"Try to grow up but who knows where to start?" -Kenny Chesney
Third time’s a charm. It’s what you hear growing up, and even in college it turned out to be true. For me, anyhow. This is the year I really hit my stride, for the whole year.
Year one brought many overwhelming life changes, as it does for most college freshman. Year two was a year of self-discovery. I doubted myself a lot, changed my major, and eventually began to regain confidence. But year three? I felt like I was rocking. Don’t get me wrong - uphill battles abounded, but the inclines felt more manageable, and I could finally catch my breath.
Over the summer of 2016, I worked at the UC College of Law once more, and was able to build upon the work I had done in the fall of 2015 while also working as a hostess at Keystone Bar and Grill, more than enough to keep me busy. In August 2016, I was lucky enough to take a road trip out West with my dad, something I’ll never forget. We got to see all five of Utah’s National Parks, and many of the attractions (or nothingness) in the states between Ohio and Utah. I stand by my conviction that libraries and National Parks are probably the two best ideas America’s ever had, and I’m anxious to go see more.
This fall brought some changes, but I felt ready for them. I began taking classes for my marketing minor, something that pushed me outside my comfort zone for the simple fact that my brain isn’t as readily wired for business and pragmatic thinking as it is for liberal arts and living in the gray area.
I was also able to work as a Digital Media Intern at Cincinnati Magazine, an amazing experience. In this role, I mostly oversaw the conversion of print articles to an online platform. Platform conversion isn’t something I’d ever thought much about, but I quickly learned how important it was! Particularly for outlets like magazines, that are far more worried about aesthetics and presentation than daily newspapers, it’s important to keep that feeling intact even on a screen. In the spring, I came back to Cincinnati Magazine, albeit in the role of a Customs Intern. Here, I was working with their customs publications. These were essentially everything besides the monthly magazine: Cincinnati Weddings, Cincinnati Kids, Schools Guide, etc. I worked to fact check articles and informational listings, and I was able to try my hand at writing a few articles and blog posts. Seeing the same company from two different perspectives was awesome, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have gone back to such a fun environment where I could continue to grow.
This spring, I finished up the rest of my general education requirements, so all I have left for the next two semesters is finishing the requirements of my major and minor. It’s going to be radically different than what I’ve been used to, from that standpoint. However, I am excited to only have to take 15 credit hours/semester, rather than the 18 I’ve been taking since I started school.
This year, I was a CHAARG Small Group Leader. This meant that I had a group of girls I met with at a set time every week - most weeks we completed a workout together, but sometimes we’d grab coffee and just catch up and encourage each other. UC CHAARG has been such a big part of my college experience, I absolutely loved getting to help facilitate that experience for some other girls. I got to make new friends myself and see friendships happen for the girls in my group. I can’t wait to do it all again next year.
As an Honors Ambassador, I was also able to make new friends. Equally exciting was the chance to help explain the program to prospective students and their parents. It’s so unique, and the program has given me so much that I relish the chance to give back to it.
Some other exciting, albeit random, things that happened this year:
-I fed a giraffe at Cincinnati Zoo -Hiked Red River Gorge(ous) -Attended a Dakota Access Pipeline Protest downtown -Went to Havana, Cuba, for spring break -Went to Michigan for a CHAARG retreat -Saw Bernie Sanders speak in TUC - and voted in my first presidential election -Went to a pop-up Luke's Diner (from Gilmore Girls) on Short Vine
Year three was one of the best times of my life.
I’m looking forward to senior year, to pushing myself further (both professionally/academically, and just in general life… like signing up for a Tough Mudder?), finding a great job, exploring Cincinnati more, and continuing to learn more about myself.