"She's young, and the world's wide open." -Jason Aldean
Year two. It flew. It went even faster than year one, which I did not think was possible. I'm starting to believe what everyone always said about time getting exponentially faster as you age...
After I finished my freshman year, I thought that all the *big* changes in my life were done. I had moved away from home, I had made new friends, I had done the whole college thing, and I had seen my friends and myself change, and I had learned to be okay with that. Well, the changes were far from over, and I'm finally realizing that it's never going to stop changing. I moved into a house with three of my friends this year, and that brought different challenges than living in a dorm did. We had to figure out a cleaning schedule, how to set up utilities, I had to grocery shop and cook for myself (which has improved drastically), and because all my friends had moved off campus, we had to make more of an effort to see each other now. The adjustments were less drastic than those of freshman year, but they were still adjustments that pushed me out of my comfort zone.
In the fall, I was able to work at the University of Cincinnati College of Law as a student editorial assistant. Going into this job, I really knew nothing about law or law school. (My knowledge largely came from Legally Blonde, and I knew that wasn't accurate.) I picked up the jargon quickly, and was lucky enough to have a wonderful boss who was more than happy to help me, but didn't hesitate to push me or trust me with responsibilities. I learned so much from this job. I had many great opportunities, and was able to talk to faculty, staff, and students, all of whom were incredibly passionate about what they were doing. Two things from this experience stand out as my favorites, however. The first is the feature series I was able to write about the LL.M. students. (The LL.M. program allows students who have studied law in another country to study here and obtain up to two years of exposure to the U.S. legal system. Each student has, at minimum, a bachelor’s in law and earns a masters in law for foreign-trained lawyers.) Every single one of these students had a different story, a different reason for leaving their home to come study in the U.S. Some intended to go back to their home country and others wanted to stay in America. I loved talking to these students because of their drive and passion, and I was ecstatic to be able to share their stories with a larger community. My second favorite experience was when Jim Obergefell came to the law school to speak. (You know him as the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that made gay marriage legal.) His story was incredible to hear, and he continuously emphasized how he doesn't feel that he belongs in the history books with cases like Roe v. Wade or Brown v. Board of Education. Being able to hear his story first hand was an experience I am so grateful for.
Unfortunately, I was unable to continue my internship at the College of Law in spring semester because of my class schedule. In the spring, I focused on finding my new path; I had gone from a journalism major to exploratory in the fall. Even though making that switch scared me, I am so glad I did it. Being an exploratory major gave me the opportunity to step back and look at what I wanted to do. I flirted with a lot of different careers -- physical therapy, dietetics, education, flight attending, marketing, and social work -- by talking to professionals, shadowing, and taking a variety of classes. In April, I officially declared a major in communications, with a minor in marketing and a certificate in journalism. My ultimate goal is to pursue a career in editing or publishing. I have always had an unhealthy obsession with books, and having the chance to read them before they're released would be a dream come true.
This spring, I also became a University Honors Program Ambassador. I am so excited about this role because I love this program, and think it is so unique. The focus that our university has on experiences rather than harder classes is great, and I believe it lends itself to greater personal (and professional) growth. And, starting in the fall, I will be a CHAARG small group leader. I got involved with this organization spring of my freshman year, and have fallen more in love with it ever since. While on the surface it may appear to only be girls working out together, it is so much more than that. It is truly a community, and it is comprised of some of the most passionate, driven, and strongest women I know. By being a small group leader, I will have a group of about 15 girls that I will meet with each week, whether it's for a workout, coffee, etc. Small groups help foster a deeper sense of community, and they have been my favorite part of CHAARG since joining.
This year has held a lot of changes for me, and I am glad that I have been strong enough to make the changes that I needed to. It has helped me learn that life is even more dynamic than I thought it was, and you never truly have it all figured out. There's nothing wrong with looking back sometimes, but it's important to remember that's not the way you're going. Next year, I plan to get involved with a more professional group (and hopefully find an internship!) now that I know my major, and have a direction once again. As well, I am excited to see where my new leadership positions will take me. I cannot believe that I am halfway done with my time here at UC!
Read samples of my work from the College of Law here: