The Moment I Knew: #BuckeyeForLife

As a part of the Buckeye community, I share the great passion and love that all members of the Ohio State community have in common. But there is one epxerience that is unique for each and every one of us. This unique experience is what I like to call the #BuckeyeForLife moment.

What is this #BuckeyeForLife moment?

Let me elaborate: The #BuckeyeForLife isn’t the moment that you seal the envelope with your Ohio State housing deposit during spring of your senior year in high school; it isn’t on move-in day when you meet your roommate who looks nothing like their Facebook picture (making you realize you added the wrong person…awkward); and, it surely isn’t your first echoing sneeze in the Grand Reading Room at Thompson. #BuckeyeForLife is that one single moment where you stop everything you’re doing, look at all that is going on around you, and say to yourself, “I am a part of something amazing, something much bigger than myself, and I absolutely love it.”

It goes a little something like this:

Now let me tell you about my #BuckeyeForLife moment.

You might be surprised, but my #BuckeyeForLife didn’t even happen during my first year at Ohio State; however, my #BuckeyeForLife moment did occur during an event that is specifically for first-year students before each autumn semester: the President’s Convocation. I was fortunate to attend this event again through my involvement with the First Year Connections Team. My Connections Team peers and I attended Convocation to mingle with new first-year students as St. John Arena filled, so they were entertained while waiting for the ceremony to begin. Many of the first years looked half asleep, as it was pretty early in the morning, but we tried to wake them up a little bit with our enthusiasm.

One of the great traditions of Ohio State is singing Carmen Ohio after large events, such as football games and in this case, Convocation. My #BuckeyeForLife moment happened as I watched the incoming first years put their arms around each others’ shoulders, and start to slowly sway side to side. Seeing the new members of the Ohio State family come together in unison and sing the famed lyrics that each Buckeye keeps in their heart, I couldn’t help but get chills down my spine.

That was the moment I knew. I looked around and knew in my heart that Ohio State is where I belong. I knew that all the work I was putting toward my education and the nearly 1,000 miles to my hometown were all worth the toil. I knew that I had a family, a home, and a future, all because of Ohio State. And last, but not least, I knew that I truly am a #BuckeyeForLife.

I can’t tell you what your #BuckeyeForLife moment will be, because it is different for every person. You have to go out there and find it for yourself. You’ll know when you experience your #BuckeyeForLife moment, and that moment will be a part of you forever.

So here is my task for you: explore, dream, build relationships, stay up a little too late, or do whatever it takes for you to experience your own #BuckeyeForLife moment.

How firm thy friendship,

Josh

My Siblings are Coming to Town!!!

Plan now for Sibs and Kids Weekend 2014!

As the end of the semester nears, you may get a little homesick because you are thinking of FINALLY getting home. But, you’re in luck because I have a cure!!! The first weekend of April is Sibs & Kids Weekend (SKW). So, why not have your family and friends come to you!? This is a wonderful opportunity to cure that little bit of homesickness creeping into your system. Also, it is a great refresher before finals season starts. And, you will be able to show your family and friends what life at Ohio State is like. Let’s be honest, it’s AWESOME!!!

Last year, I participated in SKW and brought my two sisters here from Chicago. As an out-of-state student, I was really excited to be able to have my family here with me for a weekend. My sisters and I were able to do soooo much! It all started on Friday night, we took pictures on a big red chair and played on the obstacle courses (it’s nothing like sibling rivalry and competition). The highlight of the night was playing laser tag in the RPAC with other students and their families. It was great to see students with smiles on their faces as they interacted with their families and friends.

The next day, Saturday, was a jam packed schedule. There were Brutus-shaped pancakes for breakfast and cooking classes. Also, there was a luau sponsored by Lincoln Tower. We got Henna tattoos, cotton candy, popcorn, and tons of free stuff!! The best part of the day was going to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to watch the spring practice of the Ohio State football team as part of Student Appreciation Day. We got to interact with the players and coach Urban Meyer! Also, former President Gee was there with Brutus to take pictures. Needless to say, when you have photo op with a university president, you MUST take advantage of it!

On Sunday I was able to explore Columbus with my sisters and go shopping at Easton. Throughout this whole weekend my sisters really enjoyed being able to run around campus doing different activities and to see meet some of the leaders of Ohio State. They can’t wait and I can’t wait until they come back this year!

