Penn State was the school I wanted to attend ever since middle school. My parents never went to college. In fact, I have no family that has ever even gone to Penn State (but my younger brother recently chose Penn State because of my influence). My dad, for some reason, always was a Penn State football fan. So, I was a Penn State football.
My first ever personal experience with the University was at a football game my freshmen year of high school. I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere and energy that Penn State provides. It is a feeling unlike any other. The buzz of life and close knit feeling that I experienced that day with 100,000 people I did not know drew me into the University.
However, that same energy that comes from 100,000 people you do not know on football Saturdays can also be intimidating. This is why I did some research my junior year of high school and found all the opportunities the University provides across the state of Pennsylvania. These opportunities come in the form of Commonwealth campuses. I was able to find a home at Penn State Beaver, 35 minutes away from my home near Pittsburgh.
The Beaver campus, such as many other Commonwealth campuses, provides students with a chance to begin their Penn State journey at a smaller campus (class sizes at Beaver averaged around 23), spend two years there, then move on to a different campus (such as University Park). I was able to grow as an individual, meet great people, and prepare myself for life at University Park by starting at Beaver.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Penn State Beaver. I am now a junior Marketing major at the University Park campus and I am loving it. I have grown to feel more connected and involved, as well as excited to be a part of the energy that I first felt more than five years ago.
Penn State provides opportunity. I always wanted to go to Penn State, University Park, but was intimidated by the size. However, I was still able to find a home in the University. No matter what kind of campus you would like, be it large or small, near a city or in the middle of the State, you will find a home with Penn State.
Most importantly, you will find a family in the Penn State community.
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