By Miranda Koewler

As an aspiring doctor and Army veteran, Elena Camacho believes in the power of treating people like the individuals they are. With a mission to help those in need, Elena’s story is moving and impassioned.

Miranda: What are you studying and why?
Elena: Psychology. I immediately was hooked after taking the intro class. I was fascinated by the connection of the mind and the way people act. This understanding really helped me heal after some traumatic experiences earlier in my life.

What are you involved in on campus and in the Columbus community?
I work with the Ohio State Suicide Prevention Program. As the military community advocate, I work very closely with veterans here on campus. In this position, I strive to represent the interests of those students within that demographic. I am also involved in Humanism in Medicine. We learn how to be better aspiring doctors by focusing on treating people as individuals.

What are three words to describe you?
Based on what I’ve been through and where I am today, I would say resilient. I had some traumatic experiences in the past, but through it all, I bounced back. Along with that, I would say strong. Life requires a lot from you, and I had to realize that a part of being strong is being vulnerable. Lastly, compassionate. Getting knocked down and reaching rock bottom teaches humility. People go through things you would never know, so imagine putting yourself in their shoes.

How has growing up bicultural given you a different perspective on your life and college experiences?
I was born in California, but lived in Mexico for 11 years growing up. I’m accustomed to two extremely different perspectives that have opened up the world to me. They challenge me and make me smarter because I’m able analyze things from two different views.

How did your time in the Army influence you? What did you learn from this experience?
I joined the Army as a medic and spent most of my service stationed in Hawaii. I’m used to moving around a lot in the military, but it allowed me to see other places like Texas, Oklahoma and the deserts of California. The military became my family. I experienced the greatest camaraderie that I could ever imagine and have now found my place in the veteran community. My time in the Army truly showed me that there is always a greater purpose in life.

How did you get involved with the cause of suicide prevention?
My best friend died by suicide, so I have since felt compelled to be involved. I am surrounded by passionate people with a common goal of breaking the stigma around suicide and mental health. I am creating events to inform and spread hope, and I am helping students with REACH trainings. It’s very meaningful to see your work affecting others.

What are the most important things you want people to know about suicide prevention?
First and foremost, suicide is preventable. People see it as a hopeless cause, but evidence shows that suicide can be prevented. Second, individuals really do make a difference. Checking in with friends and family can turn their day around. Third, caring makes a difference. Showing signs of support is crucial. Lastly, suicide prevention is a shared campus responsibility. Everyone should be involved.

You mentioned some people who inspire you. Can you tell me more about them?
My inspiration comes from my mom. She is the strongest female figure I have ever come across. Other resilient women that I have looked to in hard times include Frida Khalo, Sor Juana Ines de La Cruz and Selena Quintanilla. They are like rebels who don’t let anyone or anything tell them no. They are never limited by people or their expectations. I admire any fierce human who defeats or challenges the odds stacked against them.

Where do you see yourself taking your interests and passions in the future?
I will always be a strong advocate for suicide prevention. In general, my passions lie within helping others because there is nothing more rewarding than this. I wouldn’t be where I am without positive people in my life, so I am trying to make the world a better place for others.

What advice do you want to pass along to your fellow Buckeyes?
Be the hope and change you want to see in the world. Spread light. Know that you make a difference and matter to someone. Also, never forget that mental health matters.

For the past two years, Johnny Schwartz has been working and studying his way toward a degree in Agricultural Business and Applied Economics. We know you’ll enjoy reading about his unique journey.

When Johnny first visited Ohio State, he was a student at another university living a completely different life. But the culture and tradition of the scarlet and gray drew him in, as they often do, and Johnny decided to become a Buckeye for Life.

Hailing from a small town outside New York City, moving to Columbus was a big adjustment for Johnny – but he knew it would be worth it.

“Columbus has a good energy,” Johnny beamed, reflecting on his time in the 6-1-4. For Johnny, the most unique quality of Ohio State is the social and cultural ties that our community forms. The feelings of pride, loyalty, dedication and passion are bonds that connect Buckeyes across the nation and the globe.

With so much passion for Ohio State, it’s hard to believe Johnny has only been a Buckeye for two short years. He speaks of it as though it’s been the center of his world his whole life. But Johnny feels that transferring to Ohio State from another school has allowed him to appreciate his experiences more and take pride in his own contributions to those experiences.

All of these feelings came to a head for Johnny at the Spring Game in 2016 when he raced on the field and won. Getting the chance to stand on the field and meet Zeke, Braxton and Urban was something he will never forget.

In his spare time, Johnny enjoys walking his dog and expressing his unique perspectives on his Instagram page. He views social media as a way to focus on his environment and the impact that it has on him, rather than focusing on himself.

