I remember driving 12 hours from Minnesota to Pennsylvania to start graduate school. My husband (then fiancé) drove his car as well since I had a lot of stuff to pack/move. 😛 When we first arrived at State College, our first impression was how small the town is. And we immediately wondered if we could even get Asian groceries here (good news: yes!). Over the years, State College has grown – we see more small businesses and restaurants open. Despite the growth, one thing has always remained constant: our community’s #weare pride.
When I was nearing completion with my dissertation, I interviewed for a professor position at Penn State. I wanted to understand the student body better and asked what’s a common reason for students to choose Penn State. The answer was: Their parents or grandparents attended the school and loved their experience.
In Sofia’s case, it’s absolutely true. Her great-grandma and her parents all graduated from Penn State. And now, she’s about to embark on her own Penn State experience! What a joy to celebrate Sofia’s acceptance into the Schreyer Honors College. While I typically take commencement photos to celebrate a graduate’s achievement, I absolutely love this idea of capturing memories at the start of one’s college career. This is where the journey begins. So much excitement, anticipation, and ambitions!









View more photos at Old Main here
View more photos at Nittany Lion Shrine here
View my family portraits portfolio here