Our semester is coming to an end, and while we spend most of our time (day and night) somewhere studying, I asked around the cohort what people do to destress and get out of the learning environment for a while. Here are a few of their responses:

Marcelo

When I move to a new city, I always try to do an activity that connects me to the place. This time, the Penn Grad Boxing Club was a great opportunity to learn more about boxing and its culture. This is my first time practicing and it has become a time for learning, having fun, and taking care of my health. Moreover, it’s great to interact with students from other courses and explore the city through the sport. I’m really excited to keep practicing!

Jiawen

I have been interested in cooking and baking since I was a child. I used to help my grandmother knead dough, and those moments became some of my fondest childhood memories. After coming to the U.S., I started learning to cook and bake by following recipes I found online, trying them step by step, which I found both practical and enjoyable. For me, the process of cooking and baking is a healing experience. Every time I work in the kitchen, it helps me relieve stress and brings a sense of inner peace. I don’t have a particular favorite dish because I’m always open to trying different foods and exploring new flavors and methods. What makes me happiest is sharing the food I make with friends. Seeing them enjoy what I’ve prepared fills me with a deep sense of accomplishment and joy.

Running

Our cohort has a few runners who also compete casually in races around Philly. Everbody is acing it on the course. Special shout-out to Joy finishing strong at her first half-marathon this year, to Corinne who finished a whole marathon and to Stephanie, who organized a donation-run in Lancaster. Whenever we’re around, we also loooove to clap and cheer!

Kylee

I have been doing pottery on and off for about 4 years. I love the peacefulness and simplicity it makes me feel. I go about 2-3 times a week, and it is a life savior with the stress of a student. I love being creative while also working with my hands. It’s very grounding.

Shelly

I’ve been volunteering with an amazing organization called Mustard Seed Generation (MSG), a faith-based nonprofit focused on raising awareness and providing education about mental health issues in the Korean American community. MSG hosts conferences, workshops, training sessions, and summits to support and educate individuals and families while empowering mental health professionals to break the stigma around mental health conversations. As someone who’s bilingual in Korean and English, I’ve been volunteering as a translator, ensuring their newsletters effectively reach both English- and Korean-speaking audiences. If you’re curious and want to learn more about the organization I’m volunteering with, just type in ‘msgernation’ on Instagram and check them out!

Melissa

I believe beauty is everywhere if we remember to look for it. I am inspired by nature and love to create things. Sometimes it is a haunting idea that needs to be made or just the fun of playing with different materials. Whether it is functional, pretty, or just quirky, it feels good to work with my hands and get lost in the creative process.

Ana-Carina

Last but not least I am gonna share two of my favourite things to do outside of school and work.

Sometimes, when our schedules and wallets leave room for it, I go to see classical concerts at the Philadelphia Orchestra. And because it is more fun with others and I love advocating for classical music, I drag along a friend. Having a former music major sitting next to you is not always the easiest thing to deal with, but I pass along things about European composers, on-tune music, and good sopranos to ensure my friends leave wiser than they entered. It is definitely an adventure, especially when I pull out the music score during the concert. Overall, it is about the joy of classical music, and we always enjoy the time when we forget about school and let the music take us out of reality for a moment. (If you also want to go, there are many student discounts; ask me for more info.)

As you learned, I love music and last but not least I am gonna share one of my favourite hobbies. Starting at Penn, I joined Penn Chorale. It is an ensemble that sings a variety of choral music, concentrating on music composed in the 21st and late 20th centuries. In late November, we had our concert, which finished our work for this semester, and I am already missing the rehearsals every week. I enjoy connecting with people from all the different schools at Penn over our pieces and just appreciate the joy of making music. All my friends showed up at our concert, and the support and love I felt still last. It was very special for me to share my love for choir music!