It’s time for one last ride for the Class of 2027!

The first week of classes has come to a close, and with that, the last first day of school for the senior class. That sad fact has many people feeling nostalgic and looking back on their college journey thus far.

Our seniors gathered advice for incoming freshmen about how to make the most of their time at Penn State. Take a peek at the sage wisdom our ancient staffers have to bestow on the younger generations.

Collin Ward

Talking to “strangers” isn’t scary.

Penn State is such a big school. There are going to be times when you walk on campus and see no one you know. There are going to be times in class when you know no one. It can be scary at first, feeling like you only know a small group of people, like everyone else has already found their friends, but I promise everyone (almost) is willing to make a new friend.

Talk to the people next to you in class. Exchange phone numbers to discuss homework or group projects. Stop someone in the street wearing merch from a high school near you at home.

I promise that the more people you know, the better you will feel and the more friendly the Penn State community will feel. Go make some friends.

Cadyn Gill

As a senior looking into the metaphorical rear-view mirror of my college years, I can’t help but wonder how my life would change if certain things had happened differently. As an underclassman, I experienced my fair share of failed friendships, personal challenges, and academic setbacks.

I constantly dwelled on whether I was “on track” or not. But honestly, I understand now that focusing on what I can control and letting everything else fall into place around me is the best way to go about life.

If senior Cadyn could go back in time and tell freshman Cadyn that everyone operates on their own timeline and not to worry about constantly succeeding, I bet it would help him astronomically.

I’d tell him, “As long as you aren’t making the same mistake twice, your failures will promote growth.”

Simply put, show up for yourself every day, and opportunities will present themselves.

Sylvia Prebor

Nobody cares.

Nobody cares. College is different because everyone is on their own path and figuring out how to build their own life. Nobody cares who you hang out with, where you go out, or what clubs you’re involved in.

Do what YOU want to do, surround yourself with people who make you happy, and don’t make decisions based on what you think other people will think.

And honestly, if they care that much about what you’re doing, that’s a little weird.

Sean Regenye

I wish I had joined and stayed involved in more clubs as a freshman.

Going to the involvement fair is one of the most overwhelming experiences in those first weeks, but a necessary step to having the best four years at school. The HUB Lawn is scattered with folding tables, tri-fold posters, and people trying to sell their hobby through a GroupMe QR code.

It’s important to find at least two things: a club for fun and a club for your career path. I was lucky to find both of those, though it took me two years to find the latter.

Freshman year, I joined a very social and very competitive club in Club Roundnet. I made some of my best friends there, learned a new sport, and got to compete in it.

I also joined quite a few clubs for my career path. Through them, I learned what my cup of tea was in journalism. I eventually dropped some and built a foundation with others, such as Onward State, even though it took me until junior year to join.

Start scanning as many of those QR codes as you find interesting because at least a few of them will work out, and that’s all you need!

Sarah Nasif

College is the best four years of your life. Make memories, do everything you want, and don’t leave this place with regrets.

Everyone says your four years (and more if you’re lucky) in college are the peak years of your life. Don’t overlook that because you’re worried about next year or the year after that.

That being said… spend the money, drive a half hour to Bald Eagle State Park, go to that football game against a sucky opponent, and later in life go to Doggies on that Monday night.

A day will come when your best friends are no longer just a five-minute walk away. State College will never feel or look the same. Enjoy your time here, take pictures, vlog, make memories that will last a lifetime and that you’ll pass on to your kids, and seriously — leave no regrets.

Ryan Poskitt

A lot of times I look back at freshman year and wish I knew to put more time into clubs/organizations and making more friends instead of focusing on schoolwork. I feel like I cut myself off from doing a lot of cool things at the time because I was too worried about keeping good grades.

I also wish I had known I could choose a career path I was passionate about instead of having my family make my career choices for me.

A lot of my time was taken up freshman year being an engineer when I didn’t want to be, but now I’m in communications and thriving with new opportunities in organizations and connections that I wouldn’t have gotten if I stayed in my previous major (not disrespecting engineering, just saying it wasn’t my thing).

