My Career

After graduating from high school, I spent the summer before my first year at OSU working as an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate. For my job, I was assigned to work as a volunteer for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks and was able to experience working for a local summer food program near my hometown. From early June to late August, I provided assistance with preparing lunches for children from low-income households, and I also got to interact with the kids by playing outdoor activities and games with them before lunch was served. By devoting my time to this job, I was able to learn more about myself and how simple it is to make a difference in a child’s life.

It was a great pleasure to work with my fellow volunteers and get to know about them. In addition, I learned that even the smallest things that you can do for someone can go a long way. By spending time with the children, I was able to have an enjoyable experience that I will never forget. A major takeaway that I received from this experience was that doing something that brings you happiness and fulfillment will always be the best reward that you can receive. It’s not about receiving a paycheck at the end of the day, it’s about what you can learn from the job and how you can apply it to other endeavors.

Without a doubt, I benefited tremendously from this experience, and I strive to continue learning about different things and acquiring more skills that will help me grow professionally, spiritually, and personally. I hope to have more memorable experiences like this in the years to come, and I understand that since this is only the beginning of what I have done in my career thus far, I still have much more room to develop as a young adult and become the best person I can be.

Fourth Artifact

For my next artifact, I would like to use my first live experience of “The Game.” As I walked to Ohio Stadium on a brisk November morning, the Buckeye spirit was in full force and could be seen all over campus. The classic rivalry of Ohio State and Michigan is among the best in all of sport, and I was able to watch the game in-person for the first time ever. Hearing the roar from the crowd as the Buckeyes took the field and made excellent plays against the Wolverines sent chills up my spine, and I quickly realized how fortunate I was to be a part of this atmosphere. The special meaning of this experience is feeling a sense of unity and fellowship with the massive crowd of Ohio State fans. All of us were there for the same reasons: to support our team and have fun while doing so. This is what gives you a sense of belonging, and this is something that I will cherish for a long time. After watching this game, I feel so proud to be a student at this great university, and I will always feel that deep sense of belonging no matter where I am and where I go.

End of First Year

Wow. Words can’t begin to describe how fast my first year at Ohio State has gone. Nevertheless, a lot has happened these past couple months. Whether it was navigating campus for the first time, meeting so many new people who I now call my friends, or living life on my own, these experiences have definitely made an impact on me, both inside and out. I know this is only one year of college, so I know that this is only the beginning.

After graduating from high school, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much my life was about to change once August came around. On the day I left my hometown before coming to Columbus, it was most definitely a bittersweet moment for me. I knew that home was always going to be home, no matter what, but it was difficult to leave the place where I grew up ever since I could remember. After shedding a few tears, I put this thought behind me and told myself that there are so many exciting things to look forward to. The car was packed, and we were on our way.

The next day, my journey at OSU finally started. Eventually, the time came when I had to say goodbye to my parents. While this may seem like a sad time, not a single tear was shed from my eyes. I knew there was no reason to cry because it was my goal to come here. I honestly couldn’t have chosen a better university to attend, and the opportunities that Ohio State has to offer are endless. My first week was filled with so many events that the thought of being sad never crossed my mind, and I’m really glad that it didn’t.

Fast-forward eight months later, and here I am making this post. Like I mentioned beforehand, this year has gone by extremely fast. Now that I’m at this point on my journey, I can look back and see how much I’ve changed over these past months. What I’ve learned is that coming to college can really change you as a person. Before I came here, I didn’t have to worry about things such as doing laundry or getting something for dinner because my parents took care of that. Now, I have to take things into my own hands and do it all myself. In addition, I learned that college is so much different than high school. Whether it be scheduling for classes, taking exams, or making sure that I was awake for the 8 AM class I took in the fall, college has affected me in multiple ways. It took some time to get used to these changes, but I soon realized that I could do it as long as I put forth the effort and do what I was supposed to do.

As these last two weeks of classes are about to begin with exams afterwards, I take everything I’ve learned up to this point and continue to improve not only my character but also the way I live life in general. Coming to Ohio State has truly been a blessing for me, and I’m always thankful for the never-ending love and support from my parents and family. Like I said previously, my journey is only beginning, and I’m always looking forward to what lies ahead of me.

