On Monday, March 25th, 2019, my mentee Sydni and I explored Columbus, Ohio together again!  We took a quick trip to Kafe Kerouac, which neither of us had been to before this day.  This cafe is just north of campus, and it is located at 2250 North High Street.  Sydni and I met at the cafe after a long day of classes to catch up and take a break from school together.   I decided to bring Sydni to Kafe Kerouac because neither of us had been there before, and I was excited to tackle a differnt kind of experience with her!  This casual exploration was a really fun opportunity to get to know even more about Sydni – while also trying something new!

Sydni and I took our time looking over the menu.  With fun coffee drinks named after authors like Dr. Seuss, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Charles Dickens, it was a hard choice to make!  After some deep consideration, I ordered an iced James Joyce (which includes irish cream and cinnamon!) and Sydni ordered a Strawberry Smoothie.  Her smoothie even came in a cute Mickey Mouse glass!  We both appreciated the friendly atmosphere of the cafe, although it was difficult to find a seat.  This cafe is clearly a popular spot for people to study, relax, and play games.  Glancing around the cafe, we were amazed at how many books and games the cafe had to offer.  The variety was incredible – they had books from all genres and board games I had never heard of before.  After taking it all in, we decided to sit outside to drink our cold beverages, because it was a nice day after all the rain had ceased.  I took a picture of Sydni outside before she tried her smoothie!

While enjoying the weather, Sydni and I discussed our plans for the summer and next school year!  Sydni hopes to travel during the summer, possibly making a road trip to visit her friend from OSU that lives in Connecticut!  She also has hopes of traveling to Florida over the summer.  Because I will still be on campus for summer semester, I made sure Sydni knew that she can always travel back to Columbus if she would like to explore more with me this summer!  As the conversation progressed, we reflected on how quickly the school year has passed by.  With approximately one month left, Sydni and I are sad that our mentor/mentee commitment is coming to an end.  Nevertheless, I encouraged Sydni to enjoy her second year of ACES because I know she will be an amazing Mentor for a future first year ACE.  I also wished Sydni the best of luck in her pursuit of becoming a member of the ACES Leadership Council – she truly is following my footsteps!  Sydni is excited to continue living on South Campus again next school year, and I am excited for her too because I will be staying on south as well!

If in the future other people would like to explore Columbus in this same experience of a trip to Kafe Kerouac, I would suggest taking the number 2 COTA bus, especially if they are leaving from Smith-Steeb Hall since it is pretty far north.  This would be somewhat of a long walk from south campus, plus you can never trust the weather in Ohio.  I think this is a great opportunity to explore north of Ohio State’s campus in contrast to the Short North, which is south of campus.  I would also recommend checking the Kafe Kerouac online website for special events and activities before going!  I think it would be super fun to go back on the night of a Slam Poetry reading because it would expose people to diverse perspectives and new ideas.  The cafe also offers live music and songwriters workshops on certain days, among many other wonderful opportunities.  This exploration is great for people who want a calm place to talk and/or play board games together, which would make it an amazing spot for ACES to explore in the future!  Lastly, I would also recommend going before the hours get too late because this cafe turns into a bar at night.

All in all, this trip to Kafe Kerouac was a memorable experience with my mentee Sydni, and it was the perfect way to wrap up the year with her.  I will miss seeing her at all of the ACES community meetings and events, but I know she will continue the legacy of her proud mentor’s favorite organization as she begins her second year at The Ohio State University.

Question 1: What kind of study habits have you developed?  Did they work successfully in the fall?

As a hard-working student, Sydni found this question hard to answer.  She constantly found herself studying extremely hard for each of her classes and still failing the exams as they came.  Despite coming into college with strong study habits developed in high school, Sydni realized she needed a positive atmosphere to succeed when studying.  Some of Sydni’s favorite locations on campus to study are in the Thompson Library and Knowlton Hall (the architecture building).  These spots are typically very quiet, and they are actually some of my favorite places to focus also!

Question 2: How do you manage your time between your involvement and your academics?

Balancing involvements and academics as a college student is no easy feat, but Sydni seems to have found her groove as a freshman!  The key to managing activities and deadlines, in Sydni’s world, is staying organized.  She has a journal that helps keep her on track.  Sydni also uses the calendar on her phone to double and even triple check dates, ensuring she does not miss out on any of her assignments or opportunities.  Prioritization is another way Sydni manages her time between involvement and academics.  Although she is dedicated to all of her commitments, Sydni insists on always putting academics first.

Question 3: How was your first semester in ACES?  What has surprised you most about the program?

