that

happy for our child.

that happen outside of your

caring about it in hindsight

M: Kevin's been one of the

control, you can't get upset at

won't change anything.

hardest parts about being 17.

that

M: My advice was in 3rd

A: Guess our nickname for

that you are able to influence

grade

him.

and work for, then you can

A: 3rd grade? That's crazy.

Can you say MimiGuguJuju?

have a say in it. What's the

K: Dude, that was only like

M: One of the hardest aspects

point of beating yourself over

two years ago for him.

about being at Penn at 17 is

something you can’t change?

M: Anyways, my teacher was

shit.

If

it's

something

people are horrible about it.

like, "You know Michael, you

You can’t go an hour without

gotta pause and enjoy life, and

having it brought up.

make sure to enjoy life as it

K: Do you not find it the least

happens and not focus too

bit endearing? Not even the

much on the future." And I

slightest?

was like, "Damn bro, I'm a

M: No [laughs]. It was

3rd grader, how the fuck is

endearing for like the first

she already telling me that?"

week!

So that was a time when I

A: Wait, for the rest of this

realized that studies probably

interview call him Mimi.

didn't matter that much. I

M: I would prefer not to be

took this seriously as a 3rd

referred to as Mimi.

grader. 4th grade, I eased up.

Q: How has your perception of Penn changed?

R: I came in thinking everyone was fucking smart, and I realized that no one knows anything.

T: I didn’t know what America would look like coming in, and I have not been pleasantly surprised. Wait–let me redo this. I don’t want to get attacked. I’ve actually met lots of friends and people from all over the world–someone from Alabama actually. Penn’s really diverse.

Q: What did you learn about Alabama? That’s the most American you can get.

T: We did not talk about Alabama, so I learned nothing about the state, but he is from there!

Q: What are you up to?

T: We just had CIS181. We left early and we’re hungry.

Q: What did you get?

T: Dude this houston sandwich looks so dry.

R: Taha got this for us.

T: She makes me give her–

R: He offered to.

T: So every week she just leeches off me. It’s like a weekly ritual.

R: One time I gave him answers to something and I said he owes me unlimited swipes now. So…

Q: Haha, so, how did you meet?

R: Hack4Impact – shameless plug.

T: We love the community.

R: Yes! Learn how to code, build lots of apps, make a difference.

Q: Nice! What are you most excited for right now?

T: Going back home over the summer.

R: I’m really excited for nicer weather, to play spikeball outside.

T: Oh, and shorts.

Q: Shorts?

T: Yes, they remind me of home.

R: You don’t wear shorts here?

T: Well I’m not wearing them right now bro

R: True. I don’t want to see you in shorts.

Q: What’s a question you would like to ask someone at Penn?

T: Damn.

T: Hm...Do you have any regrets?

Taha & Ria

Q: What’s your favorite memory at Penn, a big takeaway, or whatever you would want to share to anyone reading this?

M: It’s hard to choose a favorite memory because I’ve had a lot of great memories here.

Q: Top two? Top three?

M: It’s hard to choose. I like moments like this where I can just kick back and I don’t have a lot of work, and I get to relax outside with my friends and… graduating is a little bit daunting. I feel like this is the last time in my life that I’m gonna have so many people that I’m so close to within a couple blocks. So it’s getting a little bit real to me that all of the sudden I’m going to work and I’m going to have less time to spend time with people and I’m going to have to worry about real responsibilities. If I could have one takeaway, it’s really just small moments that are perhaps insignificant, but I think make up the majority of what I’ve done at school.

Angela & Matt Q: Personality-wise, how have you changed?

A: Definitely not to take things too seriously. The first three weeks of freshman year I cried all the time, because I think when people first meet me, they’re like she’s so bubbly… like, it’s very easy for me to make friends. But in reality I grew up in Bay Area and my high school was 80% Asian. All of us had very similar immigrant stories, and we all had very similar “work hard, play hard” mentality. And so coming here to Penn, I was like oh my god this is gonna be a bunch of different people that I’ve never met or talked to and have different experiences. I think I was just scared.

