April | 2014 | First Things First

Five things I learned in April

April 30, 2014 at 3:27pm by Yang He

The feeling I have right now is not very real, because I cannot believe that this semester is already finished and I have already sat on my favorite sofa at my home right now. It is the time for me to sum up this month that flew by: April.

There is a never-ending list of to-dos.

To do list

During the past month, I struggled with my to-do lists. Every time I thought I had finished my tasks, new things usually came so soon that I really did not have time to relax. Therefore, I do believe that there is no empty to-do list. Even so, every time I crossed off things in the to-do list, I felt a sense of accomplishment, which is amazing. Moreover, when ever I find myself feeling frazzled by the distractions and never-ending task list, the answer to finding peace always come back to focus. We will all find the way to our peace to carry on and move on.

The library is a good place for studying and also for relaxing.

I really love our Thompson Library now! I did not usually go to Thompson library before since I used to study at home or my studio. In April, one of my friends took me there to study with her. I began to love this place and found out that it is really a good place not only for studying but also for relaxing. There is a cafe on the ground floor, so students can get coffee or food while they are studying. Nearby the big windows, you can get a book or just listen to music while looking out at the beautiful world out there. Every time I look outside, my eyes relax and also it helps me to concentrate. Moreover, I even found Chinese books there, so I can read for fun when I am free. Of course, you can find so many books from other countries. One of my favorite spots in Thompson library is at the top of the library. You can look out to see the beautiful Oval and enjoy yourself whatever you are studying or just relaxing. Go to the library, it is really more than the library you think it is.

Talking to someone can help us release pressure.

talking

Everyone has pressures, maybe if their life or study. For me, most of my pressure is working on my projects. I used to believe that I could handle all of my pressure all by myself; however, it turned out, I failed. I can not handle too much pressure by crying since crying only can release part of my pressure and cannot solve problems at all. I believe that most of us have the same problems at some points. Talking to people is very helpful and healthy way to release your pressure. While you are talking, maybe you’ll find a way you did not think of before to solve your problems; or, your friends, or advisor, or whomever you trust could help you calm down to find yourself not in the panic to solve the issues. Therefore, talk to people and you can find your peace.

Time management is very helpful to increase efficiency of studying.

Don’t do the following things:

After crazily busy final week, I begin to believe that maybe studying is…

or this one…Nope!

Learning how to manage time can help us get through finals week! Although finals week has already passed, we have to learn something from it! Making a plan to organize our time in different subjects can increase the efficiency. Then, we need to find a good spot to study such as the wonderful Thompson Library as I mentioned before. After that we need to focus on what we are studying. Studying is not scary; instead it is a process to improve and enrich ourselves.

Going home is a big issue.

After April, we can have a long summer break. For International students like me, it is a wonderful break, since we finally have long enough to stay at home and enjoy our summer break. Don’t forget to kiss and hug your family to show how much you miss them! For me, the closer to the day I go home, the more eagerly I want to go home. I did not have that feeling before I came to America, but now I recognize I feel homesick, which reminds me of how much I love my parents and my hometown.

I’m so glad that I’m home now. Ohio State, I will be back soon!!

HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER!

37 Things First-Year Students Experienced This Year

April 24, 2014 at 10:30amApril 24, 2014 by Julie Richardson

With finals occupying your brain (along with the distraction caused by Ohio’s long lost friend — the sun), it may be difficult to find time to reflect on the moments and milestones that shaped your first year. In an effort to help with that process, fellow FYE staff member, Nicole Craven, and I have provided a condensed overview for your reflecting pleasure.

37 weeks. 37 thoughts. All in 90 seconds or less.

