What is Penn State? We are Penn State.
That’s more than a catchy phrase to shout at prospective students and to intimidate visiting sports teams. It’s a statement of fact.

I’m about to graduate with a degree in Political Science and two minor certificates, all from the College of the Liberal Arts, and I’ve really spent some time lately thinking about the essence of Penn State and my experience here.

I once thought Penn State was a campus. I figured that the open lawn in front of Old Main, the dorm in which I lived up in East Halls, the classroom I had in Thomas, and the fountain outside the forum were Penn State. What did I know? I was new. I was out of state. I was a first generation college student. I learned throughout my first few months that Penn State wasn’t simply those parts of its physical presence. I realized that Penn State was an idea (or maybe a collection of ideas): its classes, its professors, it’s the fun we have at Football games, it’s more than I could ever mention.

That notion of Penn State stuck with me for quite some time. It lasted me through a few years. Recently, though, I’ve been thinking about my time after Penn State. And I can’t think about my time after Penn State without thinking about the place itself. I thought Penn State was ideas. I thought I knew Penn State. I’ve finally concluded – and I’m very confident about this, now – that Penn State is people.

Indeed: WE. ARE. Penn State. It’s the “we,” that is critical. I’m Penn State and you’re Penn State. I should have noticed this a long time ago, of course, but I’m glad I know now. I know that the place I’ve grown to love isn’t a bunch of lawns and buildings. And it’s more than classes and fun. One thing connects all of those pieces: people. My friends, my enemies, and everyone in between make this place worth attending. If I look at my Penn State experience, the people I’ve met and known here are what have shaped it. I wouldn’t enjoy those football games and that lawn in front of Old Main and that fountain outside the forum if it weren’t for the people who make it special.

Some people insist that Penn State is tradition. Or that Penn State is a place to grow intellectually, not personally. I disagree with both those notions. Penn State, I contend, is more its present and its future than it can ever be its past.

I’ve served the students of the university for two years in their student government, and I’ve served the College of the Liberal Arts students by acting as their undergraduate student president. Now that I’m about to leave both roles, I want to explain why I put so much of my time into them. I did it, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat, because I love Penn State. And I didn’t realize it at the time, but by Penn State, I mean its people. My constituents. Perhaps I can share some of my more interesting stories from those experiences in a separate entry here.

I led both the student government and the college’s council because I wanted to. If I have advice for those that remain after me, it’s this: do what you want. You should want to do well in classes, to contribute to campus, and to help those you care about. Set goals, and then achieve them. I loved giving back to the school I loved in my own unique way, and I encourage everyone to do something similar.

As I leave Penn State, I’ll certainly look back fondly. And I’ll remember that I learned what Penn State really is and why that made me want to contribute. Thanks, Penn State.