Family has always been one of my core values. My mother is one of seven siblings and my grandad is one of thirteen. I then have more family on my father’s and sister’s mothers’s side. Needless to say, I had no choice but to be surrounded by large amounts of family members my entire life. Being around people that love each other unconditionally, but have dramatically different personalities has made me the person I am today. Family has been such a norm in my life that it made me slightly nervous to come to Ohio State, which is an hour and a half away from them. I wasn’t sure how being away from my main support system and friends were going to effect my life. As my college career continues and more of my family members around my age goes off to college, I’ve found ways to keep strong relationships over long distances. Knowing that I will always have them no matter where I go in life has made me more comfortable in taking on challenges even when my family isn’t staying down the street from me.