Aug 15 How am I ever going to fit this stuff into one car?
Aug 22 Thank goodness I have this OSU mobile app — no one knows I am a new student.
Aug 29 How do I get off of all these student organization email listservs?!?
Sept 5 Got on the CLN, thinking it was the CLS. Again.
Sept 12 Another day, another free event. #StudentPerks
Sept 19 Got my group project assignment. Everyone but me is from Cleveland.
Sept 26 That chemistry exam did NOT go as anticipated.
Oct 3 This curve thing is glorious.
Oct 10 Will there ever be a day when there isn’t a line at Courtside Cafe?
Oct 17 It’s Homecoming Week! Go Buckeyes! Beat the Hawkeyes!
Oct 24 Our marching band is better than your marching band. #Moonwalk #Viral
Oct 31 So, is dressing up for Halloween like a thing in college?
Nov 7 11:57 p.m….two minutes left to submit my Success Series reflection. Let’s do this.
Nov 14 Just registered for spring semester. No classes until 9 a.m. Yesssssss.
Nov 21 So excited to have a 4-bedroom house on Waldeck next year with 15 of my closest buddies.
Nov 28 Happy Thanksgiving! T-minus 48 hours until we play TTUN!
Dec 5 Only three finals stand between me and the Big 10 championship game. #Undefeated
Dec 12 Done with finals. Done rooting for the Buckeyes. #Defeated
Dec 19 Home for break! It’s great to see these hometown friends!
Dec 26 These hometown friends have got to go.
Jan 2 New year, new semester. Ready to return to my second home!
Jan 9 Never in my life have I been so cold.
Jan 16 Seriously.
Jan 23 So many Uggs. So much North Face.
Jan 30 Welcome, new President Drake! That OSU mobile app is clutch.
Feb 6 I should start using the RPAC again.
Feb 13 Ready to experience my first BuckeyeThon this weekend!
Feb 20 Just saw Aaron Craft walking on campus. #ManOfSteal
Feb 27 Study? Netflix? Netflix.
Mar 6 Excited to be building houses in Florida in a few days with my Buck-I-Serv group!
Mar 13 The blisters. Oh, the blisters! #HammerNovice
Mar 20 Shadowing a cardiologist this summer. Scooping ice cream on the side.
Mar 27 My fraternity brother won an award at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum!
Apr 3 Just finished a paper comparing Woodstock to Coachella. #GenEds #HistoryofRockAndRoll
Apr 10 Oh. So THIS is Oval Beach. #70Degrees
Apr 17 I’m running out of ways to spell Hogwarts when changing my OSU password. #Every90Days #BobGribben
Apr 24 Two finals down, 67 meal blocks to go.

Back to the Homestead: Tips for Moving Out

April 21, 2014 at 3:45pmApril 21, 2014 by Alicia Nelson

Well, as hard as it is to believe (or not), it’s time to pack up the clothes, futons and storage bins into the family minivan and head home for the summer. For some, it will be nice to be rid of bumped heads from lofted beds and shared bathroom space with 87 million other people. For others, summer means babysitting little siblings and the return of the dreaded “curfew.” However you look at it, it’s goodbye to Ol’ Columbus town until August. To help make the summer transition a little easier, here are a few tips on how to successfully move out of the residence halls:

START RIGHT NOW.

Look through the junk drawers you’ve created (yes, you have at least one). Toss any Involvement Fair trinkets or giveaways from companies in the Union that you don’t use. That’s less for you to move later, and makes space for more important things, like those pink light up “sabers” we got at the breast cancer awareness football game.

RESEARCH LOCAL STORAGE UNITS.

This is a great option so that you aren’t forced to move that futon you “absolutely needed” all the way home and back in the fall. Don’t forget to ask the super muscular, totally cute guy on the third floor for help. If you are that super muscular guy, tough luck, better hide. Here are some Columbus-based storage options to explore:

Storage Squad – the fee includes the pick-up of the items to be stored, the storage throughout the summer, and drop-off of the items in August.
College Boxes – same concept as Storage Squad.
SpareFoot Storage Finder – if you have a way to move the boxes from here to there, this website can show you the various locations of self-storage facilities in the area. Search by campus zip code (43210).

EMPTY THE FRIDGE BEFORE MOVE-OUT DAY.

Mom doesn’t need to see the month-old milk you have been cultivating, or all of the Bagel Bites, Pizza Rolls and ice cream pints you acquired with your extra blocks at the C-Store.

