Year in Review:
At the beginning of my freshman year of college, I was not the same person as I am today. The summer before I came to college was probably the biggest rollercoaster of emotions for me. In positive news, I got to travel to London, England and meet my family, and I also got to travel to Cancun, Mexico. These vacations allowed me to spend quality time with different parts of my family, and they were happy times. However, my best friend, my Grandma Pat, passed away before I came to Ohio State. Losing her to ALS was the hardest, saddest thing I have ever witnessed. So, this rollercoaster of extreme heights of happiness, and the drop of sadness made me a particularly fragile person. Luckily, here at Ohio State, not only did I develop academically and professionally, I also developed socially to stand strong after my fragile period. My initial expectations for the year were to not only succeed in my classes, but to make memories with friends and go out to explore Columbus. I think that I met these initial expectations pretty well, and that I managed to balance academics and social life through my freshman year.
Personally, I have grown into a completely different person this year. I have become more outgoing and open to trying new things, and have also become more social just as in going out and doing things more often. One example of trying new things that is a big milestone for me is trying new kinds of food. Being a (mostly) vegetarian, it is hard for me to step out of my routine meals and want to try other things, but here I have broadened what I eat through friends encouraging me to “just try it!” Looking back at these small but major changes shows me how just opening up and becoming outgoing has changed me. College has been full of new and unexpected experiences. Our first day of college as a Scholars cohort was a defining moment for me. We went onto a high ropes course, and I am afraid of heights. Deciding to become a new person in college is part of the process to changing, so on that first day I decided to try to conquer that fear. I climbed to the top of the course and jumped off forty feet swinging back and forth through the trees. Heights aren’t that big of an issue for me anymore! Another experience I attempted was to take two five credit hour classes at a time, which resulted in me withdrawing from one of the courses. This unexpected change, of school being difficult, was something that showed me how I need to push myself the hardest I ever have in order to succeed here. It also showed me that I don’t have to take all of my harder classes at once, and that I had to find out what course-load I could handle. Using this withdrawal as a learning experience showed me to be more optimistic about the negative aspects of life.
Many exciting and wonderful things happened this year. The first thing I found exciting was attending my first Ohio State football game, which was one of my favorite memories as a Buckeye. Another wonderful thing that happened was I got the chance to show my roommate from out of state my hometown. Showing her where I grew up was memorable for me because coming from such a small farming community is something I don’t choose to share that often since I don’t feel it reflects who I am, but opening up and displaying this vulnerability showed me how confident I was becoming. Another wonderful thing that happened was that I became a member of my sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi. I cannot express enough how amazing this organization is, and what it has done for me. Every single little thing that I don’t like about myself, my sisters show me how they value that aspect of me. I have never been so confident or happy with such fantastic women surrounding me. I have matured into someone I didn’t know I could become. After struggling with self-esteem issues all throughout high school, I never thought I could love the person I am as much as I do today. Professionally, I found a career field that I love through academics. My Addicting Drugs course has been the most interesting course I’ve ever taken, and it confirmed my career plans. I have also been able to experience and go to some very interesting places. For example, COSI Science Museum, the Columbus Zoo, a tour of The James Medical Center, a tour of Ohio Stadium, many concerts throughout the city, shopping trips to Easton Shopping Center, and finally a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
All of this happiness doesn’t mean I haven’t also dealt with hardships. I struggled through General Chemistry, maintaining a grade that doesn’t reflect how hard I worked. I cried over a tub of ice cream after failing my first midterm when I thought I aced it. I went through the worst two weekends of my life for sorority recruitment, and had the process show me just how emotional and personal joining a Greek organization can be. I fought through the homesickness, and the fact that I was two hours away from the most important people in my life. I had to miss my Grandpa’s funeral to take a midterm, and didn’t have my family by my side as I mourned for him. I’m not saying that these things were not important, but these hardships were overshadowed by the happiness I have achieved here. Fast forward to this moment, and I know what I want to do academically and professionally, and I am content with who I am. Moving forward, I hope to continue to feel this at peace with myself, and to work towards my bachelor’s degree, stay involved in STEM EE Scholars, and in Alpha Omicron Pi. Next year I hope to have gained a leadership position in my sorority, and possibly attain a pharmacy technician job, along with making more memories and good times. I think the best way to describe me after finishing my first year of college is by a quote, the amazing John Green said, “I’m on a roller coaster that only goes up, my friend.”