Like–what if people don’t like me because they don’t have a similar background? And I just wish I could tell myself to calm down, and that things would happen naturally and to ease into it, instead of expecting so much. It was impossible for me to even realize that then, because I was so in my head.

Jamel Q: Is that a tattoo?

J: Yes, of South Philly.

Terrible mistake. I was 17 when I got it. The other one is love and happiness in Japanese cause that’s all life is about. Love and happiness.

Q: What is your biggest achievement in life?

J: At this moment, my son and my daughter.

My son is 2 and my daughter is 18. I was in love with my daughter’s mother at the time, so I can honestly say they were love childs for sure. It didn’t work out, but I got my daughter. After work nowadays, I just go home to my kids. We play Fortnite. I love Fortnite.

Q: Who’s better?

J: Oh, me, for sure. My daughter got the Switch, I got the Xbox. I’ve been playing for 3 years now and she’s been playing for 5-6.

Q: And you’re still better than her?

J: Of course.

“

Emily Q: What’s with the banana?

E: We were all fruit pledges, so we had to carry a fruit around, but then I ate my banana because I was hungry. So now I’m wearing a banana costume.

Q: Does it apply to the watermelon pledge too?

E: Just the banana.

Q: What is a motto that you live by?

A: Stay humble, Stay hungry. I'm not sure if you guys have heard of that, but it's pretty common where I come from--it just feels like St. Ohio. I even said it to my roommate the other day and he was like, dang, I like it. I guess he's never heard that before. I feel like humility has always been a big part of who I am, and is certainly a product of how my parents raised me as well. I've definitely come from a very blessed background and started to realize that as I've continued to have more experiences in life. Like growing up as a Black man in America in a two parent household, not having to worry about where my next meal is coming from, when bills are gonna be paid. I feel like I was extremely fortunate and being humble with everything that I kind of received on that back is something that I keep a part of my life.

Austin

As for the still stay hungry part I feel like I never want to be content with where I'm at. That can be easy from time to time, and I don't want to stop here. I feel like there's always ways to improve and that’s definitely a mindset that I want to keep. There’s always room for improvement, room for growth. So one motto I always live by is stay humble, stay hungry.

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: I try not to think about that too much. I’m definitely proud and grateful of the opportunities I’ve been given, but there’s always ways for me to improve.

Q: What’s a question you would like to ask someone at Penn?

A: You guys got some really good questions.

Got me thinking on a Saturday. I appreciate it.

Hm...if you were to change something about your life, what would you change and why?

Q: What’s the most interesting or cool thing you’ve seen working at Van Pelt?

K: I think that seeing the collective struggle of people studying during finals and midterms. It’s pretty endearing but it’s also like a bonding experience because everyone is under the same pressures. I find it to be very humbling because a lot of people here pretend they don’t need to study to get good grades, but everyone’s in the same boat at the end of the day.

Kelly

Q: Could you share more about your struggles with

But

mental health and your support group for people

supposed

to

with stutters?

something

I

K: So I’ve always been a very anxious person, and

therapist and just with myself throughout the

when I came to Penn, I found out that people here

years.

are super, super exceptional and very smart. I felt

With my support group, I found a big part of my

like I had to catch up with them somehow, and it

social life has been restricted because I have a

came to a point where I was depressed for the

stutter. I feel like when I talk to people they turn

entirety of freshman and sophomore year. Even

away, or cringe at me, or laugh at me because I

now, I’m still struggling with it. It’s getting a lot of

have a speech impediment, but I have a lot to say.

better, but it was definitely really hard to be in a

I’ve been networking with different people at

space where it seems like grades are everything and

Penn–professors

kind of define me. And people keep saying that

stutter–and that has been a very healing

grades don’t define you, but as a person who’s first-

because I found that a future in research is

generation

for

possible for me, and I can travel the world–speak

success is something I absolutely need. I don’t have

Chinese, speak Spanish, whatever–and I can do

anyone

it. Because there are people who are like me who

low-income,

paying

for

my

anyone to fall back on.

having

a

education,

clear

I

path

don’t

have

if

I’m

are doing it.

struggling

mentally,

how

am

I

succeed

academically?

