Sophie sat down with the Student Life communications team to tell us about her passions, her bucket list at Ohio State and even her spirit animal. We hope that you learn from her story and find it just as extraordinary as we do.

Independent, Passionate and Creative: this is Sophie Chang. A third year from Plainesboro, New Jersey shared her campus involvements, passions and future plans with us. Sophie is a junior studying Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability while juggling several student organizations. As a resident advisor in Baker East, Sophie is constantly motivated by the people around her. “The environment is my passion, but overall I think people drive me. I continue to be a resident advisor because of my residents and I serve in Undergraduate Student Government because I enjoy being around people who are passionate about making change.”

This past year Sophie served as a South Campus Senator. In the upcoming year, Sophie will serve as the Director of Health and Safety, with plans to improve the university. “I hope to make the university better for students – we are the University.” As the Director of Health and Safety, Sophie has ideas for implementing online mental health initiatives and an off-campus safety initiative. With this in mind, Sophie wishes to leave a positive legacy.

As a Morrill Scholar, Sophie reflected on her decision to attend Ohio State and said that “Columbus was a hidden gem in the Midwest that I was excited to explore.” Her freshman year, Sophie was involved in many different student organizations. Speaking from experience, Sophie advises that incoming freshman shouldn’t over-involve themselves like she once did, but at least try getting involved in something. Alongside this lesson, Sophie also learned that everyone has their own story. Knowing that it is difficult for many people to accept diversity in others, she has challenged herself to be open-minded. Before her journey here at Ohio State comes to an end, Sophie has one item on her bucket list that she must complete. Before graduation, Sophie aims to take a photo with every Brutus statue on campus.

Thus far, Sophie’s proudest moment in her college experience was picking a major. Figuring out what you wish to do with your life can be a difficult decision, and Sophie is most proud of her choice to change her major from Public Affairs to Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability. “I am proud that I have made that decision. You can only make a difference if you focus on a few things, rather than when you try to make a big impact in many areas.” We are excited to see how Sophie’s journey continues here at Ohio State, and all the ways she is able to make a difference.

By: Andrew Jackson

Pompeo Mazzella, a first-generation college student from Connecticut, reminisced with us about his three years here at Ohio State with a touching re-telling of his story. He originally applied to the top 10 business schools in the nation but immediately realized that Ohio State was the place for him when he got to campus. “I could feel the pride of every other student in being a Buckeye,” Pompeo recalled.

Throughout his three years he has definitely made an impact on campus, from membership in the Mount Leadership Society to being a Fisher Ambassador. He even has a three-step plan to give back to Ohio State during his fourth and final year in order to leave a legacy. First, Pompeo is serving as Marketing Co-Chair for the Major Campus Events Committee (MCEC), marketing for impactful events such as Homecoming and the Student Involvement Fair. Secondly, he wants to ensure that the Fisher College of Business is able to recruit great new students, not only because it is a top business school, but because Ohio State is capable of producing the best authentic, genuine business minds. Lastly, Pompeo wants to give back to his scholarship program: the Morrill Scholars.

It was clear that Pompeo had reflected on his journey at Ohio State as he answered our deeper questions about his passions and drive. So what was the one question that stumped him? Naming a favorite spot on campus. With iconic locations like the Ohio Union, the RPAC and Browning amphitheater, it’s hard to pick just one. But Pompeo finally narrowed it down and shared that he loves the Oval. “Watching people throw a Frisbee, run or sit on a blanket with friends shows everyone another side to Ohio State that reaches beyond the astounding academics for which we are known.”

Pompeo interned this summer with Grant Thorton in Chicago, helping advise companies in difficult circumstances. The experience was right up his alley, as he is a double major in both accounting and economics. When asked the three words that best describe him, Pompeo selected strategic, analytical and futuristic. With those descriptors, it’s no wonder that he snagged an internship at the 6^th largest accounting firm in America.

Remember Pompeo Mazzella – it might just be the name of a CEO of a Fortune 500 company someday.

Pittsburgh native and Strategic Communication senior Cat Dismukes has learned not to let thoughts and opinions of others hold her back. She believes in the importance of breaking out of your shell in college. It’s the hardest lesson Cat has learned since setting out for her college career in the Buckeye state, but more importantly it has allowed her to experience and explore new things by letting go of insecurities.

This mindset has set Cat apart from the rest, and given her opportunities many could only dream of. After managing to squeeze her high school education into just three years, Cat took her senior year to New York City where she spent the entire year dancing for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, working as both an office assistant and a Public Relations intern for the company. At Ohio State, Cat made the switch from the dance program to the School of Communication in the fall of her second year after deciding to explore new options and possibilities, a decision rooted in her openness.

She now excels in her area of focus: the student-alumni connection. She sustains a significant role in Student Alumni Council, an organization dedicated to building and maintaining connections between students: past, present and future. Cat was instrumental in the operations behind the Alumni Council’s Scholarship Winner Dinner and sendoff events when she served as the organization’s Program Coordinator. She also hopes to contribute to the organization after graduation by attending alumni events and looking for ways that the council can improve and expand.

Cat shared her passion for this cause and expressed the importance of fostering connections that will remain long after a graduation ceremony. Cat remembers her mom, an Ohio State alumna, taking her to football games and alumni events, showing her at a young age that Buckeyes have a sense of home everywhere they go. It’s something she says you can’t find just anywhere, despite some initial reservations towards attending Ohio State. But when it finally came time to choose the place she would spend her next four years, Cat knew scarlet and gray were the right colors for her. She remembers feeling comfortable when she visited her brother here during her sophomore year in high school, and that sense of home has stuck with her ever since.

