Ohio State is a big school–all the numbers are there to prove it. As an out-of-state student from small town West Virginia, it was a bit intimidating. At the start of my journey as a buckeye, I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to find my place, to make Ohio State feel like home, to truly succeed in the ways I needed to. Those fears were honest and well-founded at the time, but the reality of my time at Ohio State so far has far disbanded any doubts I might have had.
My first O-H-I-O, along with friends from my small group from the 2016 Leadership Collaborative
Just before fall semester began, I had the opportunity to participate in the First Year Leadership Collaborative, a truly transformative four-day experience where I was able to build my own skills as a leader, delve into some Buckeye traditions, network with alumni and leaders in Columbus, and make new friends amongst my peers. I went into this program absolutely terrified of the new things I was going to experience, yet left with the confidence, excitement, and eagerness to begin the semester on the right foot.
A snapshot of me swing dancing at Purdue University’s November event Whistle Stop (Photograph by Jordan Louie)
Getting involved is one of the most important aspects of having a good college experience, so I dove right into involvement from the beginning of first semester. Continuing my love of music from high school, I chose to enroll in University Band (the non-music major concert band ensemble), and was able to audition to be first chair clarinet. Additionally, I began taking mellophone lessons with a member of the marching band, as I believed that I wanted to tryout for that the following summer. Beyond playing music, I also discovered a passion for dancing to it–specifically, jazz and swing dancing. I went to the first OSU swing dance club meeting of the year and I was hooked. I became dedicated fast, and even got the chance to travel to swing dance events at other schools, like Purdue and Miami University. Second semester, I was offered a position on the swing dance club executive board as Member-at-Large, and was voted in as Secretary for the Autumn 2017-Spring 2018 school year.
Outside of my music and dance world, I also became a tutor for Adopt-a-School, a student organization that is partnered with Graham Expeditionary Middle School and allows OSU students the opportunity to tutor and help out elementary and middle school children. I was placed with a fifth grade English teacher, and each week she had me work with a sweet little girl named Chamsia, who had just moved to the States from Africa and knew very little English. I got the amazing opportunity to help her learn English and watch as she became more confident throughout the semester.
My friends and fellow German-speakers, Claudia and Kate, and I at the Columbus Oktoberfest, September 2016
Tutoring in English-as-a-second-language was very exciting for me, as a Linguistics major. I loved words and came to Ohio State with a passion for language-learning. However, during first semester, I realized that I loved so much more of the world than just language, and decided to become a double-major with International Relations & Diplomacy. Along with this, I declared a minor in German language, continuing my passion for that path I had begun in high school, and carried with me to college by attending Kaffestunde, a weekly German House event to practice speaking, and other German Club events.
Me, along with other International Affairs Scholars, in front of the CN Tower in Toronto
Around this same time, I started to become very involved in my scholars program, because I realized the theme of International Affairs was more applicable to me now than ever. During fall break, I traveled to Toronto, Ontario, with a group of other students from my scholars program, where I had my first opportunity to become truly immersed in the culture of another country, and I knew I’d made the right decision in choosing to expand my studies to a more global perspective.
My friends and I after my last Collegiate Winds concert for the spring semester
As first semester concluded, I jumped ahead to set myself up for second semester. Though I loved my time in University Band, I knew I wanted to strive to continue to get better at music, so I auditioned for Collegiate Winds, a higher level ensemble, and made it. Though music is no longer as much a part of my life as it was in high school, I still wanted to pursue my passion for playing clarinet. Additionally, I realized marching band would not be in my future, and chose to end my time with mellophone, but the experience of learning it throughout first semester was still worthwhile.
With the beginning of second semester, I began to reevaluate where I really wanted my path to go. Linguistics wasn’t making me happy; I truly didn’t enjoy the classes that were focused in the area I had chosen to dedicate my degree to. With that in mind, I kept the IRD major, but chose to change my second major from Linguistics to Geography, a subject I had been passionate about in high school and felt that I could enjoy more than the technical aspects of studying the science of language.
I took on a much heavier course load second semester, causing me to have to cut back on my involvement, which meant unfortunately I could not continue my time with Adopt-a-School. Though I had enjoyed it, my classes conflicted with their class times and there was no compromise that could be made. My more dedicated involvement to swing dance club, Collegiate Winds, and IA Scholars was a sufficient coutnerpart to my slightly overloaded course schedule.
My OSU New Orleans Buck-i-Serv group
With second semester began time to think about spring break and summer. I applied for a Buck-i-Serv trip for spring break, and was offered the opportunity to go to New Orleans and volunteer with the Break-a-Difference Alternative Spring Break program. It was a very worthwhile trip, filled with various service projects, leadership reflection activities, typical tourist activities, and new friends from Ohio State and several other colleges. With the question of what I would do during summer, I made the choice to apply for an intensive German language study abroad opportunity in Dresden, Germany, and was ecstatic to find out I got accepted. I will be spending four weeks of my summer studying at the Goethe Institut, an internationally-recognized German school, and then traveling for two weeks afterwards, taking full advantage of the freshman to sophomore transition summer, when true responsibilities are few, but learning opportunities and life experiences abound.
My experience in Buck-i-Serv also prompted me to get more involved in service at Ohio State and in the Columbus community. I applied and was accepted in the Romophos Sophomore Class Honorary, a service-based organization for sophomores on campus, and I had the honor of being elected Vice President for the 2017-2018 academic year. I also interviewed to be a mentor with CRIS, Community Refugee and Immigration Services, where I will begin in the fall as a mentor and friend for a refugee student at a local middle school or high school.
Some of my closest IA Scholars friends & I at an end-of-the-year day trip to Hocking Hills
As the semester comes to an end, I am nothing but excited for what my future holds, both immediate and distant. What terrified me at the onset turned into something I was a part of, both on campus and off, both in the classroom and outside of it. I didn’t know my place at first, and I’ve already changed my mind about a few things. I’m still figuring out exactly where I belong in this world, and I’ve also learned that is okay. No one has it figured out yet, but the important part is making Ohio State what you want it to be, and feeling that sense of home that gives you the comfort to pursue the things you want to do. I end my first year far from where I started, but most assuredly on the right path to where I want to go.