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!