SO, looking for some fun during the end of Spring Semester?  Make your plans today to attend Ohio State’s Sibs and Kids Weekend from April 4-6. Students are encouraged to invite siblings, children, cousins, nieces, nephews, or family friends to experience life as a Buckeye! Registration is FREE and all guests who pre-register receive a Sibs and Kids Weekend souvenir at no cost. Check out interactive programming, fun sporting events, and other activities that define life as a Buckeye. Programming is available for all ages.  Many campus departments, University Housing and student organizations are proud to present this FREE, fun, and festive weekend of Buckeye Spirit!

Visit the Sibs & Kids Weekend website for more information and to register your “sib”.

10 People You’ll Meet During Your First Year

As a student at The Ohio State University, you have already been exposed to the impressive range of diverse people on our campus. From Orientation to Move-In Day to your 8 a.m. class, you have surely met a cast of characters unlike anything you’ve ever encountered before.

The best part of this variety of people is that each one has something important to teach you.

Here’s a look at 10 people you’ll meet during your first year and will have a lasting impact one way or another.

1. Your Orientation Buddy

Chances are you made at least one friend at summer orientation. Regardless of whether you’re still close, this person taught you the importance of acceptance during your early days in your new home. You probably even still see your orientation pals around campus, and you’ll never forget their companionship.

2. The Roommate(s)

Most first-year students who are living on campus have an unforgettable roommate experience (good or bad). Living in a room with 1-4 total strangers is an experience you may never have again. This relationship will teach you how to interact and live with others. Guaranteed you’ll learn a lot about yourself, as well as understanding where others come from and how they live.

3. The Resident Advisor

You might have the “cool RA” or the strict one. Some want to be your friend. Others are extremely professional. In the end, having an older peer on your floor can only help you. Ask them for advice (they’ll love it). Your RA is a resource that should not be ignored.

4. The Class Friend

This friend might only stick around for a semester, but they’re important. You’ll sit in your unofficial assigned seats together, bond by complaining about homework, and study together. Always make a friend in your classes, especially if you’re ever sick and have to miss a day. This friend also might show up again down the road, so making connections is always helpful.

5. The Overachiever

You and your class friend might despise this person. The overachiever raises their hand to answer every question in class. They remind the professor about an assignment that they might have forgotten they even assigned. Take my advice: don’t mock this person. You’re in college as a student, and you could learn from their pep and knowledge.

6. The Smart Slacker

This is the friend who miraculously get As on every exam, yet (seemingly) barely lifts a finger to study. This friend might not even attend class. You might boil with rage when you do poorly on an exam that you studied for all night, while this friend got a full eight hours of sleep. There’s nothing you can do about their abilities, but you can learn not to stress too much over grades. You can only do your best. Ask this friend for help – maybe there’s a method to their (apparent) slacking.

7. The Mentor

The benefits of a mentor are endless. They could be your Orientation Leader, RA, adviser, older friend in a student organization, or a friend from high school also at Ohio State now. They’ve been in your shoes and know the tricks of the trade to ensure success in college. Get coffee or a meal with them – your mentor will give you invaluable advice and guide you through any problems you encounter.

8. The Buckeye For Life

We’re all Buckeyes for life, but you will meet that friend who bleeds Scarlet and Gray. They only own Ohio State apparel, paint up for athletic events, and secretly aspire to get either the lyrics to “Carmen, Ohio” or a Block “O” tattooed somewhere on their body. You could learn a thing or two from this buckeye. Absorb their school spirit. It is one of the best aspects of going to Ohio State, and there is nothing else like it.

9. The Unforgettable Professor

The academic professionals at this university are incredible. By enrolling in a wide range of courses during your first year, mainly because of that GE curriculum, you just might encounter an inspiring professor. For me, it was a yoga instructor teaching a Gen. Ed. course about the body and mind. If you actively listen and learn from them, you might learn more than what seems like monotonous facts memorized just to ace an exam.

10. The True Friend(s)

Whether you meet them during Welcome Week or studying for finals, true and good people will emerge during your first year. They are there to eat with you at KComm, talk you through your emotional troubles, and support you when you change your major for the third time (or maybe that’s just me). Friendships are constantly changing, but you will be forever indebted to the people who become your people during one of the most important and challenging years of your life.

