I can easily say that my first semester at OSU wasn’t the easiest thing I’ve had to deal with in my life, but it also wasn’t the hardest. Every freshman has to face some trials to get acquainted with college life, but I was given plenty of opportunity before this semester to grow as a person and to become better equipped to deal with not only college, but also adult life. I’ve faced every new situation as best as I can, and while I’m still at the beginning of my college experience, I think I’ve learned a lot about myself and that the next three years will go by smoothly now that everything’s been set up for me here at the Ohio State University. Of course, no matter what, there will always be some problems, but having made it through this semester I know I can face whatever life throws at me.

This semester, as is to be expected of a new college student, I tried many new things. Having taken college classes before, at the other college I went to I always wanted to join student organizations on campus. I tried out a singing group originally, Scarlet Script, and looked into various charity and volunteer organizations. Coming into college, I was also interested in sororities. Amazingly, every last one of these activities and plans fell through. It’s not so much that I became over involved, as I tend to do, but I simply wasn’t able to be involved period. I discovered the true depth of my mental illness, depression, that began almost a year ago. Through this trial and error, I discovered that I should wait to be more involved and instead focus on my mental health instead of trying to attach myself to student organizations. After all, I can’t truly help others and participate if I can’t even help myself.

As was previously mentioned, I was well-equipped for college and adult life coming into this semester. Despite my aforementioned mental illness, I was able to handle myself well in my first semester. Since I was very young I’ve been tried by life numerous times. I’d like to think that these situations have turned me into a more responsible, mature individual. Additionally, my parents, mainly my father, made sure that I always had some degree of independence. I started college at 15, and his trust in my allowed me to excel and grow academically and in maturity. I learned how to study effectively and how to properly time manage, both of these being essential for a successful college career. Because my parents allowed me to grow as a person before I was thrust into adulthood, I was able to come into my freshmen year with many essential skills that I learned my classmates around me didn’t even have. I was especially concerned and surprised by the amount of people that didn’t know how to do their own laundry. More importantly, I knew how to make responsible decisions. I’ve already been hanging around with intelligent and interesting people, and while I would like to party, I’m responsible enough to not go out on a weekday and waste my academic career.

I would like to point out one more piece of success that I’ve had coming into college that I was most worried about upon entering. I knew that I would find friends as everyone here is very friendly, but I’ve managed to find someone that I connect with mentally on many levels. It’s amazing luck that was afforded to me by being in the Buckeye’s First program for first generation college students. This new friend of mine has helped me in many situations throughout my first semester, and I have helped her get adjusted to college life, as well. We have great conversations, and can always manage to goof around and make each other laugh. She’s even gotten me into a Dungeons and Dragons podcast, which we’ve bonded over even more than before. I’m eternally grateful to have her as a compatriot, and know that we’ll remain good friends for a long time.

All in all, despite some problems with myself, the Ohio State University has amazing resources and people all over campus. I couldn’t be happier with where I chose to go to school. I honestly love this university so much. I know that my next four years will be full of successes, both big and small, that will make any problems I have worth it. I will continue to grow as a person, and when I graduate I know that I will better for having gone to this university. Go Bucks!

David Crawford Jones is a professor currently working here at the Ohio State University. He was originally born in Washington D.C., but claimed that he spent most of his childhood in Maryland and grew up there. He went back to Washington D.C. for college, and after graduating from George Washington University with an English Major, he got a job at the baseball hall of fame. Dr. Jones knew at the time that he had an interest in history, so he returned to his education by going for his masters in African American history at the University of Albany. From there, he began his Doctoral program in 2005. He needed a dissertation. So, he went to the Yale Archives, finding a case from Namibia about a group of men flogged for their political views, and eventually came to the idea of doing his dissertation on corporal punishment in Namibia. He also found that his main interest at the time was “to see what the other side of the Atlantic ocean [looked] like,” another great reason to go to Africa. After living in Namibia for a year in 2009, he eventually would finish his dissertation in 2014 and then finally obtain a job at the Ohio State University where he is now starting his third year as a professor.

I got here approximately one week earlier than the rest of the Ohio State University freshman starting this year. I knew that by doing this I would be better equipped in dealing with the first actual week of classes. What I didn’t know, however, is the amount of strife that doing these extra before-school programs would cause me. In my short time here at OSU, I believe that I have already felt many of the ‘freshman experiences’ expected when one first arrives at college. I have already had both extremely good times, regardless of the awful programs I was trapped in, and extremely bad days. Overall, I would simply call my first days here at the Ohio State University “eventful”.

So, when I first finalizing my decision to attend the Ohio State University, I decided to enroll in a program called Buckeye’s First. Through damp days at Camp Kern, filled with rain and mud, I still managed to make meaningful friendships and have a pretty great time even if I wasn’t getting enough sleep or free time. When I got back to campus, I was then set on the path to joining the OWL program as an Ohio Welcome Leader. I had maybe an hour a day to myself at most, even worse than Buckeye’s First. Worse yet, there was no structure and I didn’t make nearly as many meaningful friendships as I had at the first program. I didn’t want to do any more programs. I just wanted to sleep.

Despite this, I kept making other random friends on this huge campus. When starting class, I found that I really enjoyed learning and actually having free time made me a lot less bitter about what I was doing. As always, I find that my language classes are my favorite, and specifically Swahili has touched my heart. I know now that I will make it through this year, happily so, and have a great time at OSU regardless of the ups and downs I face. I enjoy this campus and I enjoy the meaningful relationships I’ve made.

I’d like to read more, but I can’t find the motivation.

I’d like to travel more, but I have no money.

I’d like to draw more, but I’m really down on myself about the level I draw at.

I’d like to go out more, but I’m anxious about getting homework done immediately.

I’d like to care less, but I want everyone to like me.

I’d like to read more, and I can’t find the motivation. So I need to set out a specific time for reading and make myself start or else I never will.

I’d like to travel more, and I have no money, So I need to apply for scholarships and look at more affordable ways to both study and vacation abroad.

I’d like to draw more, and I’m really down on myself about the level I draw at. So I need to stop comparing myself to others and instead focus on being the best I can be.

I’d like to go out more, and I’m anxious about getting homework done immediately. So I need to find a certain amount of time I’ll allow myself to have things done early by so I’m not constantly working that will give myself time to enjoy my youth.

I want to care less, and I want everyone to like me. So I should focus on liking myself so that I care less about what others think.

[Artifacts are the items you consider to be representative of your academic interests and achievements. For each entry, include both an artifact and a detailed annotation.  An annotation is a reflective description of the artifact that attempts to communicate its significance.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]