Looking back at my first year at THE Ohio State University I am able to see all the growth that has happened within me these past 9 months. Coming to OSU from Kansas was a decision that was hard to make. I wanted to be the person from my high school that could go out of state where I wouldn’t know anyone and be able to survive. This was a decision that some of my friends and family questioned because I was and still am a very dependent person who doesn’t like to be alone that often. So coming to school with over 66,000 people and not knowing a single person not just at school but in the whole state of Ohio was a big deal for me. I’m not going to lie there were a few times when I wished I was back home in Kansas at a state school with all my friends from high school and my parents a short 45 minute drive away. These times were however few and far between. I am so happy to be one of the lucky few who genuinely ended up at the perfect school for themselves. I believe a big part of why I love OSU so much is because of the people I’ve met through the IA scholars program. I have made some of my best friends in this program and have learned so much about the world and myself through them. Further having such a positive, caring community around me everyday has made it feel like I have a second family. Outside of IA I have made so many other amazing people that have each impacted my life greatly and have encouraged me to better myself. Sometimes I still look around campus in awe that I am able to go to such an amazing school. Overall I see my first year as success.