Expanding Your Horizons Beyond Engineering (Teresa Giovannoli: Sophomore - Mechanical Engineering)

When I first came to Penn State, I was looking to take in all the opportunities Penn State had to offer.  However, everyone always told me you only have time for two of three things; school, sleep, or a social life.  I wanted to challenge this.  I signed up to be in EASI house, one of the engineering living options on campus.  I also decided to join a sorority.  I joined Kappa Kappa Gamma the fall of my freshman year.

I have good news for everyone; it is possible to have all three!  As a member of Engineering Ambassadors, and the President of a sorority, my biggest piece of advice I learned is time management and self-control.  I knew I wanted to join Greek life.  And, although many thought it wasn’t possible, I wanted to keep up with engineering at the same time.  The reason people say it is so difficult is because it is all about the balance.  With a sorority or fraternity, there are many meetings you have to attend, as well as keeping up with your friends in your chapter.  However, engineering is a very time intensive major.  If you don’t maintain your work, your grades can suffer and classes can become frustrating.  It takes self-control to realize what the right decision to make is.  It did take a few sleepless nights for me to find the balance, and I still slip up every once in a while.  But, It was definitely worth it for everything I’ve gotten out of college thus far!

I found being in a sorority beneficial because it gave me an opportunity to meet people outside of the engineering discipline.  It is very important to have friends in engineering to study with and work with, but it is also important to have a diverse group of friends at Penn State.  It gives you a larger network and more opportunity.  It was a very easy way to meet a close group of friends right away.  At such a large school, it is easy to feel lost freshman year.  A sorority placed me with a group of girls that are so similar to me and have become my closest friends at school.  I also thought joining a sorority was beneficial for the philanthropy and community service opportunities.  Each sorority or fraternity has their own philanthropy that they help support.  Kappa Kappa Gamma participates in Reading is Fundamental.  We collect books, and then go down town to read to local preschools and daycares.  Kappa also gave me a connection to Dance Marathon, as every sorority and fraternity participates.  All in all, I found that joining a sorority gave me opportunities to get involved in Penn State outside of engineering.  I have a chance to lead the engineering community through Engineering Ambassadors, but also contribute to Greek life, philanthropies, the State college community, and my peers outside of engineering because I joined Kappa Kappa Gamma.