SELL/RETURN YOUR TEXTBOOKS.

Unless of course you find your chemistry book to be a nice “beach read.”

ASSESS YOUR ROOM FOR DAMAGE.

Time to own up to the “incident” where that basketball “accidentally” made contact with the overhead light fixture. Or that hole you made to hang the collage frame you got at your graduation party that just WOULDN’T stay with Command Strips. Do your best to fix what you can to avoid unnecessary damage charges.

DO SOME SORTING.

Start organizing the clothes and other things you won’t need until the fall, and separate them from the items you will definitely use in the summer. Yes girls, Uggs go in the fall pile. Resist.

FIGURE OUT YOUR MOVE-OUT ASSISTANCE

As much as I know you will want to see everyone, try to refrain from inviting the WHOLE family to come and pick you up on move out day. Things will go a lot smoother if you aren’t constantly chasing after your little brothers riding in the red “elephant” carts, or trying to find Grandma who got lost on her way to use the bathroom. It will make the process more efficient, and allow you to get home and see everyone faster in the end.

The Crunch: Review of Finals Week Study Spaces

April 16, 2014 at 4:37pm by Tyler Pedelose

Yes, it’s the most wonderful time of year! That year when all the students are not snug in their beds, but up with visions of formulas stuck in their heads. With final exams only a week away it is time to study. To crack down on the books. That time to ingest massive amounts of caffeine. And, in honor of students’ favorite time of the semester, I bring you a few reviews of the best (and worst) places to study on campus. YMMV.

RESIDENCE HALL ROOM (space rating = 3 out of 5)

First up: the residence hall room. My personal setup is pretty simple with a focus on my computer where most of my work is done. When I am studying I clear everything that I am not using off of my desk in order to focus on the work at hand. When studying in your own room you are more likely to procrastinate due to distractions like television, games, roommates, etc. Therefore you need to remove anything that can distract you from your studies.

If you do choose to go down this route (I advise against it), you must create an environment that will naturally allow you to get stuff done and doesn’t impede your work flow. To do this…

Make a designated area that you can study in and only allow yourself to study there while in the room.
Give yourself ample lighting.
If your desk is where you eat, you are also more likely to procrastinate by compulsive eating. So, give yourself a rule to not have food around while you work.
Whatever you do, do NOT study in bed. Just like eating at your desk, studying in bed will make your body think it’s time to relax or sleep – the absolute opposite of what you should be doing.

THOMPSON LIBRARY (space rating = 3.5 out of 5)

Thompson is, of course, the center of academia at our campus and a main resource for many students – whether it be a spot to study or a place to grab that 3rd or 4th cup of coffee. Here you can spend some down time studying between classes and do homework at your leisure. But how does it fair for finals studying?

Personally, I love Thompson as a study space. It has cozy seating, bright lights, a warm atmosphere, and just the right amount of white noise from those going about their business on the ground floor. This all comes together to form an area that focuses you on the task at hand. If you prefer a quieter place to study, there are rooms available to reserve for group study sessions (book these early). These are almost guaranteed to be filled during finals, but if you have a group of fifteen or more, there really couldn’t be a better place. When I’m here, I get a good bit of work done here while maintaining my sanity. However, the library is always full of people and you will be hard pressed to find a seat or open outlet anywhere during finals. If you think that Thompson is more your speed, go early and claim your spot.

18th AVENUE LIBRARY (space rating = 4 out of 5)

The Science and Engineering Library (technically the 18th Avenue Library, but I refuse to call it by anything else) is my favorite – maybe I’m a bit biased as an engineer. They have an open floor plan on the upper levels with nothing but tables, chairs, and (much fewer) outlets. The ground floor has an ocean of computers just in case you need to print something off or need a heavier machine than your laptop. Perfect for those breaks between classes where you want a snack and a table to do work.

