In my first year at The Ohio State University, I learned more about myself than I ever imagined was possible. Coming to a large university with over 50,000 students from a small Catholic high school with a graduating class of 81 students came with an abundance of eye-opening experiences. Ohio State surrounded me with people of differing cultures, ethnic backgrounds, morals, ethics, and political and religious opinions.
One of the key factors when I searched for colleges in high school was the size. I desired to explore the world around me and knew I did not want to attend a small university. I wanted to attend a larger university that provided me with plenty of opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom to grow, learn, and be entertained. However, the size of Ohio State intimidated me. I worried that Ohio State was going to be too large and that I would easily become lost in the sea of students. I also worried that it would difficult to build close relationships with professors. However, in my classes I learned that professors are not the “big, bad monsters” that are often described in books or depicted in movies. They genuinely care about their students and will lend a helping hand to the students that actively seek for help and guidance.
When I discovered that my largest class first semester was almost twice the size of my entire high school, to say I was intimidated is an understatement. In all of my classes I decided to sit towards the front, and quickly concluded that this was the best way to minimize the distractions of other students as well as show the professor that I was committed to learning in his/her class. I realized that I needed to be my own source of motivation, because professors are not going to constantly remind everyone to work on upcoming assignments and study for upcoming midterms. No one cares whether or not you attend class, but the effort one places into attending classes, actively attempting to learning the material, and putting in practice time outside of class will be reflected in the final grade for the course.
The time spent inside of the classroom only made up a small percentage of each day. The time I spent outside of the classroom allowed me to explore my interests, connect with others, and discover myself. This year I concluded that nothing stands in the way of achieving my goals except myself and sometimes in order to achieve something, I have to take risks. Growth will not be made and lessons will not be learned by staying within my comfort zone. I also learned how to take the initiative, in terms of asking for guidance in the classroom or in making new friends.
My favorite memory of my first year at Ohio State is definitely going to the Arnold Classic. I have gone in previous years with my parents, but this year I went with a girl I constantly saw in the gym and was friends with on social media, but had never actually spoken to in person. We became friends instantly, and had a blast monkeying around (literally) at the Columbus Convention Center eating an abundance of samples of pre-workout, protein shakes, and protein bars. I also had the opportunity to connect with potential fitness sponsors, and I bonded with fellow students at Ohio State that also had a passion for fitness.
Believe it or not, next year I am looking forward to not having to take General Chemistry. I absolutely loved my professor (Dr. Fus is awesome for anyone who needs to take Gen Chem), but I am convinced that the chemistry department genuinely enjoys creating labs and exams designed to make students suffer. Another thing I am looking forward to (surprise!) is not living in Morrill and being able to open my windows to let fresh air into my room. However, I am also looking forward to making new friends while continuing to strengthen the bonds of the friendships I have created thus far.