Without a doubt, completing the ACES program has been the best choice I made during my first two years of undergraduate. As I graduated high school and started my freshman year in 2020, there were many COVID related obstacles that had the potential to keep me from excelling. ACES has provided me with a rich community of fellow students who share similar values to me. My freshman year, the event I learned from most was a service education event. I still think about that event often. We discussed service as a practice and what types of service actually benefit communities. Sometimes, (often) we have good intentions when approaching service, but so not serve effectively, usually because of our own motivations. If what an organization really needs is funds, we are less likely to donate, on account of rather wanting to present the organization with a material donation that reflects our own goodness. This selfish approach to service can be harmful, and it stands in the way of positive social change. Moving forward from this event, I tried to complete all my ACES service hours with this in mind. I selected organizations or causes that had significant needs, and made sure the needs were something I could meet, and not simply augment. My second year in ACES, I sat on the Leadership Council as academic co-chair. This year, I think what I learned most was how to be an effective leader. Specifically, I think I grew my skills in presenting information in a way that is understandable and lasting. I had the wonderful opportunity to choose topics and themes to present to my fellow ACES. I felt responsible for their reception to the content, which I could only control by how they faced the information. Along with my co-chair, I curated a program that was important to me, and I hoped it would be important to others.
My favorite aspect of Ohio State and Columbus has been learning the ins and outs of a new place that I get to call home. It is a place of my own, away from the home of my upbringing. I suppose, my favorite part has been making it my own. After exploring the city for two years, I know my favorite coffee shops, book stores, parks, restaurants, and hiking trails. And perhaps more meaningful are all of the memories I have shared with my friends in these places. New friends and old friends have blessed me over the last two years, standing in my corner cheering me on. Columbus feels so unified by the Buckeyes, and every corner of the city feels like home for that reason.
One regret I have as I look back on my first two years is not participating in the mentorship program as a freshman. I think I would have benefitted greatly from an older student advising me, and simply having another friend. I am glad that the ACES curriculum is changing to include mentorship program as a requirement. As a second year, I am sad that my mentorship experience did not work out, but I understand the stress and anxiety that is common among freshman and I have no negative feelings. I enjoyed both of my mentees tremendously in the few meetings we had together. I admire them for how hard they worked their freshman year and I very sincerely wish them all the best moving forward.
I am sad to be leaving ACES. But what is so remarkable about the program is that I have no doubt that I will feel just as connected to my community next year. The class of 2024 has bonded so much over the shared struggle of the year that was 2020, and I know that we will band together for the rest of our careers at Ohio State.