A First Year in Review.
A Lot Can Happen in a Year…
I was no exception to this rule. The transition from high school to college certainly took me through an amazing journey, one filled with rushes of excitement as well as slumps of challenges and conflict. What I am proud to say at the conclusion of this year however is that I feel I came out victorious.
My first semester was definitely overwhelming, but at the same time it has become my foundation for the rest of my collegiate career. I say this because of three events or occurrences that took place during this time: the process of forming new relationships, my initiation into the Chi Omega Fraternity, and my involvement in the Student Alumni Council.
As a student who is accustomed to a tight-knit group of friends and little change in the dynamics of this group from grade school all the way through high school, my first days on a college campus without my support system proved to be challenging. Not only were the large majority of my friends attending other schools (leaving me to fend for my own), but the new group of people that I was expected to interact with on a daily basis seemed to have already formed their own groups. This left me in a stump, as I was already going to seem like a transfer who tries to fit in with closed groups. This was the first year of college, shouldn’t this be the time where everyone is vulnerable and searching for new friendships just as I was? I thought so, but maybe that wasn’t exactly right. Regardless, finding a solid group of classmates and peers that I could consider my close friends was the challenge of the semester. But good did result from this challenge, as I found amazing friendships and learned a great deal about myself along the way.
My closest relationship I have made is with my current roommate, Marisa. What is special about this friendship is that we hit it off from the start, sharing many likes, dislikes, opinions, and characteristics. She was the person I could have fun with and relate to when school would be difficult or big things would happen. She helped me feel comfortable at UC, and I believe that everyone needs a friend like her. Knowing that I had someone I could always rely on gave me the courage to branch out and really be myself on campus. Marisa has helped me value the little things in life, as well as value the little opportunities that are presented to us. These little things can turn into significant life events that will shape our entire lives.
I’d like to think that we supported each other equally in academics and extracurricular activities, which definitely showed through when we went through Greek formal recruitment that fall. Remember the little opportunities I mentioned she encouraged me to take? Well this is one of them. Hesitant initially due to the fact that I held no prior knowledge of UC’s Greek Community, I took a leap of faith and signed up alongside Marisa for fall recruitment. While we did not find homes in the same sorority, I did find a home that welcomed me wholeheartedly and gave me countless friendships and sisters that I can no longer imagine my life without. These are the girls that have already changed me so drastically and positively and are now my role models, closest friends, and support system.
As a new member of Chi Omega (prior to initiation and active membership into the fraternity, we are considered new members), I viewed Greek life as a resource for weekend plans and coffee dates. What it became was my portal to the rest of my university. With such a diverse group of girls, I became familiar with every program on campus, countless student organizations, and opportunities to get involved that I had not seen before. I was able to look to upperclassmen and see where their involvement and academic pursuits led them; I found an academic coach to help me make a more informed decision about my degree. I found leaders that embodied the University of Cincinnati and can see first-hand how much their involvement and initiatives give them passion and excitement for life. My big in Chi Omega is Victoria, and she could not be a more perfect example of this leader to whom I look for guidance and encouragement. As an influential member of numerous organizations, Victoria has helped me integrate myself into all the exciting things happening at UC. Homecoming, Greek socials, leadership programs, fundraising and philanthropy events, Chi Omega sisterhood days and planning committees and Alumni Relations, you name it and she has in some way encouraged my participation. I will be forever grateful for this, as I have found a great sense of enjoyment and gratification through this involvement. It has opened many doors, I see more familiar faces on campus, and I am now excited to seek out opportunities that allow me to make a difference on campus. This excitement brought to my attention many things about me that I was previously unaware. For instance, I enjoy helping others help themselves. I became involved in Bearcat Buddies, UC’s tutoring service that assists young grade schoolers around the Clifton area in reading, writing, and mathematics. I also discovered that I’d like to travel from the adventurous stories Victoria would share with me, and I combined this desire with my love to serve and participated in WorkFest in rural Appalachia. At the same time, I did something I never did before: I willingly put myself in a situation where I surrounded myself with an entirely new group of people and environment and was excited for it. What a change from my first weeks at UC.
To come back to the part where I mentioned that taking those little opportunities can lead to big doors which can lead to even bigger experiences, my friendship with Marisa led to my initiation into Chi Omega which led to my friendship and mentorship with Victoria which led to the discovery of my talents which then led to my involvement and executive position in the Student Alumni Council. Yep, read that again, because I find myself constantly attempting to wrap my head around how perfectly everything has fit together.
Another major aspect of myself that I discovered through my friendship with Victoria is that I find great enjoyment in leading. My initial excitement about Student Alumni Council really motivated me to get as involved in the organization as possible, because I love the activities and programs SAC involves itself with and even operates, such as homecoming, the Red & Black Book, and alumni affairs. Through the encouragement of Victoria, my greater self-awareness, and increased want to give myself to my university, I made the daring decision to run for SAC’s Vice President of Alumni Affairs as a freshman against four upperclassmen. Would I have ever spoken in front of a large group of people – almost all of them older than I – with excitement and confidence before this? Most likely not. But I had come such a long way and with a thankful heart, won the election. My term begins in full swing this upcoming fall, which means that I have a lot to look forward to! This is yet another concrete event of my first year that serves as a foundation for the events that will occur in the years ahead.
I hope that my experience continues to travel uphill and take me places I could never predict or imagine. I have learned that willingness to accept change, seek opportunity and involvement, and welcome relationships are the best tools to achieve success and happiness. They have certainly played a vital role in shaping my first year experience, and I will continue to utilize them in the future. I hope to make concrete contributions to my university and peers that create a lasting impact on their college experience. The more I put myself into my school, the more I learn about myself and the more I enrich my own experience. Whatever college has to throw at me, bring it on.