One thing is for sure: Johnny is an independent soul who has paved his own way. Holding many jobs growing up, he has worked in marketing for the medical field, retail, food service and even landscaping.

The most important thing for him in each chapter of his life has been to find something he is passionate about. Thinking about graduating this spring, Johnny has an open mind and is exploring many options, hoping for one that will allow him to keep central Ohio as a part of his future.

For incoming Buckeyes, Johnny says simply “don’t be afraid.” He hopes they will interpret that statement in a way that is most meaningful for them.

Johnny thinks of Columbus as a mini New York City, where culture and diversity abound. For him, Columbus is the “trifecta” – it’s a state capital, home to a major university and a Top 20 Metropolitan city. He sees opportunities for social and political change taking root here as a result of all of those factors.

“Ohio is my second home,” Johnny shared, noting that the love Ohioans have for their state is infectious. He feels it has been the best place for him to get started, and we wholeheartedly agree.

Sahil sat down with the communications team in the Ohio Union, with love on his mind, to talk about his journey so far at The Ohio State University.

The contagious Buckeye love and energy is what captured Sahil Sharma’s heart and led hi to transfer from the University of Cincinnati to Ohio State.

“Those who do not believe in magic will not find it,” he said. “To me, love is the closest thing we have to magic, and that’s what we have here at Ohio State.”

When asked about his passions, all Sahil could talk about was love. The Greek word agapē resonates with Sahil. It means “unconditional love without circumstance” and Sahil said that love is one of his core values. Currently majoring in Psychology and Leadership Studies, Sahil plans to live out his passion for serving people with love after graduation.

“I am hopeful for the future of this world and our capacity to change,” Sahil said. “If I take this approach in loving everyone, I think that will truly change the world one day.”

Sahil is currently an Ambassador and Supervisor for the Department of Recreational Sports. As Crew Chief, Sahil oversees other student employees within his department and enjoys watching students grow into leaders. In addition to his involvement in Rec Sports, Sahil is a Facilitator for the Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI). ELI is a cohort comprised of 20 students who focus on personal leadership development, but more importantly, aspects of servant-leadership.

“Being able to watch them grow outside of their academics is a humbling experience,” Sahil said of the cohort.

Having the confidence to lead your own journey is one thing Sahil wishes to impart to new Buckeyes when they are struggling to find their way. Full of inspiration, Sahil also wanted to pass down the wisdom that students shouldn’t be afraid to be bold, and to be okay with doing something different, even in a new environment. He told us one of the hardest lessons was learning to believe in himself.

“With brilliant people here at Ohio State, it’s so easy to compare yourself to others, and I had to learn that I am running my own race,” he said. “When I look back on my experience, the hardest thing has been for me to believe in myself, and luckily the older you get, you learn to practice love.”

Working on his bucket list, Sahil has just a few things to complete before graduation. One of those things is a surprise for his parents.

“I would really like to do something for my parents because they came from a different country, and they did everything for me,” he explains. “Most importantly, they did everything with love.”

One thing he definitely wishes to do is show them how thankful he is for their support: “I really just owe them so much because they accept me for who I am.”

Sahil shared what he is most proud of so far here at Ohio State. This past summer, he had the opportunity to attend Leadershape. It was important to Sahil to learn that the best way to lead people is to walk behind them.

“It’s amazing to look back and say that I had a genuine and authentic experience here at Ohio State, and I didn’t let anyone create that space for me,” he said.

For the rest of his time at Ohio State, we wish him the best and hope you fell in love with his story – just as we did.

By Erin Lee

Looking forward to law school, third year student and Canton native Brooklyn McDaniels sat down with the Communications Team in the Ohio Union Market to talk about her time here at Ohio State. We guarantee you’ll find her experience as extraordinary as we do.

You’ve probably seen communications major (and legal foundations minor) Brooklyn McDaniels’ friendly face around campus and perhaps even in her favorite role, as President of the Black Student Association (BSA).

Brooklyn spends the majority of her time in Hale Hall because of the comfortable environment and knowledge that she’ll always find a familiar face there. In her third year as an Ohio State student, Brooklyn is working tirelessly to leave her mark.

“I am a big people person. I enjoy doing big things and I enjoy being at the forefront of different endeavors,” she said. Brooklyn isn’t just known for her involvement, though – she’s also well known for her positive spirit. “Positivity is my passion because I enjoy starting my day with a positive mindset, and I hope that I can inspire others to do the same.”

With a big smile on her face, Brooklyn excitedly talked about her involvement with several student organizations on campus. Aside from being President of BSA, she is also a fellow in both the Buckeye Leadership Fellows Program and the Management Leadership for Tomorrow organization.

