Student Life

Community Service: How being a helping hand enriched my Ohio State Newark experience

| Buckeye Voices at Ohio State Newark

Roman Lee, public affairs, 2021

Community service goes a long way and has a positive impact on the issues, people and community being served. I love volunteering because community service is one of my core guiding principles. The Ohio State University at Newark gave me the opportunity to not only learn and set myself up for my future career, but also to continue volunteering in both the campus and Newark community. I was a part of Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge, Journey Campus Ministries, COTC Ambassadors and the Laurel Collegiate Society. I served as the student body president of Ohio State Newark and Central Ohio Technical College. In my opinion, service to others is very crucial today because society faces many social, economic, racial and political obstacles that strike a divide among people. I see taking time out of my busy schedule to give back as a way to not only give back to those in need, but also to establish a connection with someone who comes from a different walk of life.

I first learned the importance of service from my mother who taught me to live a selfless life. I’m also driven to help others due to the experiences I had as a child growing up on the west side of Cincinnati, Ohio, in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood in a single-parent household. Because of the actions of others to help us, my mother always taught us to lend a hand to those in need and to never ignore issues that may occur in our world. One memorable moment of selflessness and generosity was when my mother reached out to a homeless man who didn’t have enough money for a single banana at a grocery store despite our own struggles. My mother took a sandwich, pop and bag of chips from our groceries and gave it to the homeless man sitting outside the store in the cold. My mother later told us, “He needed it more than us. We may be struggling but there are some people out there with absolutely nothing. Never be selfish. If you can give, then you should give.” Her words and that simple act of kindness made an impact on me and how I decided to carry myself from then on. Because of her words, I started to help those in my community with cleanups or by doing lawn work for elderly neighbors who couldn’t. Doing service in the community was reinforced during my years at Elder High School. I’ve discovered that service is an action that can make a big difference in difficult situations. It can bring attention to critical issues that affect our communities.

When I came to Ohio State Newark, my experiences of community service drastically expanded. I joined the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge enabling me to go on two spring break trips to help build homes for those in need in Fort Smith, Arkansas and Monroe, North Carolina. Both trips taught me the importance of giving time to not only help one person but a whole family. I was able to help put a roof over a family’s head to provide a place for shelter, comfort and growth. I got to meet different people who have been affected by poverty or hard times in more ways than one. I also got the opportunity to build relationships with my peers who participated and those who oversaw the building of the homes. I learned why they do it and why the organization means so much to them. Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge expanded my eagerness to help others in need. It also pushed me to challenge my peers to pay attention to issues that we face and to think of someone else when throwing away food or clothes that could be donated. Participation in community service expanded my knowledge of the world’s growing issues and inspired me to seek out more ways to aid communities. These experiences have helped me to decide what to focus on with my degree and what I can strive to accomplish every day. My college career and values as an individual are not complete without community service. Service to others helps build important characteristics within ourselves and makes a difference. My Ohio State Newark experience wouldn’t have been the same or complete without my involvement in community service.

Service to others will always be something that drives me to seek ways to fix issues that grip our communities. Ask yourself, ‘What am I doing for others? What could I do right now to help?’ There is no greater feeling than lending a hand to those in need and creating a positive connection with those around you.

6 Reasons to Choose The Ohio State University at Newark

| Buckeye Voices at Ohio State Newark

So you are thinking about being a Buckeye? Finding the best school to suit your educational goals and needs is a huge commitment. You have done the leg work and toured, researched and applied to a few or dozens of universities across the state and maybe even the country. Now that you’ve found yourself considering Ohio State, here are the top six reasons you should become a Buckeye!

  1. Get started in research even as a freshman

“I chose Ohio State Newark because we have the opportunity as undergrads to participate in real research. Not a lot of colleges allow students to conduct research early on. The first year I was able to participate in research studies, and now I am getting exposure to the process of doing my own research. I am doing all the paperwork and coming up with research ideas. Ohio State Newark has given me a gateway to be published as an undergrad and being a researcher.”

-Zachary Sparks, Psychology major, Class of 2021

  1. Broaden Your Horizons with Education Abroad

“Ohio State offers a wide array of study abroad opportunities that many college students do not. Studying abroad allowed me to learn about another culture and see the world with my fellow classmates. Through my study aboard experience to Liverpool, I made lasting memories and friendships.”