Depending on the day it can get cramped; however, there will almost always be a seat. I would say that it is not as warm in the atmosphere, but gets you to focus on your work substantially the same way. Seeing everyone else there working on homework and projects creates a certain level of motivation and a coffee-house level of noise that is conducive to studying. It also is a great place to work on all-nighters, especially for north campus residents. With the Terra Byte Cafe that is open until 11 p.m. during the week, you can get your late night caffeine fix and a snack as well. The 18th Avenue Library (ahem, SEL) is my top choice for studying during finals.

THE COMPUTER LAB (space rating = 2.5 to 3.5 out of 5)

All over campus there are Digital Unions and major-specific labs which are there for your use. They vary greatly in size, location, systems, and activity. Some may be only half full during the day and have a only Macs. Others will be a hive of with PCs as far as the eye can see.

As a computer science and engineering major, most of my homework, projects, and studying is done on a computer. This means that I can tell you personally the pitfalls of working with computers:

The desks do not have as much room as other areas (I like to spread out)
It is always louder than it needs to be. Not so much that work can’t be done, but enough to be annoying or distracting. Definitely bring some earbuds.
These computers are connected to the Internet. A computer screen perpetually looming in front of you, badgering you to go to Facebook or Twitter, wanting nothing more than to suck you away from productivity in just a few staccato keystrokes. But that same machine can be your savior given the right circumstances.

I give the campus computer labs a range, seeing as they have varied results.

3 Ways to Save Some Cash

April 15, 2014 at 4:30pmApril 15, 2014 by Nima Dahir

April 15. Tax Day. What better day to talk about how to manage your finances as a college student? I know what you’re thinking…“Ugh, do we have to talk about money? It’s so boring.”

Yes, yes it is. But it’s also important. Especially as many of you will be moving off-campus and will eventually leave the Ohio State bubble! And hopefully, by paying a little attention to these easy tips, we’ll all be able to save a couple of cents here and there (which add up to dollars!)

Create a Budget

Seriously. The importance of this cannot be overstated. How are you supposed to make best use of your money if you don’t even know what it’s being used for? A budget is a great way to keep track of all of expenses, so you can always make sure you’re on track for your savings goals, or to pay all of your bills. There are great online budgeting resources, like Mint.com, that allow you to integrate your bank account and see how well you’re working toward your budgeting goals.

Know Your Stuff

College graduates are faced with a lot of debt. Make sure you know what you’re getting into before you graduate! Read up on the types of loans and grants you receive, and the size of your debt after graduation. That way, you’ll be better prepared to pay it all off as quickly and easily as possible. Financial Coaches in the Student Wellness Center can help you navigate through your various forms of debt and set up a realistic plan for managing your finances.

3. Shop Smart

We all have a love/hate relationship with textbooks. Can’t learn without them, can’t save your money with them. Fortunately, there is a compromise. Make smart choices about where and how you purchase books! Always compare prices across bookstores, and know that online book shopping is a great option. Consider renting if you don’t need the textbook beyond the semester. E-books are often available for purchase online, and can be ridiculously more economical than the physical textbook! Always compare prices, and the beginning of the semester will be a lot less painful for your wallet.

Keep these ideas in mind, and you’ll be financially savvy in no time.

Happy Tax Day!

Tips for SUMMER!

April 14, 2014 at 5:55pm by wetli.9

At this point in the semester, your brain may be thinking (perhaps during inconvenient times, like when studying for your final exams) about the endless possibilities of what is to come this summer. While you relax and let your brain rest with fun activities like bonfires, swimming, sun, friends, family, grilling, etc., I want to remind you that college extends past your first year.

That’s right, you get to come back to campus as a knowledgeable sophomore! Ohio State works hard to communicate and prepare you for a smooth transition in the months before and throughout your first year. Your summer after your first year is a little different. The university is sending you messages about important dates and deadlines on a less frequent basis. If you truly wanted to, you could leave for the summer and be completely separated and removed from the place you called home for the last nine months.

Now, don’t stress and think that the only way to stay connected and have an easy transition back is if you literally stay here all summer. While that may be possible and convenient for some, there are definitely other opportunities and ways to stay involved. I am here with tips for making an easy transition to your second year!

