The Humanities Scholars program is something that has been completely invaluable to me during this pivotal first semester at The Ohio State University. I thought, upon coming in to this autumn semester, that I had figured my future. Now I have changed my major and am currently questioning the whole path I had laid down before myself. In high school, I was determined to make as much money as I could so that I could lead the lifestyle that I wanted and provide for my parents. After a semester here, I have truly realized the meaning behind the pursuit of true happiness. It does not matter how highly your job pays if you can’t do the things that you truly want to. I am currently trying to find what makes me happy.

A trauma surgeon? A paleoclimatologist? But, in the end, does the heavy weight of science courses make me happy? Not really. If everything could go my way, I would be an author. I would spend my days here at Ohio State analyzing literature and studying the classics. That is one of the reasons why I am so grateful for this program – it provides a connection to the things that make me happy, like poetry and literature and art. It also so nice to know that whatever I decide to do with my future, I have a group of people that I can turn to no matter what.

In the future, I would like to participate in all the events that I can and possibly be a mentor so that I can provide this amazing experience to another person in my shoes.

Alexis Bass is one of the most dynamic, hilarious, and energetic people I have ever had the pleasure to get to know. I met her in my beginning level French course, which meets in the early hours of the morning, after she made me laugh so much and so hard that I had no other choice than to get to know her. After trips to CVS, the dining halls here at The Ohio State University, and many evenings filled with interesting conversations and plenty of laughter, I have gotten to know more about her – including her history and her dreams.

Alexis was born in Columbus but later moved to Cincinnati when she was five. She then moved back to Columbus to attend school, and two weeks after she had moved her mother moved to Georgia. Her family in Georgia, including her stepdad and her siblings, like to surprise her with spur of the moment trips to visit her at OSU.

I once asked Alexis what her major was. She told me that she had declared a sociology major. I was not familiar with the precise definition of sociology, so I asked her, “What exactly is sociology?” With her utmost concentration focused on pouring glitter into a balloon, she replied, “I don’t know.” (Of course, she does know what the focus of her major is).

At first, this response seemed silly, almost irresponsible, but after further thought it was extremely refreshing. On this massive campus, thousands upon thousands of students have their futures laid down firmly before them. They are studying this subject in order to meet this goal. They spend countless hours poring over textbooks, working endlessly and hard, barely noticing campus life – and, in fact, life in general – whisking by them in a blur of missed experiences and unknown faces split with laughter. They are only fixed on one point and refuse to lift their gaze from that spot. Alexis, it seems, has struck the perfect balance between making the most of Ohio State and life itself. She can’t walk down the many streets on campus or through the endless buildings without knowing someone. She waves, she shouts a hello, she embraces people she has only talked to once. Her warmth and energy are awe-inspiring. I attributed this well-connected web of friends to the fact that she was a third year. However, she transferred from the Newark campus of OSU this year, lending even more emphasis to her outgoing and bright personality. This makes her days busy and her nights long, but it also creates an enormous amount of stories and makes life well lived.

“I actually would love to be an actress. It’s been a dream of mine for years. One day I’d like to audition for Saturday Night Live,” she told me. She would use the name of Alexis Jordynn. She can’t exactly pinpoint the inspiration behind her dream of becoming an accomplished actress. “I think I’ve always been in love with the screen and being on it.”

Life gets serious, especially on a high-speed academic campus such as Ohio State. Stress becomes crushing, almost too heavy to bear. Your life becomes defined by due dates and deadlines. It’s easy to stay in your dorm and not leave your desk. It’s easy to lose your humanity, instead becoming a machine that absorbs information and fills out worksheets and tests. Life, that four letter word that encompasses so much, is far more than this. Alexis reminds me every day to live life hard. She reminds me to love what makes you happy with boundless passion. She reminds me that life is something that we have to live out, but instead something you can change to create your own happiness.

So laugh until your sides hurt. Find people that make you smile. Say what is on your mind, and say it loud.

As Alexis has said to me before, “I’m here for a good time, not a long time.” Make the very most of that good time. You only have a single shot at it.

My first week at The Ohio State University was all at once everything and nothing that I expected.

The classes I am taking were as hard as I had anticipated but required more work than I had originally thought, yet my schedule is more manageable than I thought – but still I struggle with the balance between getting the things done that I need to and doing something enriching for myself. Above all, regardless of how much I missed my family and how far away from home I was for the first time, and even now, the OSU campus never failed to be welcoming and to feel like a true home.

This is in part because of the Humanities Scholars Program – I walked onto campus with a network and a solid base beneath me to act as a great support system that I tap into whenever I needed. I firmly believe that I will thoroughly enjoy this program. Even though my true focus is medicine, I love the fact that I can run into someone in the hallway and have a discussion about scary movies, or learn more about certain books that I haven’t read yet. It’s refreshing and a nice balance to my science-heavy schedule.

My fears about college life have all but evaporated after this first week, and now my absolute focus is on my demanding routine. Those fears have been replaced by things that I am now excited about, such as getting more involved at the Wexner Medical Center, participating in clubs, and making many more friends – and how could I forget the ever-looming thrill of an official OSU football game?

As I begin my second official week as an OSU student, I feel prepared and like the week before was everything I could have hoped for. I expect to do nothing but get better and better at managing my time here and making the most out of my college and Scholars experience.

Go Bucks!

[Artifacts are the items you consider to be representative of your academic interests and achievements. For each entry, include both an artifact and a detailed annotation.  An annotation is a reflective description of the artifact that attempts to communicate its significance.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]