Columbus To-Do List: Part 1

As far as exploring Columbus, I have decided to pick and choose from different lists and do a variety of activities in the city. Being from Hilliard, OH and living so close to the city, I’ve never really taken advantage of what Columbus has to offer, so I’m most looking forward to getting off campus and exploring the city. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to feel like I belong in the city and that Columbus is truly my home throughout this experience.

Today, my suite mate Bryce and I journeyed out to Fox in the Snow Cafe. We wanted to have a little time to chat away from the busyness of campus and it was such a nice morning to go out and get to just talk about life.

We took the CABS bus from the towers to the Ohio Union to hop on the 1 towards High St. and Starr St. It was actually pretty easy to just get on the COTA bus and get to the coffee shop. I’ll admit, I was really nervous about that because in my experience thus far with that COTA system, it can sometimes be unpredictable. It was a little bit of a walk form the bus stop to the actual coffee shop once we were down in the general area, but neither of us minded it. It was cloudy and a little bit gloomy, but it felt like fall finally! Upon walking into the coffee shop, it was super crowded and there weren’t many places to sit.

I was definitely not expecting the building to be how it was. I expected it to be tucked away in one of the corners of the Short North maybe, but it was a stand alone garage type of building on the corner of 3rd and 4th. It was a really modernized on the inside, and had a lively feel to it. When we went up to order, we saw that there were lots of yummy pastries to choose from. I ended up getting the sticky bun (and I would highly recommend) and Bryce got the blueberry danish.

Choosing what kind of coffee to get wasn’t hard for me because I knew I wanted to get a cappuccino. I’ve had lot of friends go to this coffee shop before since I live around the area, and so I’ve seen pictures of the cute little art in the cappuccino’s and had to get one for myself.

 

We got to just sit and chat and enjoy our coffee together, and so that was a really fun experience for me. I LOVE to try new coffee shops and I LOVE to spend quality on e on one time with my friends, so this made for a pretty great morning.

I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who loves a good atmosphere to sit and have coffee and talk. The cappuccino wasn’t my favorite, but the pastry, as I said, was amazing. I would definitely go back, and I hope some of my fellow ENR scholars will give it a try too:)

ENR Mentor Meet-Up!!

I had the chance to meet up with Leah yesterday and talk about her academics, involvement on campus, her experience with ENR scholars and just hear some general advice about settling into college.

Leah shared with me that she is currently pursuing a major in theatre. Although undecided when first coming to OSU last fall, Leah has been pursuing studies in theatre, someday hoping to pursue stage management as a “side hustle.” She also mentioned the possibility of wanting to drop theatre down to a minor and take on FFW or EPDM as a major. She told me about how taking calculus was the most challenging thing for her class wise coming to college. She loves to study in the big room with all the windows in Thompson because of all the natural lighting, but room would have to be her favorite study spot.

As far as involvement around campus goes, she’s not currently involved in any clubs. She does like to go to the yoga classes and other fitness classes offered at the RPAC and North Recreation Center. She had tried out the Art of Living Meditation Club for a little while, but quickly realized that wasn’t her thing. She does, however, participate in volunteer work form time to time. It’s mostly events through ENR Scholars and with the orginazation, FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed). She also worked last summer for one of her professors, helping him write a book. The topic focused on religion and environmental values in America, and so she really enjoyed the time she spent working on that.

For Leah, being involved on ENR Scholars gave her the foundation she needed coming into college. It has provided her with a network of people that give her connections to the School of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as just allowing her to have a group of people from which her closest friends are found. She wanted to specifically be a mentor for the program because she wanted to be involved in the lives of the incoming freshmen. She also mentioned wanting to be a better mentor and be more involved than her mentor was her first year. This is also a really great way for her to stay involved in the scholars group, being a second year. Leah has been exposed to many types of outdoor recreation that she had never before experienced, like slacklining. She also enjoys camping, and going on the upcoming backpacking trip to Dolly Sods, West Virginia.

The advice that Leah gave to me was that you really get out of ENR scholars what you put into it. She told me that my involvement depends on how heavily involved I want to be. Since there are so many events, she advised me to go to the ones that really interest me. This group is also a really valuable community to be able to build that framework in to be able to be successful in pursuing my degree and my endeavors after college.

After college, Leah plans to “roll up her diploma and throw it at a wall. Just kidding- well kind of.”  She really wants to work somewhere in the wildlife sector, either with endangered species conservation or preservation. She also really loves sharks, so maybe something involving marine wildlife. She hopes to be able to stage manage as a side job as well. Her dream job would be to work in the wildlife biology field and be up close and personal with wildlife, preferably sharks because they are just so cute!

From having this conversation with Leah, I learned that being a part of this program has already equipped me with tools that I can use for my success in college. There are so many programs at my fingertips to expose me to new things, and it’s up to me to take hold of this opportunities.  I learned that time management is hard to figure out, and that I may never fully figure it out, but that it will get better with time. She taught me that it’s okay not to know exactly what I want to do at this very moment in time. She said that she wished someone had told her that “you’re not behind!” I realized that it’s okay not to have an internship, or be involved in research, or to strictly follow my 2 year plan right now. Coming to college and learning how to adjust to all the changes, emotionally, mentally, and physically is something that will get easier the more experienced I have.

Leah left me with a final piece of advice, and I wrote it down because I could really connect with it. She said, “Life is weird. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, life throws you a curveball and you’re forced out of your comfort zone and you’ve just got to pick yourself up and deal with in. In these times of hardship, you will learn new things: things about yourself, things about what you are passionate about. Your idea of that life is is going to be shattered like a million times and you have to constantly be shifting your thinking to be able to adapt and go on with life.” I really appreciate the time I was able to spend with my mentor and I can’t wait to see what amazing adventures we embark on together!