This semester, my ACES mentee Molly and I once again set out to explore a fun, new place in Columbus. After comparing our schedules and figuring out a time that worked best for both of us, Molly and I decided to get brunch together. Because there are dozens of excellent places in Columbus to get breakfast or brunch, it was fairly difficult for us to decide where to go. However, we finally decided to spend our morning at. Blunch. Blunch is a new restaurant in Clintonville that a married couple recently opened to share their love of food with the Columbus community. Molly and I had both heard great things about the food, so we thought we should go explore it ourselves. Considering that my dorm is on the way to the restaurant from where Molly lives, she first met me at my dorm. We then decided we would catch a bus to save and walked over to the bus stop together. Upon waiting for the bus to pick us up and take us to our destination, Molly and I had a nice conversation and were able to catch up with each others’ lives. She enlightened me about how the end of her semester will play out, and I did the same. After asking how she has liked her first year at Ohio State, I was excited to hear that she absolutely loves it and can not wait for next semester to start. Going to college in a new town with so many new people and opportunities is not always the easiest thing, yet I am glad that Molly has acclimated herself well and is able to enjoy everything that Ohio State has to offer. She also told me about her end-of-the-year photography class project and how she planned to go home for the weekend to capture photos in a special place. I really admire her love for photography and think she has such a creative mind.
When the bus finally came, we eagerly hopped on and rode for several stops until we approached where we needed to get off. We ended up in an old-fashioned area with brick buildings and locally run businesses. After finally making it to the restaurant, we were ecstatic by the warm welcome that we received. The inviting yellows and blues of the restaurant really created a happy atmosphere, and each employee seemed equivalently happy to be there. Thankfully the restaurant was not too crowded, so we were seated right away. The biggest challenge for Molly and I during our excursion was choosing what to order off of the extensive, brunch-filled menu. Blunch offered such a wide variety of enticing foods that it was extremely hard to pick a meal. However, we finally decided on our meals and were able to place our orders. Upon waiting for our food to arrive, Molly and I continued to have a great conversation. We talked about our plans for the summer, our jobs, and other random topics like movies we enjoy watching. I was very intrigued by Molly’s aspiration to study abroad for an entire semester in Kenya where she would be doing field work related to environmental sciences. I truly hope that she is able to partake in that trip, as I know it would be life-changing for her. Additionally, we found out that we actually participate in the same tutoring organization on campus. It was coincidental that we share this position, and I am happy that we both plan to continue tutoring in the years to come. I know this will be a way for Molly and I to keep in touch after the end of this year.
When the food arrived, our eyes lit up at the sight of our delicious brunches. We both thoroughly enjoyed the food we chose and agreed that we would definitely be coming back to the restaurant. We concluded that it would be a great place to take our parents when they are in town. After we finished our food, we left quickly to ensure Molly would get to her class in time. We again waited at the bus stop where we continued our conversation about movies, TV shows, and music. Molly and I have a lot in common and I thoroughly enjoy spending time with her. I am thankful that the ACES Mentorship Program has not only provided me with leadership and mentoring skills, but also with a new friend. I know Molly and I will keep in touch, and I am excited to see how her future at OSU turns out. Overall, going to brunch with Molly was a great time and I will definitely be recommending Blunch to all of my friends.