For my next artifact, I would like to use my first live experience of “The Game.” As I walked to Ohio Stadium on a brisk November morning, the Buckeye spirit was in full force and could be seen all over campus. The classic rivalry of Ohio State and Michigan is among the best in all of sport, and I was able to watch the game in-person for the first time ever. Hearing the roar from the crowd as the Buckeyes took the field and made excellent plays against the Wolverines sent chills up my spine, and I quickly realized how fortunate I was to be a part of this atmosphere. The special meaning of this experience is feeling a sense of unity and fellowship with the massive crowd of Ohio State fans. All of us were there for the same reasons: to support our team and have fun while doing so. This is what gives you a sense of belonging, and this is something that I will cherish for a long time. After watching this game, I feel so proud to be a student at this great university, and I will always feel that deep sense of belonging no matter where I am and where I go.

Mount Legacy Week is perhaps the most important component of the first year of being a member of the Mount Leadership Society. As Mount Legacy Week comes to a close, it ends with an event called Legacy Night, where each team creates a presentation of the service projects they created and performed to help the local community. I was a member of Team Environment, so the projects we did included a litter clean-up, staining benches for a local park, and removing honeysuckles from another park. As Legacy Night was getting closer, we had to make a video of ourselves talking about the projects, how they impacted the community, and how much fun we had throughout the process.

For my next artifact, I chose to use this video. It was a representation of all the hard work and dedication each member put in to make these projects successful. One significant thing about it that I really enjoyed was the humorous “Full House” sketch that we did to introduce each member of the team. Similar to the TV show, members were separated into groups of two or three and acted out mundane activities then would look at the camera in cheesy fashion. The reason behind why I chose the video was that when I watched it for the first time, I felt a personal sense of belonging to not only my team but also Mount in general.

Coming from a high school with only nineteen other students in my graduating class, I didn’t think I would fit in at Ohio State considering how large the university is. However, I can now say that I have found my belonging here. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be a part of Mount and be with so many people who are new friends of mine. The video showed me that I’m surrounded by people who have the same ambitions and desires as me to grow as individuals and become leaders of the future. It has been a pleasure working with these guys, and I know this is only the beginning.

At OSU, our athletic teams are known as the Buckeyes. A buckeye is a small nut that is commonly found throughout the state of Ohio. The reason why I bring this up is that I wanted to share another one of my special artifacts, which happens to be a buckeye! This past August, as my parents were helping me move into my dorm room on Move-In Day, one of the things my mother gave to me as we were finishing unpacking was a buckeye. She told me that this buckeye was found in a park located in my hometown. It symbolizes not only my status of being a student at this great institution but also my own personal roots. I was born and raised here in the Buckeye State, and Ohio has always been my home. While it may seem quite unimpressive, this nut holds very special meaning to me. It sits on my desk most of the time, but I always put it in my pocket as a sign of good luck whenever I’m about to take a midterm or final exam. I couldn’t be more proud to call myself a Buckeye, and regardless of whether you grew up in or outside of Ohio, anyone can be a part of this amazing community as a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes!

Since the month of October is known for being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought it would be appropriate to use my official “Pink Out” shirt for my first artifact. I had recently purchased this shirt in order to wear it for OSU’s football game this weekend against Maryland, and although it may seem like a regular t-shirt, its meaning to me is more than what meets the eye. My great-grandmother was a breast cancer survivor who passed away almost a year ago. Without a doubt, she was one of the most inspirational people I have ever known. She lived for ninety-two years and experienced many different things throughout her life. On a brighter note, she was always known for making her delicious apple pies for any family occasion. While it was sad to see her go, her spirit remains strong in my family. By wearing this pink shirt to the game on Saturday, I will represent not only her but also every person, living or deceased, who has dealt with breast cancer. Every life is worth living, and we can remain hopeful that a cure will be found as we stand together.