That

was

had

work

with

my

to

who

through

stutter,

doctors

who

for me

Q: So you are doing a program here?

E: Yes, it’s called Black Girls Literacy Project. It’s run by [a high school teacher], and she gets Black girls all over Philadelphia, and we talk about self-love and how we love ourself and city and society.

Q: Could you read some of your poetry?

E: Okay. Let me see if I can read it, because I wrote it on paper.

P: Wait read yours! Read yours!

S: Mine is about self love cuz you know, self love is great.

Love

Thank you so much for sharing this, Sarai. I didn’t know you had a child, and she is so lucky to have you! I am so lucky to know you.

It can be seen as mental physical action for

Elizabeth What you would do for love?

i would sing a million love songs under the wing of the sky

i would dance all day long

gathering blisters, resist her

Kiss the tender air,

let it breathe a fair life into me.

crumble , tumble, stumble and fall

let love take me over help me stand talli

I would play Jazz over my beloved blues

i would write an album , maybe a ballad or two

What you would do for love ?

someone you care about a name a feeling a description when describing someone you feel it internally mentally physically but I could

never

give

you

a

real

definition

because I could give Receive it but I never dance In it like the sweet taste of honey

or

the rain that dripping on my skin like skin to

skin

bound

meant

but

love

,self

,a

partner ,a child I guess I have to figure it out myself

Sarai

Tina Q: Do you have something else that you’re passionate about? What are your hobbies?

T: I’m a marketing major and design minor.

I’m really passionate about jewelry, and I want to, in the far future, be a jewelry designer. It’s the end goal, but we’re working towards it. I feel like jewelry is the most emotional thing that you can own.

Everyone that has jewelry from their grandparents or their best friends or their parents, it always has a meaning to it.

Especially if it’s silver or gold, it will last forever. It will last for generations. My grandma, she loves jewelry. She was my first inspo for nice jewelry, and then I kind of repicked up the hobby during quarantine, when I got my first ever ring and it changed my life. It did something to me–I changed that day when I got the ring. I feel like it’s so expressive and adds so much extra thing to the outfit.

Q: Do you feel like [clothing] expresses a certain part of you? A certain part of your identity or something that you want to get out and show people?

T: Yeah, I feel like being queer is such a… You can see why people express themselves in certain ways. There’s so much time to catch up on how you actually feel. My friends last year were telling me that to feel at peace, the way you think of yourself–the way others perceive you and who you want to be… those things have to align. And part of that is the way I dress and the way I present myself to the world. It’s nice to dress up because it also shows people that you care and that I want to be here and I’m excited to be with you, because I put effort into being here.

Definitely being gay has some part of that in there.

Haydr & Areebah Q:

What

is

your

relationship

with being mixed-ethnicity?

H: I feel disconnected from my Bengali side. Especially because I don't like my dad, but I feel like it's still a part of me so I feel like I should try harder... I feel like this weird space for being half of something it feels like I'm

never

culture,

so

I

fully

into

one

want

to

my

try

best to be fluent in Bengali so I can be in Bengali spaces.

Q:

What

is

your

experience

going back to Bangladesh?

A: My last recreational visit to Bangladesh was when I was 7, so

I

don't

really

recall.

I

remember seeing all my family and it was really nice, but I feel like

it

wouldn't

be

the

same

now, just that I'm grown and my family is really judgmental.

Q: What's your favorite food that either your parents or grandparents prepares?

H: Mine is chole bhature. My mom makes it on my birthday.

A: My favorite food that my mom makes, I'm craving it really bad right now, it's called beef haleem. It's basically this lentil stew, and my mom was initially really really bad at making it but my next door neighbor makes it really well so she stole her recipe.

Zimo & Tiffany Q: Do you have any regrets?

T: Most people here talk to

Q: Are you optimistic about

T: Coming to Penn.

you just to get something out

your future at Penn?

