Hey! My name is Zari and I'm a rising sophomore this fall! I'm originally from the Philippines, quite literally on the opposite side of the world, so when I first came to Penn, I had no idea what to expect. Moving to a completely new country and starting college was definitely intimidating at first, but with the help of the people I met and the friendships I built, Penn quickly started to feel like my home. I am currently planning to major in Economics, with the possibility of purusing a second major in Law! When I'm not studying, you can usually find me at the Pottruck gym, which became one of my favorite places on campus after I got over my initial nervousness of being surrounded by people who seemed much more experienced than me! I also love walking along Locust with my friends, grabbing a coffee or the yogurt and granola pots at PRET, or finding a new study spot. One thing I really appreciate about Penn is how many different communities and experiences you can find here -- there is definitely something for everyone! I also tend to familiarize myself with new places pretty quickly, so if you’re looking for a good study spot, or somewhere to grab food between classes I’d be happy to point you in the right direction! I’d love to share my experience and hopefully help you see yourself here too!

Hometown

Metro Manila, Philippines

Major(s)

Economics, Law and Society

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Wharton Undergraduate Real Estate Club (WUREC), Club Volleyball, Penn Economics Undergraduate Society (EUS), Wealth Management Club, Assembly of International Students (AIS)

Describe your college experience

My college experience so far has had its fair share of both ups and downs. However, if I were to redo my freshman year, I wouldn't changed anything because I can say with certainty that I have already grown and changed over the past year. I've learned to take greater control of my daily routines, and I feel that I've become more responsible in making decisions as I've gained more freedom and independence. I've also had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people and build strong friendships, which have made my college experience more meaningful. Overall, I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to attend this school as it was definitely the right choice and fit for me.

Tip for future students

Try to be outside of your room as much as possible. It is incredibly tempting to just stay inside and keep to yourself, however, college is also about taking steps outside of your comfort zone. Being in spaces where people usually gather is a great way to make friends and get to know others so definitely attend any social events offered because you never know who you could meet!

Favorite class

My favorite class was a writing seminar about Star Wars music. Although this was not a class required for the potential majors I want to pursue, it has been the most interesting class so far, as I am a big fan of any kind of music and fantasy​/​science fiction shows in general. In this class, we analyzed the soundtracks of movies like Star Wars, Jaws, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. I found that understanding the more technical elements of each music piece gave me a deeper appreciation for each story as a whole. The class was also filled with other students who were just as engaged in what we were learning, which made discussions all the more fun.

Career goals

One of the paths I could see myself pursuing after college is attending law school and eventually becoming a lawyer. I am also interested in pursuing a career in finance where I could develop valuable skills and gain experience that could potentially help me start my own business in the future.

Ideal way to spend a free night

An ideal free night for me would be simply hanging out or going on a walk with my friends and having conversations that range anywhere from funny to deeper ones. A lot of my free nights during the school year were spent at one of my friend's dorms wherein we would just be talking until early in the morning. Sometimes these nights also included Insomnia Cookies or Wawa runs or any other sort of side quest we would come up with in the moment.

High school or secondary school

International School Manila

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite place on campus is the PRET Cafe on Locust Walk. A lot of my time during freshman year was spent here either studying or catching up with people. Whenever my friends and I would go on a walk, we would always stop by PRET to grab a quick snack or drink, so visiting this cafe quickly became a staple in my daily routine.