You’ve got a friend in me,

Dylan MacDowell

 

13 Things BuckeyeThon 2013 Taught Me


We’ve all heard it: “For The Kids” or “FTK“. But what exactly does that mean? Kids…okay so that means small humans. For them? Baking for them? Creating games for them? No, it’s so much more than that. BuckeyeThon is Ohio State’s dance marathon that raises money and support for Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The ultimate goal is to get one step closer to curing childhood cancer – a goal we would all like to see achieved within our lifetime (and hopefully very soon). Dancers participate in a 12-hour session filled with music, dancing, competitions, and cheering for these amazing kids. As a freshman last year, I participated in the 2013 BuckeyeThon. Here are highlights from my experience, and an overview of what the event meant to me.

1. These children are little superheroes.

Not many of us have gone through anything like what these kids are battling. It really is unfathomable to most to even consider fighting such a horrendous disease. But these kids are fighters- superheroes really- and are able to defy many odds. These kids live and fight each day- something that is truly remarkable.

2. The kids impact your life.

Whether or not you personally interact with the kids at BuckeyeThon, your life will be impacted. Seeing first-hand the patients of such horrible diseases will stick with you forever. Your life isn’t impacted in a terribly depressing way though; these Miracle Kids will make you hopeful for a cure, and dedicated to being a part of finding one.

3. You’ll impact their life, too.

You’re there as support for these kids. This is a whirlwind for both parties, and certainly one that won’t be forgotten. Seeing how grateful the kids and their families were to witness all the support from Ohio State students was truly something special.

4. Every dancer is capable of participating for all 12 hours.

Think about it… these kids fight every day, every hour, every minute, and every second. There are no true breaks until the cancer or disease is gone. You can dance all 12 hours. And I bet you’re going to want to!

5. The power of family is really amazing.

The Miracle Kids are all backed and loved by their families. This love is so obvious and so incredibly strong. The impact that a family has on the spirit of a child is evident.

6. The student body cares…a lot.

This event is evidence that this university is full of students with very caring and loving hearts. The excitement and energy never died. Everyone continued to dance, to wear a smile, and to make an effort to tell the kids that we’re there for them. Having the opportunity to participate in such a tremendous event with my friends and peers was one that I’ll never forget.

7. The community cares, too!

The closing ceremonies and final reveal proved that the community cares a lot about the efforts taken against these horrible diseases. Many community members donate to the cause or come and watch parts of BuckeyeThon. It’s really a collective effort to find cures to these diseases.

8. So what if you’re sleep deprived! You’ll have a blast.

With one of the shifts being held overnight, you won’t be snoozing during your normal sleeping hours. But it’ll be better than catching up on your Zzzs. You’ll be participating with hundreds of your fellow Buckeyes! And you may even experience the sleep-deprived alertness, which can only improve your dance skills.

9. Your friends will keep you going.

Signing up and dancing with your friends makes the experience that much better! And when you are feeling the pain of shin splints or a cramping muscle, they’ll keep you moving! These memories are ones you’ll share forever.

10. There are thousands of reasons to keep hope alive.

Let’s be honest, the news is scary. News headlines make America, and the rest of the world, seem like humanity is crumbling. This dance marathon is proof that there is so much good in the world that is often overshadowed by depressing and dark stories. The patients, the students, and the thousands of dance marathons held all over are reason enough to have hope.

11. Crying in public is 100% acceptable.

The opening and closing ceremonies are emotional. There’s no denying that. Knowing more about the lives and histories of these Miracle Kids will make you tear up- and that is absolutely okay. No one will judge you, because it’s natural to be empathetic.

12. The money you raise makes a difference.

Not every student can go out and raise thousands of dollars for the cause. Even the smallest donations matter and will be used to benefit and support hundreds of Nationwide Children’s Hospital patients. Just by registering and receiving donations, you’re helping save lives!

13.  It’s absolutely worth it.

The experience is worth it. Period. I encourage every student to participate in the event. You’ll add to the fight against these diseases, you’ll make a difference in someone else’s life, and you’ll be forever changed- for the better.

FTK! And Go Bucks!

Do you like eggs? Because it’s time to Scramble. Scarlet Scramble, that is!

I know SO MUCH about Ohio State!

I LOVE free stuff!

I have SO MANY (read: at least 5) friends who are first years!

If you have had any of those thoughts (and let’s face it, you know you have had all of them), you probably have also thought,

“I really wish Ohio State had an event where I could win prizes by exploring campus and the city of Columbus in a competition with my friends!”

Guess what?!?

THERE IS!!!! And it’s sponsored by First Year Experience. I’ll give you a minute to contain your excitement.