Q: What?! Why?

of you–like homework

T: I actually want to go to a

T: I didn’t know much about

solutions or exams. It’s hard

support group next semester.

Penn before coming. I applied

to find non-transactional

I want to hear more stories

ED because my guidance

relationships. You have to be

and see if I can find any

counselor told me to. I did it

very independent.

overlapping experiences there.

and got in early decision,

Z: I came in knowing it’d be

I hope it makes life better. I

which meant this was it for

like this though. I actually

think I’ll be able to find

me. I probably shouldn’t have

also regretted coming to Penn

people who have similar

applied early decision, but it’s

last semester, but I think the

experiences as me.

a regret I can’t really dwell on.

issues Tiffany brought up are

T: I think I’m getting a taste

Life is life and I’m too lazy to

universal to all colleges.

of what society is like but in a

transfer, so Penn!

I kind of just stopped caring

more protected environment,

Q: Is it different from what

and realized that college is

so it’s nice to understand how

you thought?

more about me,

to manage different

Z: Uhh, I actually expected all

independence, and life. The

relationships and

this.

weather has also been getting

expectations.

Q: What’s all this?

better, so that could be

Z: Even if the people you

Z: The pre-professionalism.

influencing my thoughts.

meet are transactional, you can just go about your day.

Q: If you could go back and talk to your freshman year self, what would you say?

C: I feel like especially now, because I only have like one month left. I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting. I think I’d probably just tell myself to put myself out there more. I feel like as a freshman I was just like so scared. I definitely had imposter syndrome, like “do I even belong here?” And so I think that mentality kinda stopped me a lot from, you know like, applying to clubs that I wanted to apply to just out of fear that I would get rejected or like joining different organizations. So I think I would go back and tell myself to just let go of that mindset.

This school, just in general, has a very pre professional atmosphere, which is lowkey important. I think that now that I have a job secured, I can say, looking back, “oh I shouldn’t have worried as much as I did.” But I think if I hadn’t worried, I probably wouldn’t be in the position I am now. I think everything in hindsight, you’re just like “oh, I’m so knowledgeable now.” But obviously back then like I didn’t… I didn’t think I would ever change anything.

Q:What do you think is the most important decision you’ve made at Penn?

C: I feel like one of the most important things that I did was keep up with the people I met during NSO. I know you hear a lot like, “oh you’ll make a bunch of friends during NSO. You’ll meet a bunch of people, but you won’t necessarily keep in contact with them.” And I’m super glad that I did because they ended up being my closest friends here. And they’re my roommates now so I think really on how building those relationships is important.

Q: How do you feel now?

C: It’s bittersweet right now, I’m contemplating, “Do I

just go back to the quad and like walk around late at night?”

Q: You should, I do that this year and I’m only a sophomore.

Carolyn

Q: Would you like to read yours?

S: I guess [laughs]. This one is called Dear Black Girl, I wrote it for Black history month.

P: As you should.

S: Dear Black girl, they wrote this letter for you

They say you ain’t supposed to be here Black girl

You ain’t supposed to smile in public

You ain’t supposed to smile anywhere

You ain’t supposed to do anything but carry babies and carry fellas and carry weaves and carry silence and carry a family and carry confusion and carry erasure but never an opinion

Cuz they say you ain’t supposed to be here Black girl

You ain’t supposed to love yourself Black girl until you look more medusa than Viola Davis

Until you sound more Shananay than Carrie Washington

Until you carry more side eye than Michelle Obama on a Tuesday afternoon

But then you tell them they are more than a hot criminal

Watch your step

That you are a Black girl worth remembering and you’re a threat to knowing yourself, a threat to loving yourself

Because they say you ain’t supposed to be here Black girl

That you’re a threat to loving your children

Then they also say

You’re Black girl magic, you’re Black girl fire

Black girl wonder, you’re a Black girl shot, you’re a Black girl

Black girl

And you are a beautiful Black woman right before our eyes

But then they still say

You ain’t supposed to be here Black girl

Amya

Peyton

What is the best or worst piece of advice that you have received from somebody else? ______________________________________________

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Humans

of

Penn