 

Third Artifact

Mount Legacy Week is perhaps the most important component of the first year of being a member of the Mount Leadership Society. As Mount Legacy Week comes to a close, it ends with an event called Legacy Night, where each team creates a presentation of the service projects they created and performed to help the local community. I was a member of Team Environment, so the projects we did included a litter clean-up, staining benches for a local park, and removing honeysuckles from another park. As Legacy Night was getting closer, we had to make a video of ourselves talking about the projects, how they impacted the community, and how much fun we had throughout the process.

For my next artifact, I chose to use this video. It was a representation of all the hard work and dedication each member put in to make these projects successful. One significant thing about it that I really enjoyed was the humorous “Full House” sketch that we did to introduce each member of the team. Similar to the TV show, members were separated into groups of two or three and acted out mundane activities then would look at the camera in cheesy fashion. The reason behind why I chose the video was that when I watched it for the first time, I felt a personal sense of belonging to not only my team but also Mount in general.

Coming from a high school with only nineteen other students in my graduating class, I didn’t think I would fit in at Ohio State considering how large the university is. However, I can now say that I have found my belonging here. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be a part of Mount and be with so many people who are new friends of mine. The video showed me that I’m surrounded by people who have the same ambitions and desires as me to grow as individuals and become leaders of the future. It has been a pleasure working with these guys, and I know this is only the beginning.

Semester in Review

On the day before I moved into my dorm at OSU, my mind was all over the place. I was filled with all sorts of emotions and sensations that a typical first-year student would experience such as nervousness, excitement, and anxiousness. As my parents and I were driving to campus the following morning, I could not stop thinking about how much my life was going to change. It was my goal to come here to Ohio State, and I wanted to continue building off of this goal to accomplish even more goals later on. After much anticipation over the summer, it was finally time to get things started.

After signing in at the front desk in Bowen House, I went with my mother to locate my room. Once we got in, we didn’t hesitate to begin making it my very own. As the hours passed, I started to feel more at ease with what was going on around me. Everything seemed to be going very well, and I was ready to start a new chapter of my life that I always looked forward to. Eventually, the time had come to say goodbye to my parents. It was difficult seeing them leave, but I didn’t let this bother me since I had many different things to get ready for.

This all happened back in the middle of August, and here I am typing this post in late January. Without a doubt, I can say that these past few months have gone by extremely fast. As I look back, the experiences I’ve had up to this point have really made an impact on me. Meeting so many different people, exploring a brand new place, and living on my own are only a few examples of things that have changed me as a person. However, I understand that this is only the beginning of a whole series of experiences that I will have throughout my time here in Columbus.

Being a member of the Mount Leadership Society Scholars Program, I was taught about all the various things that “Mounties” do during their time with the program. One of these things was participating in an event called Mount Legacy Week, and I believe that my experience with this event will encourage me to become a further-developed leader and a better person overall. By giving back to the community, I know this will enhance my leadership abilities and inspire me to continue making a difference in any community in the future. In addition to Mount Legacy Week, other events such as helping with Buck-I-Frenzy and going on our retreat to Camp Akita have opened my eyes to how special this program really is. It has been said that college is your home away from home, but I feel that Mount is more than just a home. It is a family.

As my second semester begins, I hope to continue becoming the best person I can be. Each day is an opportunity for me to grow as an individual and change the world around me. In my eyes, the journey through life can be seen as a roller coaster. We all have our ups and downs, but we must remember to enjoy the ride. It is true that I have had my ups and downs during my time at OSU so far, but there is no doubt that this is a ride I will always enjoy since I get to experience it with many other individuals who want to leave an impact on our world just like I do.

My Second Artifact

At OSU, our athletic teams are known as the Buckeyes. A buckeye is a small nut that is commonly found throughout the state of Ohio. The reason why I bring this up is that I wanted to share another one of my special artifacts, which happens to be a buckeye! This past August, as my parents were helping me move into my dorm room on Move-In Day, one of the things my mother gave to me as we were finishing unpacking was a buckeye. She told me that this buckeye was found in a park located in my hometown. It symbolizes not only my status of being a student at this great institution but also my own personal roots. I was born and raised here in the Buckeye State, and Ohio has always been my home. While it may seem quite unimpressive, this nut holds very special meaning to me. It sits on my desk most of the time, but I always put it in my pocket as a sign of good luck whenever I’m about to take a midterm or final exam. I couldn’t be more proud to call myself a Buckeye, and regardless of whether you grew up in or outside of Ohio, anyone can be a part of this amazing community as a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes!