The first semester of ACES was “pretty good” for Sydni Porter.  She describes the program as “welcoming;” however, she has definitely had her struggles.  Sydni has found it hard to establish friendships and connections in ACES, which surprised her most about the program.  She believes that her cohort has not bonded much in Smith-Steeb, and it does not help that her relationship with her roommate is strained.  Although ACES was not the perfect stepping stone for Sydni’s connections on campus, she has thrived in finding a community and friends outside of ACES.  Next year, as a sophomore, Sydni will be living in a sophomore learning community.  She hopes that this community will continue helping her grow in friendships.

Question 4: Have you had the chance to explore your desired career through internships, field experience, etc.?

While internships and field experience have not been a way of exploring Environmental Policy and Decision Making for Sydni, she certainly has participated in some other opportunities related to her desired career.  Through the Undergraduate Student Government, Sydni has been involved in environmental projects right here on campus.  Sydni also had the amazing chance to shadow Kirk Schuring, a representative and now a member of Ohio’s Senate, for a day as he explained governmental processes and gave her a tour of the Statehouse!

Question 5: What is your favorite memory from last semester?

Pinning down a specific memory from last semester to be declared a “favorite” was challenging for Sydni.  Hanging out with friends has made a strong impact on Sydni’s college life.  Renting board games from the front desk of Bradley-Paterson, spending a rainy day exploring Ikea, and taking a random photo shoot in German Village (where Sydni briefly saw Pete!!) are just a few examples of memories Sydni will surely not forget from the beginning of her college-student life.

Bonus Questions: What has been the most challenging factor of being a college student in your opinion?

Sydni’s most challenging part of college has been realizing that the path she wanted initially is no longer the path of her calling.  For years, she was convinced that medical school was the way she would go for sure.  After a rough first semester and a passionate dislike for every single one of her classes, Sydni concluded that the medical school path was not a fit for her anymore.

Who have been the most influential people throughout your first year of college?

The most influential people in Sydni’s life as a student at OSU have been her friends.  Specifically, there is a tie between Nora, Katie, and Chris.  Nora “dragged” Sydni to a club meeting, and if she hadn’t done that Sydni would not be a current member of the Exec. Board!  Nora also encouraged Sydni to switch her major to something she loved rather than something she despised.  Katie was one of the first people Sydni met at Ohio State.  The two of them were in R-Lead together, and they “clicked immediately.”  Based on their exciting friendship, Sydni and Katie will be rooming together next semester as sophomores!  Lastly, Chris has been a strong influence on Sydni.  One of Sydni’s friends unfortunately passed away, and Chris supported Sydni through her loss.

On the early evening of Monday, November 5th, 2018, I explored Columbus with my mentee, Kyle! We ventured down into the Short North by taking the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) bus number 2. I decided to take Kyle down to the Short North for our Explore Columbus trip because he had never traveled past Gateway on High Street. I figured it would be a great chance for Kyle to familiarize himself with locations close to campus within reach of a bus. We got off the bus at King Avenue and walked to Condado Tacos, which Kyle had never eaten at before Monday.

Because Kyle had never encountered the full Condado Tacos experience, I let the waiter explain the unique ordering process: basically, you bubble in which toppings you would like just like filling in a multiple choice answer on a quiz in class! Our waiter was very kind, which improved our overall eating experience. We both ordered our special tacos, and I had to introduce Condado’s Dirty Queso dip to Kyle. The Dirty Queso dip with the homemade nacho tortilla chips is my absolute favorite thing to eat at Condado Taco’s, and I was excited that Kyle also enjoyed it after getting a taste!  Kyle seemed very grateful for a chance to eat off campus since he is a student on the unlimited meal plan that eats daily at Scott and Kennedy Commons on campus.

During our dinner together, I discovered a lot of interesting details about Kyle’s personality, like his passion for hot sauce and his ease at making others laugh. I think it is really important to meet new people, and getting to know Kyle definitely strengthened our mentor/mentee relationship.  He’s an out-of-state student from Virginia, and he is very unfamiliar with the Columbus area, so I am glad I was able to show him around a little bit. This time last year, I was also extremely unaccustomed to the outskirts of Ohio State’s campus, so it was cool to be on the opposite end of the mentor/mentee position.  I am thankful for being able to share some of the knowledge I have accumulated in only one year with a college freshman that may have been as curious as I was.