Stay connected with your Ohio State friends

This summer, it is very likely you’ll be separated from the new friends you made this year; however, this doesn’t mean you have to be disconnected. Consider setting up a GroupMe account. Here, you can all chat and stay updated in one, continuing conversation throughout the summer. Staying connected in this way will allow you to keep updated so when you do come back to campus your relationships can pick up right where they left off.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to stay connected for so many different reasons. First, it can be a great opportunity to come back to campus. There are several organizations that still look for volunteers in the summer months and work really close to campus. You could benefit the Columbus community and also pop back, check up and take a walk around campus in one activity…and what is better than that? To make the experience even more enjoyable, you could even involve your friends. Send out a text message through your new GroupMe account and make a friend date out of volunteering!

Review

Yes, I know it is summer and I fully understand that the majority of us do not want to spend it studying or dealing with academia in any way. However, you don’t want to forget all of the information you just spent the last nine months mastering, do you? So even though it may not be most fun, reviewing a bit of the information in the summer may be a good idea.

So how can you make this happen? We all have unique morning rituals that usually involve eating. (If your ritual doesn’t, it should: breakfast is the most important meal!) I have found that this is a great time to be a little productive. My mornings were pretty basic: woke up, drank a cup of coffee, and then ate breakfast. Before my cup of coffee I was often dysfunctional, but afterward I found that I could focus and had some convenient downtime while eating. Eventually, I figured out that I could fill this with some reading. I designated Monday and Tuesday morning as my days and on those morning would spend my time eating and skimming over my lessons and notes from my classes. On the other days, I would forget about school and either watch TV or read a book. Soon it became part of my schedule and I was surprised at how easy it was to do every week. Everyone has a different schedule so it is up to you to decide how many days and when the timing would work. Coming from personal experience I can not tell you how much this simple task helped prepare me. Keeping your brain active, specifically with information that pertains to your next school year, will truly make the transition back into the rigorous college curriculum that much easier.

Summer is great for so many reasons, but it is not just limited to only family and vacations. As you can see there are some easy things that you can be doing for school, too. Before you know it, August will be rolling around and the semester will be starting up again. Be as prepared as possible to take on campus as successful second year students.

Turning the Corner: Ohio State Football and Sportsmanship

April 11, 2014 at 3:45pmApril 10, 2014 by diercks.9

For me, the lasting image of Ohio State’s 2013 football season wasn’t the two disappointing defeats to end the season. No, it was when offensive lineman Marcus Hall decided to flip an obscene gesture to the Michigan crowd after being ejected following his role in an on field altercation in which he threw a punch at a Michigan player. While Hall has graduated, by the time Michigan week comes around you can bet ESPN and all the other sporting media outlets will run the video from the fight to the finger flip.

I understand Hall just had momentary lapse of judgment; it was THE rivalry game, he had just been ejected, and you can be sure the Michigan fans weren’t yelling, “good game!” to him as he went through the tunnel. But, as a representative of the university he can’t have that lapse in judgment.

The athletic department and coaching staff need to stress to players (and coaches and fans for that matter) the value of keeping composure. I think a fact that gets lost in the shuffle of the double middle finger salute is the fact that Hall was ejected for being in a fight during a game. He wasn’t walking to the training room for a tape job; he was forced to leave the field of play. Don’t let sportsmanship become a lost art of the game; since when has beating an opponent not been enough that you have to try and show them up? I know the Michigan game was an isolated incident, but every college football team has a rival and the game gets emotional. Without stats in front of me I would guess 99 percent of all college football games didn’t have a fight or ejection, and especially with the increased media attention on Ohio State football the program cannot let another mistake like this happen.

Go out, play your hardest, do everything within the rules you can to win the game. And then at the end — win or lose — walk out of the stadium. As an athlete (and fan) you want to destroy your opponent on the scoreboard, but that doesn’t mean you get to disrespect them.