First Artifact

Since the month of October is known for being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought it would be appropriate to use my official “Pink Out” shirt for my first artifact. I had recently purchased this shirt in order to wear it for OSU’s football game this weekend against Maryland, and although it may seem like a regular t-shirt, its meaning to me is more than what meets the eye. My great-grandmother was a breast cancer survivor who passed away almost a year ago. Without a doubt, she was one of the most inspirational people I have ever known. She lived for ninety-two years and experienced many different things throughout her life. On a brighter note, she was always known for making her delicious apple pies for any family occasion. While it was sad to see her go, her spirit remains strong in my family. By wearing this pink shirt to the game on Saturday, I will represent not only her but also every person, living or deceased, who has dealt with breast cancer. Every life is worth living, and we can remain hopeful that a cure will be found as we stand together.

About Me

On July 30, 1998, he was born in the town of Kettering, Ohio. His name is Brock DeCoy, and he is nineteen years old. He is the youngest of three children, and a small town in Ohio located across the Ohio River from West Virginia is his home, called Bellaire.

As he was growing up, Brock was involved in many different sports including T-Ball, hockey, and flag football. Once he transitioned from middle school to high school, his prime interests narrowed down to football and bowling. For seven years, you could find him under a helmet, shoulder pads, and cleats from early August to early November. While a sport like football requires not only physical toughness but also mental toughness, it really shaped Brock into who he is today. It taught him to always strive for greatness and never give in when adversity strikes. As he looks back on his playing years, Brock can’t help but smile because this sport was a vital component of his life that helped him grow as a person, both inside and out.

In September of 2002, Brock started his first year of preschool at St. John Central Grade School when he was just four years old. From preschool to eighth grade, he really enjoyed his time there, creating memories such as going on numerous field trips and performing in his school’s annual Variety Show every spring. Brock then moved on to St. John Central High School, which was right across the street. This was a very small, private, catholic high school that only had an enrollment of forty students during his senior year. Nevertheless, they never looked at this as a negative thing. They all formed close relationships that continue to be strong even to this day.

Ever since he was little, Brock always had a deep love for Ohio State. Being born and raised in this great state, this love was a natural love. Once he knew he was able to continue his academic career at this fine university, Brock never hesitated to start planning. During previous summers, he had attended many leadership programs including the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Seminar and Buckeye Boys State. From these experiences, he knew the Mount Leadership Society Scholars Program would be a great addition to his list.

Brock considers himself extremely blessed to be not only an Ohio State student but also a member of the Mount Leadership Society. While coming from a high school that only had forty students to attending a college with almost sixty-thousand students may have seemed daunting, being a part of this scholars program made the transition much easier for him. Within the next few years, Brock looks forward to making new memories with his fellow scholars and continuing to grow into the best person he can be.

G.O.A.L.S.

To demonstrate global awareness, I never discriminate the ideas and values that others have. Each individual is entitled to their own opinions and what they believe in, and there should be no reason to belittle any person because of what they stand for. When it comes to original inquiry, I have not yet participated in any kind of specific research due to recently changing my major. However, I plan to gain more knowledge in my field of study and look forward to seeing what I can do with this knowledge. Academic enrichment is vital to me as a student. I came to this university to grow spiritually and professionally, and I strive to do so by always putting my academics first and giving maximum effort in all my studies. Leadership development is something I have been working on ever since I was young. A leader is someone who steps up when no one else will and never gives in to adversity or negative temptations. Being a leader shows a lot about a person’s character, and I aim to be the best leader I can be. Last year, I began my service engagement by cleaning litter from a local Columbus park and staining park benches as a member of the Mount Leadership Society Scholars Program. I also previously attended various leadership seminars throughout the summers while in high school such as Buckeye Boys State at Bowling Green State University and the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Seminar at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. From these experiences, I will continue to enhance my skills of making a difference and giving back to the community by showing the world what I can do.

 

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.   For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]