-Conner Moore, English major, Class of 2019

  1. You’re More Than Just a Face in the Crowd

“I knew from the beginning I wanted to attend a college with smaller class sizes. Ohio State Newark’s class sizes allowed me to actually be able to engage in class and get more out of the lectures. The class sizes allow us to do more discussions, and I get to talk and get to know my fellow classmates better. I am able to engage with my professor on a one-on-one basis and get the necessary hands-on help I need.”

-Megan Moody, English major, Class of 2021

  1. Build a Strong Foundation

“Ohio State Newark was the best college choice for me because of the campus environment. It had a very family friendly environment from students to staff; it shows that this is more than just a college campus. Personally, I didn’t choose this option to save money or due to grades but to get the best head start possible to my academic success. When the time came to transition to Columbus to complete my degree, there were many resources available to make the transition to Columbus as easy as possible.”

-Lawrence Clark III, Business major, Class of 2020

  1. Learn from World-Class Teaching Minds

“The faculty at Ohio State Newark led me to become an English major. Coming into college, I was undecided on what I wanted to do; it was through seeing the passion that my professors had for their respective fields that I felt inspired. The faculty provided me opportunities to explore fields from social media, marketing, business writing, and internships in the community. Without the faculty at Ohio State Newark, I would not be as prepared to adventure out into the work force because the faculty believed in my potential success to grow as a professional and person.”

-Lauren Toney, English major, Class of 2019

  1. Receive all the benefits of Ohio State – even football tickets

“Being a Buckeye fan and a sports fan in general, a good reason to choose Ohio State Newark is because you still have access to purchasing season tickets to football games! Not only can we purchase football tickets, but we can also buy tickets to any sporting event at an affordable price for pretty great seats.”

-Judson Lewis, Business major, Class of 2020

The Right Choice

| Buckeye Voices at Ohio State Newark

MacKenzie Webb, junior, business management

“Make good choices.” Those were the words my parents always hollered at me as I was dashing out the door to go on whatever adventure my friends and I had planned that day. For me, senior year of high school was when my parents gave me some control over the reins of my life and more freedom to make my own choices. The freedom was a head rush because for once, I was finally being treated like the adult I always wanted to be. The adrenaline rush of freedom came crashing down when the acceptance letters came in for my top two college choices. I remember wondering if I could make this huge life decision on my own. Ohio State Buckeye or Kentucky Wildcat? Who do you want to be? Will you make the right choice?

I bet you can guess what decision I made! I am so thankful I made the right choice for me by becoming an Ohio State Buckeye. Without The Ohio State University at Newark, I wouldn’t be half the student or individual I am today. The Newark campus was supposed to be a temporary home before I made the transition to Columbus. However, the campus, faculty and my fellow students made it too hard to leave, so I decided to extend my stay indefinitely.

Ohio State Newark has given me many opportunities to expand my skills and knowledge. After English 1110.01, Professor Shawna Green believed in my writing abilities enough to recommend me to take English 3467S to train to become a tutor at the Ohio State Newark Writer’s Studio. Through the Writer’s Studio, I have found a passion for helping students improve their writing skills. Getting to watch their confidence in their writing flourish is extremely satisfying to me. Working at the studio has given me the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who have become friends for life. Through the Writer’s Studio, I also found the passion to continue developing my own writing which led me to pursue an unplanned minor in professional writing. The professional writing minor led me to an internship at the Office of Marketing and Public Relations on campus that has changed my writing abilities and solidified my choice to become a business major and a Buckeye!

One of the most important decisions in choosing a school is looking at the tuition cost. Even though it seems like an obvious factor to look at, many overlook the cost because they will take out student loans to cover it and won’t have to worry about paying it back until after they graduate. This was one of the biggest factors that sent me running the other direction from attending the University of Kentucky. While I loved everything the university had to offer, I could not justify spending thousands of dollars to receive a similar if not better education at Ohio State. It is not worth putting yourself into crippling debt when you have similar opportunities to get a great education.

Consider class sizes in your choice. Are you going to be comfortable asking questions in a room of one hundred people or more? Are you going to get the necessary attention from the professor you need to succeed? For me, smaller class sizes are a must. I am easily distracted by others and not the most outgoing when it comes to answering and asking questions. When I came to Ohio State Newark, I knew I would get the most out of my learning experience because I wouldn’t be anxious to go to class and participate.