I was no exception to this rule. The transition from high school to college certainly took me through an amazing journey, one filled with rushes of excitement as well as slumps of challenges and conflict. What I am proud to say at the conclusion of this year however is that I feel I came out victorious.
My first semester was definitely overwhelming, but at the same time it has become my foundation for the rest of my collegiate career. I say this because of three events or occurrences that took place during this time: the process of forming new relationships, my initiation into the Chi Omega Fraternity, and my involvement in the Student Alumni Council.
As a student who is accustomed to a tight-knit group of friends and little change in the dynamics of this group from grade school all the way through high school, my first days on a college campus without my support system proved to be challenging. Not only were the large majority of my friends attending other schools (leaving me to fend for my own), but the new group of people that I was expected to interact with on a daily basis seemed to have already formed their own groups. This left me in a stump, as I was already going to seem like a transfer who tries to fit in with closed groups. This was the first year of college, shouldn’t this be the time where everyone is vulnerable and searching for new friendships just as I was? I thought so, but maybe that wasn’t exactly right. Regardless, finding a solid group of classmates and peers that I could consider my close friends was the challenge of the semester. But good did result from this challenge, as I found amazing friendships and learned a great deal about myself along the way.
My closest relationship I have made is with my current roommate, Marisa. What is special about this friendship is that we hit it off from the start, sharing many likes, dislikes, opinions, and characteristics. She was the person I could have fun with and relate to when school would be difficult or big things would happen. She helped me feel comfortable at UC, and I believe that everyone needs a friend like her. Knowing that I had someone I could always rely on gave me the courage to branch out and really be myself on campus. Marisa has helped me value the little things in life, as well as value the little opportunities that are presented to us. These little things can turn into significant life events that will shape our entire lives.
I’d like to think that we supported each other equally in academics and extracurricular activities, which definitely showed through when we went through Greek formal recruitment that fall. Remember the little opportunities I mentioned she encouraged me to take? Well this is one of them. Hesitant initially due to the fact that I held no prior knowledge of UC’s Greek Community, I took a leap of faith and signed up alongside Marisa for fall recruitment. While we did not find homes in the same sorority, I did find a home that welcomed me wholeheartedly and gave me countless friendships and sisters that I can no longer imagine my life without. These are the girls that have already changed me so drastically and positively and are now my role models, closest friends, and support system.
As a new member of Chi Omega (prior to initiation and active membership into the fraternity, we are considered new members), I viewed Greek life as a resource for weekend plans and coffee dates. What it became was my portal to the rest of my university. With such a diverse group of girls, I became familiar with every program on campus, countless student organizations, and opportunities to get involved that I had not seen before. I was able to look to upperclassmen and see where their involvement and academic pursuits led them; I found an academic coach to help me make a more informed decision about my degree. I found leaders that embodied the University of Cincinnati and can see first-hand how much their involvement and initiatives give them passion and excitement for life. My big in Chi Omega is Victoria, and she could not be a more perfect example of this leader to whom I look for guidance and encouragement. As an influential member of numerous organizations, Victoria has helped me integrate myself into all the exciting things happening at UC. Homecoming, Greek socials, leadership programs, fundraising and philanthropy events, Chi Omega sisterhood days and planning committees and Alumni Relations, you name it and she has in some way encouraged my participation. I will be forever grateful for this, as I have found a great sense of enjoyment and gratification through this involvement. It has opened many doors, I see more familiar faces on campus, and I am now excited to seek out opportunities that allow me to make a difference on campus. This excitement brought to my attention many things about me that I was previously unaware. For instance, I enjoy helping others help themselves. I became involved in Bearcat Buddies, UC’s tutoring service that assists young grade schoolers around the Clifton area in reading, writing, and mathematics. I also discovered that I’d like to travel from the adventurous stories Victoria would share with me, and I combined this desire with my love to serve and participated in WorkFest in rural Appalachia. At the same time, I did something I never did before: I willingly put myself in a situation where I surrounded myself with an entirely new group of people and environment and was excited for it. What a change from my first weeks at UC.
To come back to the part where I mentioned that taking those little opportunities can lead to big doors which can lead to even bigger experiences, my friendship with Marisa led to my initiation into Chi Omega which led to my friendship and mentorship with Victoria which led to the discovery of my talents which then led to my involvement and executive position in the Student Alumni Council. Yep, read that again, because I find myself constantly attempting to wrap my head around how perfectly everything has fit together.
Another major aspect of myself that I discovered through my friendship with Victoria is that I find great enjoyment in leading. My initial excitement about Student Alumni Council really motivated me to get as involved in the organization as possible, because I love the activities and programs SAC involves itself with and even operates, such as homecoming, the Red & Black Book, and alumni affairs. Through the encouragement of Victoria, my greater self-awareness, and increased want to give myself to my university, I made the daring decision to run for SAC’s Vice President of Alumni Affairs as a freshman against four upperclassmen. Would I have ever spoken in front of a large group of people – almost all of them older than I – with excitement and confidence before this? Most likely not. But I had come such a long way and with a thankful heart, won the election. My term begins in full swing this upcoming fall, which means that I have a lot to look forward to! This is yet another concrete event of my first year that serves as a foundation for the events that will occur in the years ahead.
I hope that my experience continues to travel uphill and take me places I could never predict or imagine. I have learned that willingness to accept change, seek opportunity and involvement, and welcome relationships are the best tools to achieve success and happiness. They have certainly played a vital role in shaping my first year experience, and I will continue to utilize them in the future. I hope to make concrete contributions to my university and peers that create a lasting impact on their college experience. The more I put myself into my school, the more I learn about myself and the more I enrich my own experience. Whatever college has to throw at me, bring it on.