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On Fireworks and Being a Freshmen

By 2014 Legacy Awards Recipient and Elks Scholar Advisory Board Member Anji Radakrishnan

 


Anji Radakrishnan, 2014 Legacy scholar and freshmen representative on the Elks Scholar Advisory Board, is giving us a glimpse into life as a college freshmen. Join her each month as she blogs about her exciting new challenges and experiences at Penn State.

    During this past summer, while the rest of the soon-to-be college freshman were busy hanging out with their friends and enjoying the presence of their families, I was in a small study lounge on my floor, busily typing away Biology notes, speeches, and English essays on my laptop. I attended Penn State’s summer session, a necessary component of my six year premedical-medical program through Jefferson Medical School. This summer introduced me to brand-new experiences. The most memorable of these was the 4th of July weekend.

    On the 4th of July, thousands of people arrived at Beaver Stadium to watch the light display to come. The entire community was abuzz with excitement about this annual celebration. Barbecues and music galore were vital components of the day-long festival. The fireworks themselves were grander than anything I had ever seen before. Coming from the small city of Nashua, NH, all of the fireworks I had seen previously were small and bought at a local store. Sitting in flimsy fold-out chairs with my friends, staring at the beauty lighting up the sky above us, is a memory and feeling I will never forget. Sometimes, it’s important to just let go of the problems we have and stresses we feel, and enjoy the world around us.

    Although I had a blast at Penn State over the summer, there are so many more things to look forward to. Football games, the Color Run, concerts, etc.., but beyond that, deep, meaningful friendships to build. Things are going to be quite different from summer to fall. My small campus of a few thousand students will grow to accommodate 40,000. My 3 classes will become 5. There will be clubs, activities, and events to attend. Over the 6 weeks I was at Penn State for the summer, I learned how to study for college courses and how to manage my time efficiently. The real test begins now, when there are numerous other factors that are thrown into the mix.  Join me in my next post as I fumble through the do’s and don’ts of being a college freshman! I hope all of the other Elks Scholars in our family out there are having a wonderful college experience as well!

Anjithaa Radakrishnan
Elks Scholar Advisory Board Freshman Representative
Pennsylvania State University


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