Through this fun adventure to the Short North, I learned that Columbus isn’t as big or as scary as I once pictured.  I recently realized that I have mastered the COTA bus (number 2!) schedules and stops in less than a year.  I noticed it was exciting getting off campus for just a few hours to hang out and eat great food without worrying about classes and exams, which Kyle addressed highly in agreement!  I learned that Kyle is a really funny guy, and he also shows a lot of potential as an ACE scholar.

If other people would hope to endeavor in this same experience of a trip to the Short North for Condado Taco’s, I would recommend taking the number 1 or number 2 COTA bus to cut the trip’s travel time in half.  Although it is not a far walk from South campus, I think riding the bus is a simple skill that a mentor can instill in their mentee for when they may need to travel farther.  Riding the bus alone for the first time could be intimidating and/or confusing for many freshmen, but riding with someone else, like a mentor, can make this daunting situation lively and easy!  Furthermore, I would recommend exploring more into the Short North!  The dinner experience at Condado Taco’s was delicious, and I highly recommend everyone to try the Dirty Queso dip with the homemade tortilla chips there (especially because it is my all-time favorite food in the Columbus area)!  This is a flexible restaurant that I would recommend to friends because they have many taco options, including vegetarian alternatives!

After a delightful dinner together, Kyle and I decided to walk back from Condado Taco’s to Smith-Steeb Hall together.  Along the way, I was able to point out additional locations that Kyle was not aware of so that he may visit them in the near future.  Some examples of landmarks I showed him along the way are Kroger, the Columbus Metropolitan Library, and the newly built Taco Bell!  It will be hard to top a tasty dinner at Condado Taco’s for our Explore Columbus trip in the spring semester; however, our stomachs are definitely up to the challenge!  I look forward to exploring Columbus more with Kyle as our year together in ACES continues!

Kyle Bentley, a freshman at The Ohio State University, is a member of the Advocates for Community and Education Scholars. Kyle is an out-of-state student from Suffolk, Virginia majoring in Health Rehabilitation Sciences. During our interview, I got to learn more about Kyle’s reasoning for OSU as well as some personal information about his interests! We have a shared love for video games and poetry, and we seem to have the same outgoing personality!

How did Kyle decide on the major he chose?
Kyle has had a deep passion for helping others for a very long time. He has an interested focus on health care and related areas of health. Overall, Kyle Bentley has chosen to pursue Physical Therapy through the Health Rehabilitation Sciences department at The Ohio State University because he wants to be able to help people in the near future.

What types of volunteering opportunities did Kyle participate in as a student in high school?
Throughout his time as a high school student, Kyle devoted a lot of time into the organization called 4H. He volunteered at a horse barn and loved every moment of it. Kyle and a group of students from his school also started a program called Veggies for Veterans where they grew a garden full of vegetables to be donated to United States’ veterans.

Why did Kyle choose ACES? What is Kyle most looking forward to in the ACES program?
Kyle had a desire to continue volunteering as a college student, which is why he applied for Advocates for Community and Education Scholars. He wanted to live in a cohort and meet new people with similar interests in community service, so he chose ACES! Kyle is most excited for the various volunteering opportunities that the ACES program has to offer.

What is Kyle’s dream job, and why?
The end goal for Kyle Bentley is a profession in physical therapy! Being a physical therapist is Kyle’s dream job because he wants to help people in a health care setting. He specifically wants to work in physical therapy because it allows for an opportunity to have direct contact with patients. He also likes that it provides a great opportunity to talk to people and meet others.

What has surprised Kyle most since arriving on campus at The Ohio State University?
Kyle, as many freshmen here are, was most surprised about the size of Ohio State’s campus. At first, the campus seems really huge, but Kyle was fascinated by how quickly he can get around, especially to his classes. He has found a sense of community here at OSU despite how seemingly large the campus is.

Knowing more in depth the life of Kyle Bentley will better help me mentor him throughout his freshman year, which I am thrilled to do! Our shared interests of helping others, playing video games, and writing poetry has the potential to allow a strong mentorship (and friendship!) to grow. I also learned more about Kyle’s family life. Kyle is from Virginia, but he has family from Ohio, thus he chose to go to college at The Ohio State University. I learned that Kyle’s mother is in the United State’s Navy. By learning more information about Kyle, I feel that he will be more comfortable to come to me if he has any need for support or encouragement. Because he is far from home, I know to be a little more empathetic and helpful to Kyle so he feels like Ohio State is his home away from home! I plan to reach out and make meaningful connections with Kyle as I continue to mentor him for the upcoming year.