Alongside her involvements in these organizations, Brooklyn works in the Commencement Office under the Office of the President. With her hands and schedule full, Brooklyn still finds time to eat the best cornbread in Columbus at her favorite off-campus spot, the Philco Diner in the Short North.

In her third year, Brooklyn has just begun to think about life after graduation. For now, all roads lead to law school because of her favorite class, Intro to Law and Society. For Brooklyn, it was her first opportunity to take a class focused on the law, and she enjoyed the professor and class material.

“I want to go into law because I have a huge desire for knowledge and learning, and law school will provide me with an opportunity to do just that,” she said.

Ohio State has provided Brooklyn with numerous opportunities and she is proud to have taken advantage of so many of them so far. Though not everything turns out to be a success, Brooklyn said, “I pride myself in trying different things and am proud that I have been able to try so much here at Ohio State.”

When thinking about her initial reason for coming to school here, Brooklyn said that she chose Ohio State because of Go Buckeye Day. This day gave her the opportunity to learn more about what Ohio State had to offer and was the perfect time to see how her big personality could fit into a big university.

Like many, Brooklyn received a reality check during her first year at Ohio State. The hardest lesson she had to learn was that things would not always go as planned.

“This is a huge university with many talented people and I came to school thinking that everything was going to go my way. Of course it didn’t, but I learned how to move on and work harder for what I wanted,” Brooklyn explained. Incoming freshman should take time to adjust to this large university, she advised. “Don’t just dive into things because they seem super cool, do your research and remain open-minded because there are endless opportunities.”

Her love for Ohio State knows no bounds, but Brooklyn sees opportunities for improvement, too. “I want there to be a level playing field for students to access the invaluable resources here on campus. I really just want everyone to feel like they can easily find the resources they need,” she said. Brooklyn plans to continue to be a resource for students after her.

Gregarious, charismatic and genuine are the three words Brooklyn used to describe her infectious spirit, and after our time with her, we had to agree. Our glimpse into Brooklyn’s life showed us just how extraordinary she is – and we hope it showed you the same!

By Erin Lee

Hemu sat down with social media intern Erin Lee for coffee to discuss her extraordinary experience at Ohio State. Beginning her journey as a graduate student, Hemu shared how her many passions have led her to Buckeye Nation. We hope you find her story as extraordinary as we do. 

Meet creative Hemu Vekataraman, who has traveled far to receive her Masters of Fine Arts in Design at The Ohio State University. This Buckeye was born and raised in the coastal city of Madras, India. After receiving her undergraduate degree in Architecture in India, Hemu received a full scholarship to teach, research and study here in Ohio State’s Department of Design.

When applying to graduate school, Hemu wished to find a program that integrated her passion for writing, architecture and the arts, and the design program and the many communities of which she has become a member have provided just that.

Even though she has only been here for one year, Hemu has found her place: “I have been seeking a community here at Ohio State and I am happy that I found one,” Hemu said of her poetry community.

Hemu prides herself in exploring the city of Columbus, as well. Dog-lover, chai-lover and sky-gazer are three words Hemu used to describe herself. Pulling four books and countless sketchbooks out of her backpack, Hemu began to talk about her love for reading.

“I have been reading since I was very young and would save pocket change to go to a second hand store and read random books,” she said. Hemu constantly carries around four books: one fiction, one poetry, one research and one philosophy. Where does she read you might ask? Mirror Lake and Browning Amphitheater are her top two spots on campus.

As a self-proclaimed poet, artist and architect, Hemu maintains two blogs. Her writing blog Streets of Smiles and her art blog constantly keep her busy. A tab titled, “Terribly Tiny Love Letters” allows Hemu to provide her readers with a tiny glimpse into her thoughts. On her art blog, you can find countless sketches of buildings on campus and of downtown Columbus. Hemu also collects and makes postcards.

“Writing is a very fluid medium where you can express yourself, and postcards remind me of who I am thinking of,” she said. In the near future, Hemu hopes to release a line of postcards for Buckeyes around the world to enjoy.

Fascinated by the look and history of buildings on campus, she has many watercolor sketches of Pomerene and University Hall. Even though her journey here at Ohio State has just begun, she is motivated to find a career in which she has creative and financial freedom. “I don’t want to be stuck doing something I don’t like,” she said. “I want the freedom to do what I love.”

The hardest lesson Hemu had to learn during her undergraduate career was finding who she was amongst her friends. Now, as a graduate student, Hemu is challenging herself to learn how to plan for her professional work in the world while staying in the present.

“It’s so easy for us to forget seeing everything on campus and the city in which we live because of our studies,” she said. Filled with words of wisdom, Hemu wishes to remind students to live in the moment – an extraordinary legacy, to be sure.

By Erin Lee