While many students choose colleges far away from their families to experience their new freedom, it isn’t always easy to be away from them in a new place. Take the location of your school into consideration. For the past 18 years of your life, you have spent the majority of your time near family. They are oftentimes who you turn to when you need a boost of confidence or support. Remember to take into account how much you lean on your family. A school that is a couple of hours away will still give you the experience of being independent.

Making a decision is never easy regardless of how big or small it is. Choosing the right college is a big decision to make because it affects the rest of your life. While I was lucky enough to have made the right choice, many others make the college decision based on the sports team, the college parties, and how far it is away from their family. Oftentimes, they learn that college wasn’t the best fit, and they should have considered other factors when making their decisions. Make the right choice for your future by weighing your options and the factors that are actually important to you.

New Experiences

| Buckeye Voices at Ohio State Newark

Sam Morgan, Biology

Imagine going into something brand new with no idea of what to expect and without someone you know by your side every step of the way. Think of how scary and terrifying it could be to be alone in a brand new world. For me, this was what walking into college was like. I knew no one and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. My family was over an hour away, and if I’m being honest I think I missed my animals most. This wasn’t going to be like high school. I knew that. Everything was a brand new start to my future.

Being accepted to The Ohio State University was exciting, yet terrifying. I knew that college would be different from high school. I expected it to be insanely hard and full of parties, due to the way the media portrays college. However, when I arrived on move-in day, I knew this would be something far different from what television or movies had told me. I would sum up my first week in one word: scary. I had to share my room and get used to going all the way down the hall just to use the bathroom. I had many doubts and I felt there was no way I would be able to keep up with everything. I was worried I wouldn’t have friends, be involved, or be able to get a good G.P.A.

The first week of classes had me running all over the place. These classes were longer than any class in high school and that made paying attention a little difficult. Since I didn’t know anyone, I had no one to sit by which made me feel weird, like an outsider. I had no idea what was normal in college, so I spent a lot of time in my room that first week. At home, my room was always the place I would go to if I wanted to be alone or if I needed comfort. Now, I wouldn’t be alone in my room and that was weird. On the first day of move-in, my roommate and I went to get Chinese food. That’s when I saw someone I met at orientation! We invited him to eat with us but he had to go meet his roommate. After we ate, I was determined to find him so that I would have at least one other person I knew. I went to the third floor where he said he lived and I made my best guess at which room was his. Knocking on that door has changed my college experience for the better. His roommate answered and I asked if someone who fit the description of who I met at orientation lived there. Lucky for me there was. My roommate and I spent time that night talking to and getting to know them. As time went on we became great friends and that’s when I knew college wouldn’t be as scary as I thought. I realized that I wasn’t alone in this because they knew as little about college as I did. We all hung out every chance we got. We spent many nights in the amphitheater on campus just looking at the stars or by the fountains talking about our days or venting about our problems. We got to know each other very well, very quickly. We each brought new friends into our little group and soon it wasn’t so little. The friends I have made here are truly who have gotten me this far. They have helped me study, made me laugh, helped me through tough times and even let me drag them to ice skating. They are more than friends to me. I consider them family.

Through the Buckeye Generation Learning Community (BGLC), I soon got to know many other people on campus and I gained the confidence to introduce myself to more of them! I ended the semester on the dean’s list and that was more than I could have ever wanted. After my first semester went so well, I decided to try to get involved in things during my second one. I now volunteer with third graders in a program called Diversity through Artistry. Those kids have made me so happy and I have learned so much from them.

Overall, I like how my brand new start has begun. The beginning was scary. I was alone and I didn’t think that would change, but as the year moved forward, I made friends, passed all of my classes and I believe I did the best I could. Second semester is looking just as bright as the first. I am so grateful for every opportunity and for the BGLC. I intend on continuing to volunteer for different things because it makes me happy. Some people say that high school is the best four years of your life, but I disagree because college has already been so much more fun and informative about everything. I’m glad I applied to and chose Ohio State because my life has truly changed forever for the better.

More about Sam

My major is biology because I want to go into the medical field and work with children as a pediatrician, but I’m considering changing it to become an elementary school teacher. Either way, I love working with kids and helping them become better versions of themselves. I graduated from Hilliard Bradley high school.

