With 40,000+ students here at University Park, one common misconception rises. People entering Penn State believe that you will rarely run into people you know around campus.

As a second semester Penn State student, I would like to say that this is a load of hogwash. Everytime I travel around campus, I run into at least one person I know and recognize at least three others a distance away from me, all in the timespan of a minute or two. During my walk from physics to math this morning, I counted 28 people that I know the names and majors of walking past me on the sidewalk, one of whom is a girl I like but can’t quite find the time to try and get anything started with her.

Even when walking around campus, I am constantly recognized. I hear shouts of “Colton,” “Provias,” and even the occasional “CJ.” It happens to me about twice to three times a day. Unfortunately, I sometimes fail to connect face to name or to where I know them from and simply respond with “Hey…uh…”

So in short, you will recognize people quite often at Penn State. It’s not quite the sea of faces people think it is. Heck, I know many people here and many people know me.

Although, I think I might be a little too involved here at Penn State.

Nah.