2016-17 Year in Review

Hi FYLI’ers!

With another great school year completed and summer now in full swing, we thought we would take the time to reflect on some of the activities we got to do as an org throughout the year:

We started fall semester out strong by revealing cohort groups, allowing members to break out into small groups and get to know one another on a more individual level. Over the course of the year, cohort group members arranged to meet outside of our weekly general body meetings, either to grab coffee or lunch, hang out on the Oval, or explore the Short North and Columbus!

In October, the FYLI-favorite Ghost Tour meeting got everyone in the Halloween spirit with inside stories on some of the most haunted buildings at OSU. Stops along the way included Orton Hall, Mirror Lake, University Hall, and many others. A night full of laughs, spooks, and scares was certainly one to remember!

Fall semester also brought personal growth for everyone, both socially and professionally. While navigating the chaos of meeting new people, joining other clubs, scheduling classes, and studying for exams, FYLI served as a supportive home-base in which friends and familiar faces could discuss weekly highs and lows and personal strengths and weaknesses. Workshops on networking, resume building, and public speaking further helped students develop important life skills necessary for leadership and success.

After a relaxing Winter Break, FYLI kicked back into full force with fun activities such as an Ohio Union scavenger hunt and a colors personality test, fostering teamwork and self-reflection.

 

Upholding service as one of our key pillars, FYLI also had many opportunities to volunteer and give back to our community throughout the year. A day-trip to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Columbus had students installing new shelves, stacking and organizing wooden boards, and rearranging used furniture to put on display. Another trip to the Ronald McDonald House at Nationwide Children’s Hospital let students tour the state-of-the-art facilities and bake cookies for the residents. Both experiences allowed FYLI’ers to partake in meaningful service and broaden their perspective on the importance of volunteer work as a whole.

As the spring semester came to a close and friendships grew stronger, we got to explore some of the awesome places around Columbus that make the city so unique. A FYLI brunch at the North Market was the perfect way to escape the frustrations of studying for exams, and a game night at Kingmakers consisted of unlimited boardgames and delicious hot chocolate! We hope that the FYLI class of 2016 had an amazing first year of college at Ohio State, and we know that they all have very bright futures ahead of them as students and leaders. We are looking forward to meeting a new class of first-years in the fall and can’t wait for another great year!