Misconceptions

| Buckeye Voices at Ohio State Newark

Emily Simila, first-year, psychology

When people think of Newark, Ohio, the thought of a city like Los Angeles or Chicago doesn’t exactly come to mind. Why is that? One tends to believe what they hear, and not what they observe for themselves. Therefore, when I give campus tours, the number one statement that I hear is how happily surprised people are with the size of the campus and the endless activities that we offer. However, let’s get real here. The general population thinks that regional campuses won’t have that “homey” feel or the fun social activities for students. Ohio State Newark proudly breaks that stereotype.

You may be asking, “What activities are you talking about?” The gym, Adena Hall, is the peanut butter to my jelly. When I give tours, the gym gets the crowd excited, as if they are seeing one for the first time. With the renovation of 10,000 square feet, Adena Hall now has a separate room that has a pull-down projector screen that allows you to put on any guided workout videos. With basketball, dodgeball, laser tag, volleyball tournaments and much more offered, Adena Hall is extremely hard to miss. The Warner Center is one of the top attractions. With a ping-pong table, foosball, pool tables and endless food, how could you go wrong? Lastly, when Ohio weather chooses to come through and cooperate, sand volleyball is the name of the game. Because Ohio State Newark is a smaller campus, a majority of students get the memo about certain activities; therefore, it is much easier to make friends.

Our Office of Student Life here pulls through like no other. The office sends out notices of MANY different and fun activities (and I am not just using the word “fun” for the heck of it)! Every week multiple events gather students in for a night they will happily look back on. Karaoke night, comedy shows, trivia, movie nights and adventurous games like “Murder in the Dark” and “Hungry Hippos”. Yes, we are in college, but we know how to put a smile on people’s faces.

At Ohio State Newark, it is our goal to make students here feel like a huge family. That is why community dinners are occasionally offered, free of charge. Pancake night was the top attraction so far this year! However, if you are an adventurous soul, Ohio State Newark can still supply you with all of your needs. Along the outside premises of our campus is a trail that travels several miles long, with beautiful views of nature. This is a common attraction for students that like to longboard, bike, run, roller-skate and so on. In addition, Newark has several parks, and one is located right off of the trail, behind McConnell Hall. One of the best activities to do in Newark is to rent a canoe at our local Infirmary Mound Park! Lastly, Dawes Arboretum is a nearby attraction that literally catches people’s eye.

You may be thinking “Emily, what if I want to do more stuff off of campus?” Well, if you are looking for a fun night off campus, right across from our residence halls is an ice skating rink. On Friday nights, many students go to this rink and have the time of their life. A bowling alley, roller skating arena and movie theatres are all around our campus too! Additionally, about two miles away from campus sits a street that will become your best friend; North 21 street. There is a Roosters, Panda Express, coffee shops and more. Additionally, just nearly 5-10 minutes away from Ohio State Newark, is a golf course, a spa, a country club, fitness centers, a theatre and more fun activities!

I can assure you that if you seek out these attractions and attend the activities provided by student life Ohio State Newark will be the place that you call your new home. I look forward to seeing you all next year!

More about Emily:

I am a freshmen here at Ohio State Newark, and I am also a buckeye guide on campus. I went to high school at Upper Arlington (go bears), and I am very interested in becoming a sport psychologist, therefore my major is psychology. I have always wanted to be a buckeye and have the privilege to say that I go to Ohio State University.

Kasey and Karaoke

| Buckeye Voices at Ohio State Newark

Guest Blogger

Kasey “Aaliyah” Jackson, Sophomore, Forensic Science Chemistry, COTC & Ohio State Newark

My singing history is very long, so I’m just going to touch on my recent success. About a year ago I auditioned for Ohio State Newark’s Got Talent where I placed second. After that performance, fellow students Elizabeth Beatty, Melissa Tobin and Hunter Spittler and Assistant Director for Student Life Justin Khol told me about Karaoke Night, so I started to going. I don’t think I’ve missed a karaoke night since.