This past summer, Cat headed back to the Big Apple to work for Group M, an international media investment company, where she served as a media buyer for their mind share team, helping clients get the best advertising platform for their needs and budget.

You can probably find Cat under the trees near the South Oval, which she describes as the most underrated spot on campus. Cat’s Buckeye experience thus far can be summed up in three words: time and change. “It’s all about growth, and the opportunity to let yourself discover what you like and who you want to be. Time and change embodies the opportunity that Ohio State gives to its students.”

Sitting down with Anthony Stranges, a fourth-year in Management Information Systems, it is easy to see how he has created his own extraordinary experience here at The Ohio State University. When asked why he chose Ohio State, his answer was one that is heard often. From nearby Blacklick, Ohio, Anthony exclaimed that he has “always been a Buckeye!” His parents and sister all attended Ohio State and he decided to follow suit.

After interning this past summer at Cardinal Health as a Business Analyst, Anthony is taking the reigns as BuckeyeThon President to help bring one of the biggest philanthropy events at Ohio State to life. Anthony himself is a pediatric cancer survivor, inspiring his motivation to lead and serve. Anthony shared that BuckeyeThon is a way to give back the support that was given to him and his family when they needed it most. Because of his own experience, he knows that the mission of BuckeyeThon really makes a difference.

Anthony hopes students here at Ohio State use BuckeyeThon and other opportunities as tools to find what they’re passionate about, too. Because philanthropy plays an important role in the daily lives of students – from large events like BuckeyeThon, MLK Day of Service or Community Commitment, to smaller events and organizations that are solely focused on giving back – finding what you’re passionate about can be easy. So what advice does Anthony have for incoming Buckeyes? “Get involved. Explore everything! The Ohio State University has so much to offer, so go and explore to find your passion, whatever it may be.” It is also no surprise that Anthony’s passion is to give back. He loves to help others and has found the time to volunteer at the Wexner Medical Center. Along with volunteering, he holds a job at the Advancement Office where he works with computer systems that are used campus-wide.

On a typical warm afternoon, you can find Anthony taking a break outside from his many campus-wide involvements. He says that Mirror Lake was the place he first visited on campus, so it’s fitting that he likes to go back to there and reflect on his journey at Ohio State. “It’s a great place to go to get away from the busy campus life,” said Anthony.

Here in Student Life, we are excited to see what Anthony will do to take BuckeyeThon to new heights this upcoming year. If you’d like to learn more about BuckeyeThon and get involved, visit: https://buckeyethon.osu.edu/.

Nnaemeka Anene sat down with the Communications team in the Keith B. Key Center for Student Leadership and Service to tell us his story. We hope you find his story just as extraordinary as we do.

Exuding Nigerian pride, this sophomore sat down with us to discuss his extraordinary experience thus far at Ohio State. Just a car ride away from Columbus, Nnaemeka Anene was raised in Dayton, Ohio with his twin brother and their sister. A chemical engineering major, Nnaemeka spends the majority of his time involved in various activities across campus and spends very little time sleeping – a familiar pattern for many busy college students.

Across campus, Nnaemeka is involved in organizations and programs like the Bell National Resource Center, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the African Youth League, Preface: The Minority Engineering Program and Leadership Collaborative. Also a Morrill Scholar, he is all about his studies. However, he balances all that studying by being active: flag football, basketball and co-ed volleyball are just a few intramural sports Nnaemeka enjoys playing. Sticking with his love for sports, Nnaemeka chose J.O. South as his favorite spot on campus.

When choosing the right university for him, Nnaemeka had a lot of things to consider. Declining a track scholarship to another school, he followed his parents’ wishes for his future and decided to come to Ohio State after he received the Morrill Scholarship and participated in the Early Arrival Program. “Meeting everyone through the Early Arrival Program who was coming to Ohio State and meeting those who came before me was a very rewarding experience,” he recalled. This experience allowed Nnaemeka to learn the value and importance of mentorship. Through the Early Arrival Program, Nnaemeka shared that he learned a lot about the statistics of black men in college and that influenced him to become involved with a program for minorities within the STEM field this past summer. Mentoring other hopeful young students in STEM, Nnaemeka hopes to start a program for low-income students interested in the STEM field here at Ohio State.

As with his involvements, Nnaemeka’s passions are numerous. Priding himself on observational skills, Nnaemeka is passionate about helping others grow through the observation and mentoring others. When it comes to career plans, his pre-medicine journey will one day lead to helping people in the operating room as a cardiac surgeon. Nnaemeka also dreams of opening a hospital one day with his twin brother.

Excited to continue his journey at Ohio State, Nnaemeka shared that the hardest lesson he has had to learn relates to failure and how it can be used to help re-prioritize responsibilities in order to work smarter and harder. For incoming Buckeyes, Nnaemeka offers this piece of advice for consideration: “Giving up sleep is not the worst thing, but make sure you spend that extra hour to finish your homework because you won’t regret that decision later.” Though the right amount of sleep is important and different for everyone, we can’t fault Nnaemeka for a strong work ethic and the ways he is spending his time on campus. We’re sure his next few years at Ohio State will be just as bright as his first.