With the start of the new season at the Spring game this Saturday, let’s hope Ohio State has another year of great success on the field, and that the only story the media has to report is about what happens on the field. The lasting impression from a season should never be an individual’s reckless decision; it should be the collective effort put forth by the team that reflects on the successes of the team as a whole.

Things I would say to my 18-year-old self

April 10, 2014 at 3:45pmApril 10, 2014 by gontarz.1

I have a confession to make.

I wasn’t always this cool!

Okay, maybe I lied…I’m still not cool, but there is one thing that I can say definitively: I have grown up a heck of a lot faster than I ever thought I would.

Yes, we have all heard that cliché statement that college is the best years of our lives and that you will become who you were always meant to be here, and until recently I can honestly say I didn’t agree. I am not trying to be that melodramatic guy who says that the light has finally shown on me and now I’m this great person, but as I near my date of graduation there is this sort of reflection period, a sense that has sort of come over me. How have I changed? What have I changed? What could I have done differently?

Oh dear, why is this image of my eighteen year old self coming to mind?! Me, getting ready to graduate high school, aspiring to be someone different, the excitement of the unknown!

But what if there was a way to go back in time and say something to your younger self? What would you say and how would you say it? It’s hard to just pick one thing, one piece of advice that encompasses everything these past four years have taught me and then…aha! (light shining from the heavens moment)…I got it…TAKE RISKS! Taking a risk might seem easy but it’s truly not, it is something that I had to struggle with day in and day out these past four years.

I changed my major and transferred to Ohio State. I met new people and tried new things. All of that involved me taking risks! So here it is. I sit myself down, tell myself to listen, and say it one more time (because I tend to be a little distracted and forgetful every now and then):

I have gone through more than I could ever have imagined in the past four years. You may or may not follow my same path. You may be a lot smarter than me and do things I never could, but there is one thing that you have to promise me: day in and day out I want you to take risks! Because only when you take a risk and push yourself out of your comfort zone will you be able to grow as a person!

I understand this whole thing is mostly about my advice for my younger self but it does carry weight for others. Whether you take more risks or commit to a different goal, take a good look at yourself and see what you have done recently and focus on that, because only then will you be able to see the type of person you have become!

Taking the Next STEP

April 9, 2014 at 4:30pmApril 9, 2014 by Alyse Krausz

Can you believe that the semester is almost over?! Finals are just weeks away, and your freshman year is coming to a close. When I was in your shoes last year, I was sad to see the year coming to an end because I had made so many awesome memories and friends. I was also excited to be entering my sophomore year mostly because of STEP. When I checked that little box on my housing form, I did not know what to expect, but participating in STEP this past year has been a great experience!

Sounds Awesome! But what is STEP?

STEP stands for Second-Year Transformational Experience Program, and it is designed for second-year students who decide to live in the residence halls for a second year. The program pairs you up with a faculty member advisor who reviews and approves a proposal about how you plan to spend your $2,000. Yes, that’s right, I said $2,000. The $2,000 grant can be used towards one or more of six experiences: Artistic and Creative Endeavors, Internships, Leadership, Service-Learning and Community Service, Study Abroad, and Undergraduate Research. There are also required co-curricular events to attend about everything from staying fit to applying to grad school.

The process of deciding what you want to do with your money, writing that proposal, and attending those required events may seem daunting, so I have come up with four steps to help you succeed in STEP (pun intended)!

1. You do not have to commit to an experience right away.

When I first started the STEP process, I did not know what experience I was going to choose. I was debating between using the grant for an internship or study abroad. I finally decided in February that I was going to study abroad in London in May of 2015. I was even one of the first of my friends to pick an experience. Some of my friends were still deciding at the beginning of March! Take your time to decide on an experience because if you are passionate about what you will be doing, it will be much easier to write your proposal.

2. Start writing your proposal as soon as possible.

I wrote my proposal all in one sitting and that was not fun. The proposal includes a two-page summary of the details of the experience you will be participating in, a one-page personal statement, and a budget and explanation of how you will be spending your grant. Did I mention that it all has to be single-spaced? If you break up the writing of the proposal it goes by really fast. After all, you have a year to write it. Even if you are not sure how you will be spending the grant, it is still worthwhile to write the personal statement.

