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My first semester at Ohio State has been pretty crazy. My schoolwork has gone relatively well, though I need to be more organized next semester so that I’m not forgetting assignments (which happened a couple times this semester). I’ve met lots of nice, interesting people and made some good friends, for whom I am especially thankful since I was worried over the summer that I would be lonely all the time at OSU. I have become involved in lots of clubs and organizations here on campus and that keeps me very busy outside of class. I have thought about maybe getting a job next semester but I probably won’t have the time then either. One thing that has changed a lot for me since starting college is my academic pursuits, despite the fact that I have never officially changed my major from French. I went into this semester thinking that I would be a French professor or high school teacher, then I wanted to do pre-dental and become an orthodontist, then I wanted to be a librarian but do an undergraduate major in Art History, then I thought that I could major in Psychology and become a psychologist, then I wanted to major in Linguistics, and now I am back on becoming a French professor. I have fleshed out my plans for that quite a bit – I want to specialize in Second Language Acquisition in graduate school, and I want to have minors in Linguistics, History and Italian as an undergrad. I don’t know if I will stick with that course of study throughout my four years here at Ohio State, but I hope that I do because I really want to study how to help people learn French and any research I do could likely be applied at least to other Romance languages, if not to languages in other families as well. But again, it is still entirely possible that I could change my major. If there’s anything that my first semester of college has taught me, it is that we have to embrace change. I mean, it’s not going anywhere so why not feel good about it? I know that has been a very difficult mentality for me to keep. I was really lonely and upset my first night here but I am adjusting and even though I still have those moments of self doubt, I find it easier to remind myself that I do belong. OSU is becoming home now, slowly but surely.

5 ways that I would like to make my life and OSU experience more meaningful:

1. I would like to attend my professors’ office hours but I feel like I don’t have time.
2. I would like to remember all of my assignments but I easily forget to record things.
3. I would like to feel more rested but I enjoy hanging out with people if I get the chance, even if it’s late.
4. I would like to do more leisure reading but I don’t have the time or concentration after finishing my schoolwork.
5. I would like to be able to calm myself down easier when I feel overwhelmed but I often don’t have time to ‘catch my breath’ during the day.

What can I do about each of these?

1. I would like to attend my professors’ office hours and I feel like I don’t have time so I will set aside a chunk of time each week to attend the hours of at least one professor.
2. I would like to remember all of my assignments and I easily forget to record things so I will set reminders on my phone and laptop for the end of each class that tell me to record my assignments in that class.
3. I would like to feel more rested and I enjoy hanging out with people if I get the chance, even if it’s late, so I will try to take naps if I get the time.
4. I would like to do more leisure reading and I don’t have the time or concentration after finishing my schoolwork so I will download an audiobook app and listen to audiobooks while walking to class and working out.
5. I would like to be able to calm myself down easier when I feel overwhelmed and I often don’t have time to ‘catch my breath’ during the day so I will take five or so minutes to meditate and clear my mind at the beginning and end of each day.

“I am an educated black woman who strives to educate others on topics of inclusion and diversity who works hard every day to ensure justice is done. I came to this institution solely to work but the thing that drawed me in the most is the spirit of the students and the people who work.”

My first week here at Ohio State has come and gone – in fact, I’ve been here almost two weeks. It certainly seems like it’s been less time though considering how new this place still feels. But I must admit, it is also becoming a bit more like home. I suppose that that is cause for celebration since I was in tears most of my first night in my dorm. I’ve never had much confidence in my social skills and I spent literally all of this past summer with my family so it has been a jarring transition thus far. I frequently feel like I have never been more alone in my life, and at times I wonder if I’ll be able to make it through the semester or if I’ll even form meaningful relationships with people while here. Yet, things seem to be looking up a bit; I am enjoying my classes, I have made several nice acquaintances, and I have become involved in a few clubs. I am not yet tired of the dining hall food, or my roommate, and I am coming to appreciate what flexibility my schedule offers me. I guess that the most important things that I have taken away from my first week are that, first, I am here to get an education and I need to do my very best in my classes and, second, the first few weeks are tough for almost every freshman. True, nobody ever told me that it would be quite this difficult but nobody ever told me that it would not all be worth it in the end. I guess I need to keep that in my mind for the next time when I feel as though I’ll never find my place here (or anywhere).

[Artifacts are the items you consider to be representative of your academic interests and achievements. For each entry, include both an artifact and a detailed annotation.  An annotation is a reflective description of the artifact that attempts to communicate its significance.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]