by Westin Boyd | Sep 8, 2025 |
Hi, all! I’m so excited to return to blogging with you all this semester! Last year, I used many of these blogs to unpack challenges I was facing in my leadership positions on campus, and I found that process quite helpful and therapeutic, so I’m going to...
by Mark Hinlo | Sep 8, 2025 |
Hi PLA! It feels weird to be back into full blogging mode, but it helps being in Honor 401 this semester as I’ve warmed up the keyboard and am ready to write. I remember being in this exact same position almost a year ago today: being officially into the PLA and...
by Charles Irvin | Sep 8, 2025 |
Where did the first two weeks of this semester go? This morning, as I got out of bed, it finally hit me: the first two weeks of my senior year of college are over. I have this tendency to put my head down, to tune out the larger “overview” view, and just...
by Marianna Olaya | Sep 8, 2025 |
Hi PLA’ers! I hope you all had wonderful summers and smooth transitions into this new school year. I had an awesome summer and I’m very happy to be back. With a new school year comes fresh perspective, goals, and opportunity. I’m feeling ready and excited to tackle...
by Thomas Montemayor | Sep 8, 2025 |
Two weeks into the semester and I’ve already started to notice some differences from last year to now. The biggest change for me this year has been apartment living. Cooking, cleaning, and learning to share a living space with others have all been an adjustment. I...
by lts5282 | Sep 7, 2025 |
As I finish settling in my second week of my second year at university, I am so grateful for the many memories and opportunities that I been able to take part in. Being back in State College is a chance for me to find a routine, work on some of my goals, and...
by Litzy Sandoval | Sep 7, 2025 |
It has been two whole weeks since the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester. Otherwise known as the beginning of the senior year for the Class of 2026. My Class. It seems odd to be a part of the oldest undergraduate year, especially as an ’05. The list of things I...
by Mayuri | Sep 7, 2025 |
Hi everyone! As I’m sure many of you are as well, I have taken the last two weeks to really get acclimated back to campus coming from a jam packed summer. I spent the month of May in Washington DC teaching in public schools and working on a Capstone project. I...
by arc6618 | Sep 7, 2025 |
If you had told me at the beginning of my senior year that two years later I would be starting my journey in the PLA at Penn State and had studied abroad after my first year of college, I wouldn’t have believed you. During my senior year, I had my heart set on going...
by Morgan Dawkins | Sep 7, 2025 |
On September 4 -7, I attended the National Society of Black Engineers’ Regional Leadership Conference in Alexandria, VA. Going into this weekend, I thought I knew what my role was. I was the End Zone Coordinator, a position I understood, a position I felt...
by eas6700 | Sep 7, 2025 |
. . As a Geobiology major, I am constantly fascinated by the world around us. From natural processes that take millions of years to everyday wonders about clouds and tress and life – I love it all. Inspired by this, my blog...
by Christian Roach | Sep 7, 2025 |
Going into my final year here at Penn State means there is a lot on my mind. I look back on the past three years and see how much I have changed as a person; time really did fly. Penn State has shown me just how many opportunities are out there and I could not be more...
by sjk6972 | Sep 7, 2025 |
Over the summer, I was given the wonderful opportunity to be a Special Events and Marketing Intern for Macomb Township Parks and Recreation. From this job, I gained valuable experience and knowledge that I will be able to apply to future employments. Working within a...
by sar6522 | Sep 7, 2025 |
Abbie Hoffman, the American revolutionary, once said: “I believe in compulsory cannibalism. If people were forced to eat what they killed, there would be no more wars.” Hoffman was a renowned satirical activist from the 1960s and 1970s, best known for his role in the...
by Kathleen Del Carmen | Sep 7, 2025 |
Nearly everyone complains about the long walks across campus to get to class, but honestly, I kind of like it. The long walks between my classes basically give me built in time where I can let my mind wander. Instead of rushing to think about my to-do list or my next...
by Maguire Younes | Sep 7, 2025 |
HI EVERYONE!!!!! I hope everyone had a great summer! I hope it was all you could ever ask for and more! I wanted to talk about a couple of cool cyber projects going on. Nerd things, but in my eyes, it’s very cool. But again, I am a nerd. So let me know in the...
by jpb6798 | Sep 7, 2025 |
There’s a difference between just being busy and truly understanding what it means to juggle multiple responsibilities at once. Lately, I’ve been living in that space where my calendar is packed 24/7 with meetings, deadlines, and schoolwork, and honestly, it’s been a...
by Jose Vazquez | Sep 7, 2025 |
This past week the NFL returned for the 2026 season, starting with the Eagles vs Cowboys on Thursday Night Football. The game was very different from what most expected; the common consensus was the 2025 champ Eagles would dominate the Cowboys considering their...
by Kirti Arora | Sep 7, 2025 |
It’s always that first step that makes or breaks something. With every passing day as I am learning a bit more about myself, I am also realizing how much of life is a go and forth between thinking and doing. Thinking while sometimes is important and allows me to weigh...
by oxt5058 | Sep 7, 2025 |
Now that I’ve transitioned from my freshman to sophomore year, there are many exciting things that I’m happy to finally experience. Having single-pod bathrooms, going to football games, and most importantly, being close to the dining halls. Last year, I was living in...
by Lydia Meressi | Sep 7, 2025 |
Junior year has been both incredibly busy and exciting, filled with a constant stream of responsibilities, challenges, and new experiences. Each day begins early and ends late, and while the pace has been intense, I remain optimistic about what this school year has to...
by Megan Soto-Benitez | Sep 7, 2025 |
This is basically just gonna be a weekly summary of the things that have kept me busy this week, in no particular order. Today, I went to Altoona to see Hamilton with some friends. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge theater kid, but I do know every word to...
by Clarissa Theiss | Sep 7, 2025 |
I don’t even remember summer ending, let alone this school year starting. This beginning for my fourth and final fall semester at Penn State has been the most sneaky one yet. Maybe it’s because I spent the vast majority of my summer right here in Happy Valley, living...
by Brody Ivy | Sep 7, 2025 |
I have spent the past two weeks staying busy with so many different things, and it has led me to wonder when I am supposed to have down time. Almost every evening these last weeks I have been up until 2am. Whether it be working on a studio project, loading out for the...
by Rachel Polashenski | Sep 7, 2025 |
Wow, I can’t believe it’s junior year already. We’re only two weeks in and I already feel like it’s flying by. Over the summer, I had this idea in my mind that this year was going to be nice and relaxing, but boy have I been wrong so far....
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