This past spring the karaoke night event holders Tim and Vickie Craft asked me if I wanted to compete in karaoke. I told them I usually go home for the summer and that I wouldn’t be back until school started again. They said they would take my information and contact me when it was starting up. I came back and I went to the qualifying round, where I qualified and was the female winner for the first round. We were supposed to have a semi-final round but that round was eliminated and I immediately became a finalist. Finals were held at Woody’s Pub and Grill in Buckeye Lake, Ohio. We went two rounds; my first song was ‘Georgia On My Mind’ and my second was ‘And I am Telling You’ by Jennifer Hudson. The second was a little difficult because the arrangement was slightly different than what I had been practicing so I got stuck in the beginning of the song and the judges penalized me for it. I ended up getting second place still qualifying for Vegas; but only the first place winner had their fares paid. A very generous anonymous giver believed in me so much they offered to pay for me and my boyfriend’s way to Las Vegas so I could compete.

In Las Vegas, I will be representing the State of Ohio and in competition to win a prize of $1000 and a chance to represent the USA in Helsinki, Finland.

Las Vegas Karaoke Competition Schedule

ROUND 1 is Thursday September 28, and Friday September 29th.

I will compete Thursday between 10 am and noon.

I will compete Friday between 7:30 pm and 10:30pm.

ROUND 2 is Saturday September 30th if I make it.

I’m so honored to even be considered in this event and on this type of platform. I’m hoping to win, but if I don’t I am very happy to have had this opportunity to represent my state and schools.

After this competition is over I’m looking forward to finishing my education strong and seeking more venues to perform at. I want to thank those who have pushed and believed in me. Thank you to Justin Khol and Vorley Taylor for always making a way for me to perform. Thank You to my voice coach Perry Meyer. You are the reason I am going to Vegas, without you this would be impossible. Thank you to Vickie and Tim Craft for having so much faith in me from the beginning. Thank you to my entire family and all my friends. I appreciate EVERYONE!!!

My performances can be found on my facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/aaliyah.jackson

Meet Taryne

| Buckeye Voices at Ohio State Newark

Taryne Porter, Junior, Middle Childhood Education

Hello! My name is Taryne Porter and I’m a Middle Childhood Education major at The Ohio State University at Newark. I was born in Ohio, my family settled in Pataskala. I was raised in Licking County and graduated from Licking Heights High School. Wanting to see the world, my college journey began when I accepted an academic scholarship to West Virginia University. After becoming homesick (you don’t know what you have until it’s gone) country roads led me home to Columbus where I continued my education at the Columbus campus. Realizing the class sizes were enormous, and that I was being exposed to more people in a 5-mile radius than I had ever encountered in Licking Country, I decided on one final move. I found my home on the Newark campus. I was thrilled to discover that while it was also closer to home, it offered me the opportunity to complete my major. The education program here is extensive, fulfilling and has enhanced my passion for teaching. The time here has provided me with exposure to amazing faculty members, fellow students, alumni and community members that all share the same love for our humble campus. Wonderful things happen here! During my time at Ohio State Newark, I have had the honor of being crowned homecoming queen, spent multiple years volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters as a lunch buddy and community match, and I have had multiple field and volunteer opportunities through the education program that has allowed me to impact the youth in our community.

Off campus I share my love for cheerleading by coaching at an all-star facility in Gahanna. I also spent years giving back to my high school and their affiliated youth league as a coach and program director. Working six days a week outside of school definitely has its challenges, but in my book challenges are welcome. When I miraculously have a day (or even an hour) off, you will find me in a nook of campus with my nose in a book or at home gardening and hanging out with my animals.

I currently only have three semesters remaining before my time is up. I am cherishing every moment on this campus with my friends and fellow Buckeyes. My goals in life are to provide my students and athletes with empowerment, confidence and the ability to become successful in the real world. I am thankful for my time at Ohio State Newark and for being a Buckeye. Being one has allowed me to thrive in my own fields and I look forward to representing the Scarlet and Grey for life! Go Bucks!

 

 

Meet Melissa

| Buckeye Voices at Ohio State Newark

Hi, my name is Melissa Tobin. I am from southern California, specifically Los Angeles County. My family and I moved to central Ohio my senior year of high school. I graduated from Granville High School and decided to attend The Ohio State University at Newark. I choose this campus because I did not want to move again after just moving across the country, and I knew that smaller class sizes work best for me. Ever since I started college people always ask me why I left California or why I would ever want to leave. My mom’s job brought us across the country, and it was my mom’s job that moved my family again just before I started college.