The Scarlet Scramble is a 24-hour challenge that take teams all around campus and the city of Columbus. The teams will have to compete in:

Head-to-Head Challenges

Maybe it’s a feat of physical strength, like a tug-of-war. Maybe it’s a feat of mental strength, like eating 3 Sloopy’s pancakes. Either way, you’ll stare your enemy (ahem, other Scarlet Scramble teams) right in the eyes for these challenges.

Trivia Questions

Quick, how many All-American Ohio State football players have there been? What’s the address of this building? Earn valuable points by answering questions like these.

Photo Clues

Know where the Hippie Brutus is? Can you find a member of the Ohio State Police Department who will pose with you in an O-H-I-O photo? Plaster on that smile and get ready to take some memorable and creative photos to earn points during the Scramble.

“But what about sleeeeeeeeep?”

Well, first of all, watch this clip and replace “water” with “sleep“.

The Scarlet Scramble takes place from 6 p.m. on March 28th until 6 p.m. on March 29th, but don’t worry! No clues will be handed out between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., so you’ll have plenty of time for your beauty sleep.

“Whoa. That sounds seriously cool! How do I get involved?”

I’M GLAD YOU ASKED, FAITHFUL BLOG READER! You do it in TWO easy steps:

1. Craft a team.

Not assemble, not find, not scrape together. A well-crafted team will balance speed, dexterity, acumen, and panache, much like the 1996 Bulls. Only two requirements:

  • 5-10 people can be on each team
  • At least 5 members of the team must be first-year students

2. Register your team online using the access code scramble14.

The registration fee is only $50. Now, I’m not a math major, but…

$50/10 team members = $5

If you’re having trouble understanding what this means, it’s only $5 per participant!

This is also when you put your team name in, so come up with a good one! If you need help, check this link out.

AND THAT’S IT! Two easy steps to 24 hours of fun. Registration begins now through March 7th and is on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, please visit the Scarlet Scramble page on the FYE website or contact me at felty.7@osu.edu!

Can’t wait to see you all on the 28th!

Taste of O. S. Who?

Where else in the world could you experience authentic Polish sausage, delicious Moroccan meatballs, or some of the best Tikka Masala you’ve ever had while watching intricate performances of dances from around the world? Would it surprise you to learn that this type of unique experience happens on Ohio State’s campus, year after year? This event is known none other than The

Every year, the Office of International Affairs in collaboration with the office of Student Life puts on one of Ohio State’s most popular events, The Taste of OSU. This signature event is said to be a celebration of the many diverse cultures that are represented at The Ohio State University. More than 30 student organizations attend, bringing forth their own unique performances and cuisine that represent cultures from around the world. Ohio State students and staff alike have been raving about this event since its inaugural year in 1997. It has grown immensely since the first event held in Oxley Hall, which hailed only about 60 attendees. Here we are, 14 years later and The Taste of OSU has become one of campus’s most liked events, drawing over 4,000 attendees.

This year, the event will be held on Friday, February 7th from 5 to 9 pm in the Ohio Union. The event is completely FREE to attend and is open to all students, faculty, staff, alumni and family. The many student organizations will be preparing their own food as a representation of their culture. While all of the smells, sights and sounds are free, attendees can purchase samplings of the cuisine for only $1. All of the organizations had to go through a selection process to bring forth their cuisine so you can be sure that all of the samplings will be DELICIOUS. 

This event is definitely worth your time! If you don’t believe me, a person who has yet to have to chance to attend this event, here’s a description of the event in the words of an Ohio State student:

” The taste of OSU allowed me to experience the cultures and traditions of many groups on campus that I do not interact with on a regular basis. Their displays showcased their cultural pride and the food was of course, delicious! ”  

This year, some of the student organizations that are participating are the Chinese American Student Association, the Organization of Arab Students, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and the Polish Club, just to name a few. While it may seem that this event is centered on ethnic cuisine, it should also be noted that many of the organizations participating in the event are preparing performances that are sure to capture your attention. Some of the cultural performances will be preformed by J2KThe African Youth League, and the Armenian Student Association, again, just to name a few. To find out more information about this event and a complete list of the participating student organizations, you can go here.

I (along with many other Ohio State students) would highly recommend that you attend this event…if not this Friday, then sometime during your time at Ohio State.

Prepare your taste buds for an explosion of flavor and truly enjoy this worldly experience!