Hello! My name is Allex Smith and I am a first year student at Ohio State University. I study city and regional planning in the Knowlton School of Architecture. My hometown is a small city called New Carlisle, which is northeast of Dayton, and about an hour’s drive to Columbus. Being in Columbus is so exciting for me, because my hometown is so rural. I’ve so enjoyed living in a city this semester. It has made me realize how much I still have to learn about the world around me. I decided to join ACES as a way to learn more about how to develop and care for the communities of which I am a part. ACES has already been, and will continue to be, a crucial part of my education, aligning with my major and also giving me a holistic approach on how to build sustainable, supportive, and thriving communities.