When I arrived to the US, my Uber ride from Philadelphia’s airport to UPenn was basically an elongated “I made it” moment filled with excitement and satisfaction, until I was dropped in the middle of 4 anonymous buildings. With no Wi-Fi, three heavy suitcases, and zero idea which building was my dorm, I just stood there laughing at my own unpreparedness.
Let’s just say, “Keep it spontaneous” was my slogan for the semester. I barely researched anything before arriving at UPenn. And while I don’t regret giving myself the chance to experience everything raw and unfiltered, if I could go back, I would definitely tweak a few things based on the lessons I learned late. So here are couple of pieces of advice that might help you prepare for your own journey.
1. Prepare, even a little.
Spontaneity is fun, but if you want to make the most of your semester, you have to do some planning. These five months may seem long, but time flies in the US. As soon as you can:
- Make a rough to-do list of goals for the semester, and keep tracking it.
- Plan your spring break early — flights and trains get expensive fast.
- Even casual plans (like “let’s go for a hike someday”) should be planned ahead of time, because as you’ll experience, Penn students have busy schedules!
- Look up your dorm location (trust me on this).
2. Seek discomfort — again and again.
You’ve already stepped outside your comfort zone by going on exchange. But don’t let that achievement become an excuse to stay comfortable once you’re there. It’s easy to fall into new routines: staying in your room, constantly calling home 24/7, or only hanging out with people from your own ethnicity.
There’s nothing wrong with that, unless your goal is to grow. At UPenn, there’s always something happening: cultural nights, club fairs, speaker events. Push yourself to go, even alone. That’s how you discover more about yourself.
3. Romanticize loneliness.
If you arrive knowing no one, loneliness is inevitable at first. Instead of dreading it, learn to enjoy it. Solo time helps you reconnect with yourself, reflect, and perhaps most importantly, forces you to initiate new friendships.
Some of my best memories started because I had no one to hang out with and decided to just show up somewhere anyway.
4. Trust yourself.
It’s easy to get impostor syndrome at an Ivy League school. You might think: “Everyone here knows more than me.” And maybe, sometimes, they do. But that just means you have more to learn, and that’s exciting.
Confidence is key. Even if you feel unsure, fake it till you make it. Sign up for that club. Speak up in that class. Apply for that program. The only voice you should listen to is the one that says, “I’ve got this.”
5. Final (and most helpful) tip: Reach out!
If you’re planning on participating in IGSP and have any questions, I’d genuinely love to help. Message me on Instagram @Gheedmoussawi.
To sum it up, IGSP semesters are fast, busy, and unforgettable. You won’t be able to plan everything, and that’s part of the fun. But trust me, if you stay curious, open-minded, positive, and just a bit organized, you’ll make the most of every moment!