Madison Sosnowski

Something I wish I had known as a freshman was just how fast time goes. I’ve always said, “Oh, I’ll do that next year.” Now, I’m here with so many things I haven’t done and only a year left to do them.

To the freshmen experiencing their first semester, do the things that make you excited. College is about learning about yourself, studying what matters most to you, having fun, and enjoying being this close to your friends.

Penn State is going to teach you so much about yourself and introduce you to so many things you never knew, so embrace it all. There will be times when things get hard or stressful, but don’t let that stop you from doing the things you want to do.

Do them anyway, because you don’t want to get to graduation and regret the things you let yourself miss. Everything will work out, and it really does go way faster than you think.

Kayla Wakeley

You can miss home and still move forward.

As a first-gen student, guilt is one of the biggest feelings that has followed me throughout my journey at Penn State. My siblings are my rocks, and moving four hours away meant missing out on my sister’s senior year of high school and my brother’s middle and high school football games.

When you’re given the opportunity to pursue something your family never got the chance to do, it’s easy to feel like you’re leaving them behind by choosing a completely different path.

However, I’ve learned that going to college isn’t leaving them behind. It’s a way of honoring the work and sacrifices they made to get me to where I am today. Just because you chose a different route doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to miss home.

This isn’t a “Well, you made your bed, lie in it” situation. You’re absolutely allowed to feel proud of how far you’ve come and where you are now while still missing your folks back home.

Ally Eaton

It’s never that serious.

Yes, your assignments matter. Yes, you should definitely study for that test. Yes, that situation sucked. But in the grand scheme of things? None of it really matters that much. It’s not worth your stress, it’s not worth your health, and it’s not worth consuming your life.

My dear friend and mentor Keeley Lamm taught me this early on in my college years, but it’s something I wish I had held even closer freshman year. Literally nothing matters.

This doesn’t give you a free pass to not care. That’s not what I’m saying here. All I ask is that you don’t sacrifice an unplanned night with your friends, a night of sleep to fuel your body and mind, or your favorite takeout because you’re worried about a test or getting something done. Nothing matters enough to hold yourself back from some of the best experiences of your life.

Soak it in, and remember to not take life too seriously.

Jessica Farhat

I wish I knew just how fast four years would really go. I feel like I was a freshman yesterday trying to find the right buildings. My advice to freshmen is to enjoy everything and to do things that are out of your comfort zone.

Oh, and go to class. That’s how I met my best friends!

Alex Smith

Penn State is so special, and it goes by so quickly. Do not let the next four years breeze past you; you will regret it.

Pause throughout your day and take in that you’re at the best school ever! Even if it’s snowing out in April, be grateful you get to be cold in Happy Valley!

Jamie Lynch

Be Your Own Best Friend.

There will be a lot of points in your college life when you want to do things your own way. Perhaps it’s staying in on a night when everyone is going out. Or maybe you want to see a concert but have nobody to go with.

If there’s one thing I’ve gained from my time at Penn State, it’s finding satisfaction in my independence. Don’t be afraid to do things alone if there’s something you want to do. If you don’t want to miss the first half of a football game even though your friends are tailgating, go in alone. Buy that ticket for a show you’ve been wanting to see. You never know where you might meet someone special or forge an important connection.

State College has so much to offer. It’s impossible to make the most out of your experience by always following others. And if you’re embarrassed to do something alone, just remember that awkwardness is temporary; regret is forever.

Kennedy Jones

Always Embrace The Whimsy And Chaos.

During my first three years on campus, especially freshman year, I would overthink everything. Coming to a school as big as Penn State made my 18-year-old self incredibly anxious, and I honestly missed out on many opportunities as a freshman because of it.

If I could only give one piece of advice to freshmen, it would be to embrace the whimsy and the chaos of Penn State. While you might think everyone will judge you after you make a mistake, the truth is that no one really cares.

I’ve made so many memories over the years, but I wish I had known to push myself earlier in my college career. I wish I had known earlier that it was worth pushing myself to talk to new people, to find a new study spot, or to try something I had never done before.

You only have four years to make it all count, so don’t overthink everything.