My Weekend in Philly: Cheesesteaks Not Included.

This weekend, my family and I went on an excursion to the historical city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And while no, I didn’t visit the Liberty Bell (my 5th grade field trip already covered that), nor did I eat any Philly cheesesteaks, I was able to get a close-up look at our nation’s former capital.

Philly, similar to Boston, is a city that in modern day still remains a center of evolving culture, diverse people, elite universities, and great sports teams, in addition to its incomparable roots in American history. Philadelphia’s connection to America’s past in inescapable; artwork, sculptures, and architecture from the beginning of our country still remain and are embraced. Philadelphia’s NBA even harkens back to America’s foundation, calling themselves the “76ers”.

However, Philadelphia’s bridge from the past to the present is what makes it. in my opinion, a more intriguing city than Boston. Almost like small cities within the larger whole of Philadelphia, you can totally remove yourself from the history and be immersed in a twenty-first century metropolis, bustling with contemporary art museums, stadiums and arenas, and a diverse and lively night life.

In my short visit to Philadelphia, i was fortunate enough to visit the University of Pennsylvania, one of the most esteemed universities in the world. A member of the Ivy League, UPenn is a university that prides itself on academic excellence, a robust yet flexible curriculum, and of course, the luxury of being in the center of a major U.S. city.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Penn; students were engaged in learning, taking on multiple majors, seeking summer opportunities, and volunteering their time to present to potential students. Students at Penn, like other elite universities, love to learn and grow as students and individuals, and that energy was very present on the Penn campus.

Similar to the city of Philadelphia, Penn is full of artwork, specifically sculptures, that are both beautiful and interesting, which is a good way to summarize the Penn campus. Buildings with old and historical exteriors are met with sleek and modern interiors, to maintain the” Ivy League look” if you will, while also creating the most productive work spaces for students.

While walking through the campus, I totally forgot I was in Philadelphia. The campus is big, but not too big, and has plenty going on. However, being able to step right outside the campus into a city like Philadelphia is a fantastic privilege that Penn students definitely take advantage of (and they’re encouraged to do so socially and academically).

Philadelphia was a city I liked more as I saw more, and a city I hope to return to. No, it is not New York, or San Francisco, or Washington D.C., but it is a great place to be, whether you're in the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed, or at a Taylor Swift concert, and certainly a great city to go to school, especially when there is a school at the caliber of Penn in the heart of it.

Me in front of the LOVE sculpture at the University of Pennsylvania!