Sydni Porter, a freshman in the Advocates for Community and Education Scholar’s cohort, started out at The Ohio State University with a major in Biology on the Pre-Med track. Her story of how she got to OSU is quite interesting, since she decided so late in the year! Ohio State was her original choice; however, it felt like just a dream because of financial restrictions. Sydni settled on Toledo University and had everything settled, she even had her room picked out! It wasn’t until Ohio State called and offered her the scholarship of a lifetime that she accepted the calling to be a buckeye!

How did Sydni decide on the major she chose?
Initially, Sydni focused on Biology. Fairly early, she switched her major to English while holding onto Pre-Med because she recognized her passion for writing and literature. She decided to continue with Pre-Med because of her ambitious drive to help others. Some medical issues in her family’s past has inspired her to reach out and help people in the future.

What kind of volunteering and involvements was Sydni involved with throughout high school? What do you hope to get involved with on campus?
Sydni was a high school student that had a love for running. She was greatly involved in Cross Country and Track and Field in high school. Because of an injury, she had to sit out during some of her seasons. Instead of giving up, she took this opportunity to volunteer as a timer during meets. Sydni was engaged in National Honors Society as a student in high school, and she performed community service throughout different NHS events. She also volunteered at a local men’s homeless shelter in her hometown by serving meals. As a freshman at Ohio State, Sydni has already volunteered through OSU Democrats! She aspires to make a difference by joining Undergraduate Student Government’s sustainability!

Why ACES? What is Sydni most looking forward to in the ACES program?
Since Sydni’s decision to attend The Ohio State University was made late in the game, she was desperate to join any Scholar’s group she possibly could! After some lengthy phone calls, she found out that Advocates for Community and Education Scholars was still available for students to apply to! She is so excited that things fell into place the way that they did, and she is thankful for the ACES program. Ms. Porter is most looking forward to helping the world with ACES through advocacy. Sydni is a born advocate, and she plans on advocating for anyone and everyone that cannot advocate for themselves.

What is Sydni’s dream job and why?
With plenty of time to make a choice career-wise, Sydni is uncertain of what her dream job is. Although she is unsure, Sydni hopes to do “something in medicine.” She is particularly interested in neurological science. She is considering being a doctor, but who knows, she thinks she could also be an author some day! I jokingly added that she could write a book about neurology, which would be the perfect blend of her interests.

What has surprised Sydni the most since arriving at Ohio State’s campus?
Sydni has been most surprised by the ease of building community on such a large campus! She was slightly intimidated by the size of OSU. She feels that despite the initial fears, she has been able to familiarize herself well with many people.

What is one of the most important things Sydni has learned so far at The Ohio State University?
During the second week of classes, Sydni learned a very important lesson! While playing board games with some friends in Bradley Hall, she easily lost track of time and realized how late it had gotten. Traveling back home alone is something Sydni is uncomfortable with, and she took this chance to learn the importance of coming back home early and watching the time.

After learning more about my mentee, Sydni Porter, I want to better help her build her strengths throughout this year. She is full of passion and inspiration, and I hope to help her grow and learn more about herself. Knowing more of Sydni’s interests will allow me to better cater to her needs and wants as her mentor. I plan on furthering my relationship with the amazing Sydni Porter. I plan on learning just as much from her as she plans on learning from me!

Throughout my Scholar’s class, I collaborated with a small group to complete a film project relating to the four pillars of ACES: Social Change, Advocacy, Community, and Service. The film, Race to Nowhere, focused on students, parents, and teachers across the United States. It brought awareness to mental health, stress, over-scheduling, and suicide among America’s youth. This film was very interesting, and it clearly related to the four pillars of ACES. It is important to remember that positive social change, advocacy, community, and service can change a person’s life, and we should keep that in mind after watching Race to Nowhere.

This pin represents an Artifact that expresses a meaningful topic that is extremely relevant to my life.  Through the First Year Success Series, I took a session focusing on suicide awareness.  This R.E.A.C.H. session engaged me in conversations with like-minded peers about erasing the stigma behind mental health and suicide overall.  We talked about different ways to reach out to people that may be contemplating taking their life.  I learned what to say to someone directly if they are having suicidal thoughts, and I discovered ways to connect them to resources on campus here at The Ohio State University.  After losing my own mother to suicide, I have taken this opportunity as an initiative to help others suffering from mental illness(es) and suicidal tendencies.  This pin is a constant reminder to me that help is out there, and there is always light even in the darkest of spaces.  The colors scarlet and gray show that being a buckeye means we are all united – and we should help each other. Taking this session certified me as a Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper, and I am proud of this accomplishment.