3. Keep in touch with your faculty member.

The faculty members who are part of the STEP program volunteered to participate, so they genuinely enjoy getting to know students both inside and outside the classroom. Your faculty advisors want to help! My faculty advisor was Dr. Bartoszek-Loza who teaches some general chemistry classes. I never had her as a professor for my chemistry classes, but I am really glad that she was my STEP advisor. She was always so enthusiastic and encouraging about the ideas I had, and she gave me a lot of advice on life in general. Your STEP advisor is there as a resource and mentor, so make the most of it!

4. Keep an open mind.

This may be the best advice I can give you in regards to STEP. The STEP program is all about experiences that you would not normally get the chance to have. Pick co-curricular programs that focus on global awareness or professional development. Meet with your faculty advisor one-on-one. Spend your $2,000 on an experience that pushes you outside your comfort zone. I promise that you will be glad that you did.

So if you made it this far through this post, and are wishing you had signed up for STEP, never fear! If you are interested in participating in STEP for 2014-15 and you did not sign up when renewing your housing contract for your second year, simply contact Chelsea Black at 614-292-8266. You can also learn more about the STEP program at step.osu.edu.

My First Year Was Successful Because…

April 8, 2014 at 12:00pmApril 8, 2014 by bennett.862

So, the end of your first year at Ohio State is winding down and there are only three weeks left to go before you are no longer considered a first year student. What do you have to show for it? What have you learned? My first year was a year of growth and development. I learned more about myself in that one year than I had in all of my four years of high school and I am thankful for what I learned. After I finished my last exam of spring semester, I took some time to reflect and realized that my year was wildly successful because…

I knew my professors’ names and had personally conversed with them. Approaching professors can be intimidating and in the midst of your busy semester you wonder if it is really worth your time to get to know your professors. It is. Your professors are some of the best resources on campus. They have a wealth of knowledge and are so excited to share their ideas! Professors are here to fill our minds with more knowledge than we can imagine and want to help us grow as students.

I could go the RPAC alone. In my first semester I was afraid to go most places on campus alone because, frankly, I thought I would get lost and because I never wanted to be lonely. However, there came a time when I was ready to go places on my own time. Being confident in my ability to navigate the campus effectively and take time for myself is a skill that I am thankful I learned.

I found a major that helped me find my passion. During my first semester I changed my major, and it was one of the best decisions I made at Ohio State. Not only did I find a major that I enjoyed, but I also found a major that helped me discover ways to further develop my interests and find my true niche.

I learned how to manage my time. It was always a sad day to realize that I had 60 pages of a textbook that needed to be read before my next class. With a packed schedule of going to class, student organization meetings, papers, midterms, and napping, it is difficult to find time to accomplish everything in one day. By the end of my first year I had developed a way to schedule time to study, go to class, and nap. Figuring out how to use my time wisely made my goals attainable.

I was exhausted. By the end of my first year, I was mentally and physically exhausted. My brain hurt from the amount of knowledge I obtained and I was too tired to function from all of the late nights study sessions and life talks with my roommates. I never got much sleep, but I never regretted an extra minute of studying or conversing with people on my floor.

I found my inner Buckeye. By the end of my first year I had finally learned all of the words to Carmen Ohio and the Buckeye Battle Cry. After sitting with thousands of my friends at football games, I learned the words to the point where I could participate for each song. Cheering on the Buckeyes is a top priority and learning how to sing along made me feel more connected to other students and the University.

I wanted to come back. When my parents came to pick me up after my last final, the first thing I wanted to do was go straight back to Ohio State. My first year was so much more than I thought it would ever be and I was so thankful for the great year Ohio State gave me. Before I returned home for the summer, I already could not wait to get back to Ohio State to learn more, meet more people, and further develop the amazing friendships I had made. I fell in love with Ohio State my first year and I could not wait to return the following year to have another amazing year.

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Month: April 2014