Students look forward to new school year, new opportunities

As students kick the new school year off, there’s plenty that they’re looking forward to, whether it’s new clubs, programs, classes or people. Jonah Fein, a junior statistics and economics joint-major, said he’s excited for all of the above.

“Another year in the Burgh, another year taking classes — what could be better than that,” Fein said.

Fein is involved in the Federal Reserve Challenge Group, Spanish Club and Pitt Hillel, which he is currently the business manager for. He said he’s also excited to take another class with Camila Pulgar Machado, a visiting lecturer in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, because “she’s great.”

With the new school year comes new opportunities, which is true for Julie Elbaum, a junior rehabilitation science major on the pre-occupational therapy track. She said she’s excited to start new classes, serve as vice president of recruitment for Phi Chi and be in her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau. 

“I’m just really excited to get into the rehab science school because it starts junior year, so [I’ll get] to meet new people and take new classes with different professors,” Elbaum said. 

Julia Kern, a junior rehabilitation science major, also said she is excited to start new classes with students and professors “who are like-minded and passionate about things that I care about.” 

Kern is serving as alumni chair for Rho Psi Eta, a pre-health sorority, and is “really looking forward to giving back to my community.” She added that she also can’t wait to eat at Bao, her favorite restaurant on campus.

Sahil Gandhi, a first-year biological sciences major, can’t wait to find his favorite places around Pitt and “explore the city.”

“I know that seems a little generic,” Gandhi said, “But back home, for me, I’m located in Central Jersey, everything is pretty much like a 25-minute drive away. So being able to walk down Forbes, or down Fifth, and just see like five restaurants right there is already sticking out to me. I just want to explore that with some friends.” 

Coming from a suburban area, Gandhi said he is excited to explore Pittsburgh’s urban environment while also appreciating the natural life around it and exploring Pitt’s green spaces.

“Maybe some nature walks in Schenley Park or somewhere like that,” Gandhi said. “I just want to check out the wildlife, like birds or deer.” 

Emma Bishop, a first-year biochemistry major, shares the same desire to meet new people, whether in her classes or through clubs. 

“I’m honestly really looking forward to some of my classes,” Bishop said. “I have an art history class coming up, and I’ve never really taken anything like that before, so I’m excited to learn something new.”

Although Bishop said she isn’t quite sure which campus groups she’ll join yet, she wants to “join a bunch of different clubs so I can find people with similar interests.” 

The same is true for Sammi Sharrer, a first-year pharmacy student, who’s excited to make new friends and connections in the pharmacy school. 

“I’m definitely going to join some of the pharmacy clubs and meet some upperclassmen that are already in the pharmacy school, and I’m maybe going to rush [Greek life] in the spring,” Sharrer said. 

Cadence Albanese, a sophomore media and professional communications major, said she is looking forward to possibly competing in club gymnastics and living in Ruskin Hall. 

“I’m just really happy to live in Ruskin because I was in Tower B last year,” Albanese said. “[Now, I] have my own bathroom and kitchen, and I can’t believe I lived a different way. It’s amazing already.”

Jahnavi Kolli, a first-year neuroscience major, said she is looking forward to broadening her horizons at Pitt, socially and academically.

“I’m really excited to kind of expand my interest past just my pre-med focus,” Kolli said. “I know Pitt really encourages interdisciplinary interaction. I’m not just interested in pre-med, but also health policy. I know there’s research with the Health Policy Institute, and maybe there’s even some [economic] research in there.” 

Amanda Yu, a junior media & professional communications major, just transferred to Pitt from Bucks County Community College.

“I’m just excited for what this year has for me with being in a new city, new area and my first time being by myself,” Yu said. “I signed up for a bunch of clubs. I’m just trying to go with the flow of things and just see whatever Pitt has to offer for me.”

Yu said she is particularly looking forward to getting involved in her new environment with community service clubs, a new job and meeting new people.

“I’m trying to balance work, then clubs and then school,” Yu said. “I don’t really know what the workload is going to be here, so I’m taking it one step at a time. But it’s been awesome because everyone’s been really friendly here, and I think everyone’s willing to just make friends.”