As a sophomore first-timer at IC, I found everything kind of intimidating. I personally had never been on a summer program, so I only knew people from my delegation, or so I thought. I ended up seeing a bunch of my friends from my camp in Canada, and as the weekend went on, I met so many new friends either from just going up and saying hello or by my other friends introducing me!

IC can be very overwhelming for the first time, so don’t feel discouraged if you need to take some time to wind down! If you’re not the most outgoing person in the world, that’s totally fine; start by making friends with your roommates, then some at your delegation meeting, and from there, everything will come naturally.

As someone who ended up catching a sickness, I cannot stress enough the importance of Liquid IV, vitamin C, and washing your hands! I was washing my hands like a maniac and taking vitamin C every day, but I did not think to bring Liquid IV or take enough time to rest. Even during Chofesh, I was always go go-go-go and always walking around meeting new people when I could have given myself time to rest and rejuvenate.

Overall, IC was such an amazing experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Can’t wait to see you all in Philly in 2026!