“Why does no one else have a pillow?” I asked myself as I walked to Morril Tower on the first day of orientation.  I had read every email, article, and app about orientation prior to this day.  I was 100% positive that I was supposed to bring my own pillow.  Great, I was already going to be looked at as the weird one on my first day as a buckeye.

Every Freshman goes through this same experience.  We walk onto campus for the first time (some lugging pillows and some not…) with anxiety.  Some are nervous, some are scared, some are still half asleep.  There are many expectations that have to be met in the next two days.

1. We have to find a friend to sit with at lunch on the first day of classes.
2. We have to nail that Buck ID picture.
3. We have to set up a schedule that allows for sleep.
4. We have to navigate our way around campus without a tour guide.
5. We have to collect as many free t-shirts as possible.

Talk about stressful.

There is one aspect of orientation, however, that is not stressful.  No matter your major, hometown, ethnicity, ACT score, or pillow possession, every student receives their very first buckeye.  Although I had hoped it would be the peanut butter and chocolate version, my buckeye came straight from a tree.  There is no real use for this nut at an orientation, so why was it my first gift from OSU?  It is because at Ohio State traditions run deep.  The way I saw it, that buckeye was my initiation into a community that I would call home for the next four years.

My advice to all of you who have not yet received your first buckeye, seize every opportunity that orientation throws at you.  Because of that simple buckeye I felt at home in the 48 hours I spent in Columbus.  As the owner of that buckeye, I am proud to say that I accomplished all five of the freshmen orientation expectations; and you will too.

Found my lunch buddy!

While I thought I was navigating my way around campus alone, my mom was following close behind with her camera as I had feared.

 

Headed to the Ohio Union after receiving four free t-shirts, meeting with my amazing advisors, and taking that ID picture.

So for those of you wondering, yes orientation is amazing, yes I wish I never left, yes I am counting down the days until move-in, and yes, we were supposed to bring a pillow.