I am in my fifth year on the Newark campus and I am majoring in psychology and minoring in professional writing. It took me some time to figure out what path I wanted to pursue; eventually, I was able to figure it out with some help from my family. I plan to continue on to graduate school with a focus in counseling. I would like to find a job as a counselor in the military. I am interested in becoming a counselor in the military because I have always enjoyed helping others and several members of my family have served in the armed forces.

Cutting wood for the Habitat for Humanity build in Alabama.

I am the vice president for the Campus Activities Board student organization and I am a team leader in the Adena Recreation Center. I was a part of the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge for two years where we traveled to Georgia and Alabama during spring break, Naps Against Poverty where we held clothing drives to collect and give to children in need, and Active Minds where we helped bring awareness to mental disabilities. My college experience has been more enjoyable since I have become involved on campus through work and student organizations. I have participated in many opportunities where I have met many students, faculty and staff, and I have made great friends.

When I am not busy on campus with school, work or student organizations, I enjoy spending time outside, a love that I developed while growing up in Southern California. When I am relaxing on campus, I am usually in the Warner Center with my friends.

Meet Beth

| Buckeye Voices at Ohio State Newark

My name is Beth Beatty.

I went to a smaller high school in south eastern Ohio where I graduated with about 150 people, so I knew large classes were not for me. Knowing that I wanted smaller class sizes helped me decide on going to The Ohio State University’s Newark campus. I went to Newark full time for two years before I became a dual-enrolled student. Now I am a fourth year dual-enrolled student both on the Newark and Columbus campuses. I am majoring in health sciences with a minor in clinical and individual differences with the goal of becoming a pediatric occupational therapist. I begin applying for grad school this summer, and of course Ohio State is at the top of my list. I spend every home game in the ‘Shoe watching the best football team! When I’m not in class, I’m most likely in the Warner Center either downstairs with my friends or upstairs in The Office of Student Life. Last year I started two different jobs within Student Life: I work at the front desk along with being a student assistant for student activities.

When I first started classes at the Newark campus I’m sure I felt the same way as most of you do now… I was ready to pack up my things and move right on to Columbus. I was convinced that Newark was going to be a boring campus. I was sure that I wasn’t going to make any friends nor have anywhere near the college experience as my friends in Columbus. My entire experience was flipped once I became involved on campus, I joined my first club as the secretary of Student Government. A few weeks later the next opportunity came for me to really enjoy my time on campus. The Campus Activities Board was starting back up and they needed someone to take the media position. In my following years on campus I became the President for Student Government, became active in Active Minds, went on the Habitat for Humanity spring break trip twice, created my own student organization Naps Against Poverty, and stayed active with Campus Activities Board. After that, I was permanently attached to this campus. I have been given even more opportunities to grow and meet new people in the past four years.

As my senior year quickly approaches I have realized how much this campus has made a positive and lasting impact on my life. I cannot say if it’s the faculty and staff, the opportunities I have been given or the fact that everywhere I am on campus someone knows who I am. I can for sure say that I am anything but ready to graduate and leave this wonderful campus community where I have been shown what it means to be a Buckeye.

Adventures in Cuba

| Buckeye Voices at Ohio State Newark

Josh Flickinger, sophomore

In late May, a group of 22 Ohio State students had the opportunity to travel to Cuba. I was one of those students. Some of us were from the Newark campus, and some were from the Columbus campus. We were there to learn about race in Cuba and how its perception has changed over history, but the experience ended up being something much more than just another class for many of us.

For ten of the eleven days, we stayed in Havana. The homestays there are called Casas. We were split between three of them. A faculty member stayed with each group. Ferdinand Avila-Medina, the learning skills specialist at Newark, stayed with my group in Casahabana. Dr. Alcira Dueñas, a history professor at Newark, lived with another group just a few blocks from us on the same street. Dr. Tiyi Morris, our professor for the class, stayed a bit farther away with the rest of our classmates in Matilda’s Casa. Each morning we would wake up to a breakfast of fresh fruit and juice, strong Cuban coffee, warm bread and butter and eggs served by Casahabana staff. Then we would meet our bus and go to the morning’s educational activity. There were two each day, one before and one after lunch. We were free between the afternoon activity and dinner. My housemates and I usually used that time to write the reflections required every day by the course. After dinner, we were allowed to explore Havana until curfew at 12:30.

