There are moments in life where you are reminded why you love the things you do. It is so easy to become adjusted to the ebb and flow of life that you forget that there are things that inspire you beyond that of your classes and day to day occurrences.

As the school year has begun to wrap up I found myself stuck in a routine. I mostly was focused on getting through my classes and studying hard for final exams and projects. I was caught in a cycle of robotic efficiency, striving to increase my knowledge and understanding of every little detail of my classes.

I cannot quite pinpoint what exactly struck me out of the ongoing “auto-pilot” mode I mindlessly followed. I distinctly remember walking out of my Biology lecture, the final lecture of my day, when my feet turned from their course and led me to the RPAC. In the far reaches of my mind I somehow recalled that the Denman Research Forum was taking place.

The Denman was absolutely incredible. I had such an amazing time talking to everyone about their projects. It really opened my mind to all the research opportunities on campus. I saw posters for fisheries and conservation, plot recall for movies, the way humans perceive texture, testing energy efficiency, and so many other interesting projects. I was utterly spellbound by the entire event.

Attending this was so significant to me because it reminded me why I love science. I have been taking all these science classes for years and I think I’ve sort of lost the aspect of what I felt connected to as a kid. Seeing all the research and seeing how genuinely excited people were to tell me about everything they have learned made me realize that I love science because it satisfies curiosity. It allows people to find answers to whatever they are wondering about. It provides a method to which people can explore the world around them.

The Denman left an impression on me that I hope to carry throughout my education and beyond. Curiosity and fascination is a part of why I am doing what I am doing and that’s something I don’t want to lose sight of.

hint: it’s both

It is hard to believe that the end of my first semester is almost here! So much has happened in the few weeks I have been at The Ohio State University. I have been so lucky for all the opportunities and experiences that I have had. I have discovered new hobbies and interests, met plenty of amazing people, and grown more confident in myself and my place in college. A lot of the success I have had has been due to all of the groups I am involved in!

The club that has impacted me the most is DanceSport, OSU’s ballroom dancing club.

What started as a brief afternoon of fun has turned into an unbelievably rewarding and exciting commitment. Each week, I look forward to the new dance styles and moves that will be taught. In the small time frame of a semester, we have worked our way through the basic steps of many different styles. Each dance can be categorized as one of the following: Smooth, Standard, Latin, or Rhythm. Smooth and Rhythm are the American counterparts to the international styles of Standard and Latin. Smooth/Standard dances are the beautiful, flowy dances that one might traditionally think of as ballroom styles. This includes Waltz, Tango, American Foxtrot, and International Quickstep. Latin/Rhythm dances are upbeat and involve a LOT of hip movement. They include Cha-Cha, Rumba, American Swing, and International Jive. There are more dances to learn, whether for competing or social purposes, but as a newcomer it is important to become better at the beginner steps before charging headfirst into more complex styles.

I might not have latched on to this extracurricular if not for the efforts of the DanceSport team to get to know all the prospective members. Everyone in the club is incredibly welcoming and kind. Some of the older and more experienced members attend the Beginner and Intermediate classes to help the rest of us learn the moves (though I’m sure they are also there to get more practice for themselves as well!). It can be frustrating or disheartening to not get the timing or footing quite right, but the club members are very patient and give plenty of pointers and tips. I have always left class feeling assured and content with my progress, both in getting to know the rest of the team and in my understanding of dance. There is also a mentoring program where older members have a one-on-one or partner session to work on specific concerns with the styles.

Of course, not all of the club interactions are about “work.” Every few weeks there is a DanceSport social where everyone can meet up for a fun activity. There has been a pasta dinner, ice cream, and a trip to a haunted corn maze! I believe the next event is a formal dance! I can’t wait to attend a fancy party where everyone can “actually dance.”

DanceSport has also given me the chance to change my personal perspective of competitions. In high school, the only competitive events I participated in were golf team and Model UN. Neither of those clubs gave me the sense of fulfillment or enjoyment that dancing has. Both Model UN and golf made me feel isolated or separated from the team I was supposedly working for. I did not like the environment or process of competing. Ballroom, as it turns out, is a completely different story. Many of the club members spoke highly of the competition experience and enthusiastically encouraged it to everybody, regardless of perceived skill level. This past October, I competed at Purdue! It was a long day of dancing, dancing, and more dancing. Every step of the way brought its own triumphs and setbacks. I went through more waves of tiredness, nervousness, and excitement than I do in a normal week. I was called back for two rounds of Rumba, American and International, and had the time of my life! I step back into the ring of competition this weekend: right here in Columbus! Hopefully, I will have improved but either way I will leave with a smile.

OSU’s 2016 Purdue Competitors after a LONG day of dancing – photo credits to Aaron Wang

This club has allowed me to expand my horizons with some of my closest friends. Several kids from my high school are in DanceSport, one of which is my best friend. I have become closer to some of my fellow Blue Streaks here, over 130 miles from home, than I ever did within the same, small building for 4 entire years.

I can’t wait to see where the next 3 ½ years of DanceSport takes me! Though the days fly by, I will cherish every moment.

Pictured: Joanne Ash, myself, Eric Lowry, and Josh Miller