The course was focused on race and Afrocuban culture. Most of our activities pertained to how they manifested in Cuban culture in general. We went to museums on the slave trade and Afrocuban religions. We attended workshops where we got to dance, make art and to build our teamwork skills. We watched performances of dances, visited historical sites and met with religious leaders. We talked to world-renowned professors and journalists about racism, opportunity, history and education. It was a lot to take in, especially in such a small amount of time, but being there in person allowed us to actually experience the things we had been learning about in class. They became memories for each of us instead of just words on a page.

Of all the official activities we did, my favorite was our visit to the Los Positos neighborhood midway through the trip. It was a sweltering hot day, and we met with a professor who led us on a hike through an underdeveloped and impoverished part of town. We started walking down a crumbling alleyway which soon turned into a dirt track that snaked down a long hill into an overgrown river valley filled with shacks. The dwellings in Los Positos seemed to be built out of whatever materials could be found, and they were jammed together along the sides of dirt paths since there were almost no roads through the slum. There was garbage everywhere, piled up on the hillsides, lining the streets, and floating down the creeks and water that flowed through some of the tiny alleys. Waste management services were not in place in the area, so where else was it supposed to go? The people there had come to Havana for many different reasons. Some had fallen on hard times, some had emigrated from the rural countryside looking for opportunity in the city, but most had grown up without many social resources, and they were stuck. All of us who went on the hike were sweating and worn out by the end. To be honest, it was one of the most uncomfortable days of the trip. The people who lived there couldn’t just leave when they were tired of the conditions. There were state and university programs at work trying to provide resources. We even met with an Abakua religious leader who worked in the community. Despite first appearances, there were many people at work trying to help those living in Los Positos, but that afternoon served as a stark reminder that despite its beauty, Cuba is a society that has problems to address, much like any other.

Not all of our activities were academic, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t learn from them. We had the opportunity to explore Old Havana, the historical part of the city that had most of the beautiful plazas and buildings. There were lots of tourists, but many of the people who filled the streets were Cubans going about their everyday business. We got to tour most of the historic squares and see some of the important statues and buildings. We walked around in groups, looking through the shops and exploring. For the most part, the Cubans didn’t speak much English. I didn’t speak much Spanish, and only a few of the students did. It made trying to figure out prices for taxis or souvenirs interesting, but by the end of the trip we picked up a few words and phrases. The Cuban people were generally forgiving of it though, and they seemed to be excited to meet Americans and practice their English. For us students, being somewhat independent in an environment that was so different from our usual lives gave us a chance to solve problems we had never faced before, and to try to see things from points of view that we never would have considered otherwise. To understand why Cubans did things certain ways – such as charging for using the restroom, congregating on street corners to use the Wi-Fi, or walking most places instead of driving – we had to think about what it would be like to live in a society outside of the United States, while experiencing it for ourselves.

We did have one free day during the trip. On Friday, we took a two-hour bus ride to Varadero in the Matanzas province. It was a beautiful drive. A few of us even noticed the sights in between naps. The Cuban countryside has everything from mountains, hills and valleys covered in tropical forests to vast empty fields used for agriculture. Varadero is a resort town, and the beaches there are considered some of the best in the world. When we arrived, we spent the day in and around the ocean after we checked in to the hotels. I was too sunburnt to do much more than loaf around in pain by the end of the day, but a few other students and I got to watch a live band cover 80s. Some others went to a nightclub nearby that the locals said had the best dancing. There was dancing almost everywhere in Cuba though. Everyone I met could dance, and almost all of them could dance better than most Americans I know.

At the end of the trip, we all had to write reflection papers that incorporated what we learned from the experience. For me, that was one of the most difficult papers to write because there was so much. The class showed us a side of Cuba that we hadn’t looked at before, and put what we already knew into historical context. The academic activities done while we were in the country cemented what we learned in class, and let us experience firsthand everything we were reading about. But the trip was more than that, it let us live with Cubans. We saw them go about their daily lives, we took part in those lives, and we picked up on social cues that we didn’t even know we were getting. And that’s why travelling to another country is such an amazing experience. There are some things that can’t truly be explained with words.