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Year In Review: Showcasing my First Year at UC
Part I: What? So What?
During the summer before I arrived on campus at UC, I was talking with a group of juniors and seniors at a scholarship breakfast downtown about their experiences at school thus far. With many stories and offerings of advice, they vividly described all that they had seen and experienced over the past three to four years at UC. They had been on service and study abroad trips, established great relationships with UC faculty and friends, worked in professional co-op positions in Cincinnati’s top companies, and immersed themselves in student involvement on campus. They talked about UC as if it was the greatest place on Earth, full of great people and wonderful opportunity. But they made an effort to stress one point to me: “College will fly by, so take advantage of every opportunity you get while you still can.” After only one year of being a student at UC, I could not agree more, for this year seems to have passed by in the blink of an eye. I remember moving all of my clothes and belongings into Turner Hall as if it was yesterday; and here I am today, working full-time in a summer internship and moving on to my sophomore year of school. Just like that.
I have had hundreds of unique experiences over the course of my freshman year here, and all of them have contributed to the formation of who I am today. As I entered college, I was nervous, intimidated, and uncertain. I was about to embark on an entirely new lifestyle and begin a new chapter of my life. The pressure and anxiety of such a transition is great, but through the help of awesome people and an excellent university, my journey was more fulfilling and remarkable than I ever could have imagined. Several of my experiences specifically have had a very significant impact, such as my participation on the Student Alumni Council, my decision to join a fraternity, and my decision to go on a service trip to Nicaragua.
Get involved, get involved, get involved. This was the overwhelming advice from many people at the beginning of the year. One of the student organizations on campus that immediately caught my attention during Homecoming Week was The Student Alumni Council. SAC is the connection between the current students and the alumni at UC. The student group puts on events like Homecoming Week, Sibs Weekend, and the Red & Black Book every year, bringing the students and UC community as whole closer together. After looking at all of the different organizations and options that I had to choose from, this group was one of the ones that I wanted to pursue the most. Therefore, I applied and interviewed for a position in SAC, nervous, but ready as well. After getting accepted onto the team of about fifty members, I actively began engaging myself in SAC, working on Sibs Weekend and Homecoming for next year. These experiences were extremely helpful and rewarding for me, for they allowed me to meet many new faces and feel like I was contributing to the bettering of the University of Cincinnati. I learned how to better cooperate with groups of people to accomplish projects. I learned how to connect with alumni on a professional and personal level, listening to their stories, advice, and praise of UC. I learned also that you do not have to be an upperclassman to make a big difference. Being in SAC this year taught me a lot about getting along with people, forming lasting friendships, and engaging yourself in communities and networks.
One of my biggest decisions of the year was deciding that I wanted to join a social fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE). This decision caused me the most anxiety and uncertainty at the beginning of the year. There were many positives and negatives to joining Greek life. On one side of the spectrum, Greek life offered leadership opportunities, a network of students on campus to meet, lifelong friendships, social events and activities, and various trips throughout the year. On the other side, however, with Greek life came the stereotypes of crazy partying, bad habits, and negative influences that could affect me. My hesitation in joining a fraternity was erased after I was initiated in the Fall of 2012, as I honestly had no idea of all of the wonderful benefits that Greek life brought. The negative stereotype that everyone sees in movies did not exist at all at UC. My network of friends multiplied tenfold on campus, my involvement in student groups and experiences increased, and I felt like I belonged to a cause greater than myself right away. I was able to go on trips to Lake Cumberland, Tennessee; Chicago, Illinois; and Windsor, Canada this year with the fraternity, participating in formals and leadership summits. We created major philanthropic initiatives like PIKE Spike, Casino Night, and Cycle for Life, which raised a lot of support for local and national charities. I was able to showcase my leadership abilities immediately as I was chosen to be the Class Secretary, on the Recruitment Committee, and the Bearcat Pride Chairman for next year. The biggest impact and most significant benefit from being in PIKE, however, is the friends I have made, whom I am confident will stick with me for years after graduating UC. The community over at the Nester House–whether it is during football tailgates, at a scholarship dinner, practicing a dance routine for Greek Week, or a party on a Friday night—has made me feel more comfortable and confident at UC than I ever imagined I would.
Perhaps my most meaningful experience at UC thus far was my mission trip to Nicaragua over Spring Break, where we helped to dig trenches and lay down pipes that transported clean water to communities in need. Along with seven other students from UC and about forty students from across the US, I worked in the rural, mountainous city of Chinandega, meeting various people throughout the trip, including grandparents, fathers, mothers, teenagers, children, taxi drivers, firefighters, priests, missionaries, and many others. On the trip, I formed meaningful relationships and made lasting memories that will be cherished forever. The families we met were more loving and welcoming than any other people I’ve met. I learned a lot about Nicaraguan culture, the Spanish language, and the lifestyles and values of a third-world country. My perspective on life has changed dramatically since going on this trip. I have a much deeper appreciation for all of the gifts in my life and a better understanding of the global community as a whole. My horizon has been expanded as I have been able to experience life in a completely different way. The trip reinforced in me the importance of leading a life of service. This trip to Nicaragua was a perfect opportunity to be of service to others and I cannot wait to continue my lifelong mission of being a “man for and with others,” both at UC and throughout the rest of my life.
These experiences, along with countless others, have truly transformed me this year into a better person and a more educated and cultured individual. As I get older and find myself in new situations and different places, I will be able to reflect on all of my experiences and use them to better myself and the other people around me.
I have had hundreds of unique experiences over the course of my freshman year here, and all of them have contributed to the formation of who I am today. As I entered college, I was nervous, intimidated, and uncertain. I was about to embark on an entirely new lifestyle and begin a new chapter of my life. The pressure and anxiety of such a transition is great, but through the help of awesome people and an excellent university, my journey was more fulfilling and remarkable than I ever could have imagined. Several of my experiences specifically have had a very significant impact, such as my participation on the Student Alumni Council, my decision to join a fraternity, and my decision to go on a service trip to Nicaragua.
Get involved, get involved, get involved. This was the overwhelming advice from many people at the beginning of the year. One of the student organizations on campus that immediately caught my attention during Homecoming Week was The Student Alumni Council. SAC is the connection between the current students and the alumni at UC. The student group puts on events like Homecoming Week, Sibs Weekend, and the Red & Black Book every year, bringing the students and UC community as whole closer together. After looking at all of the different organizations and options that I had to choose from, this group was one of the ones that I wanted to pursue the most. Therefore, I applied and interviewed for a position in SAC, nervous, but ready as well. After getting accepted onto the team of about fifty members, I actively began engaging myself in SAC, working on Sibs Weekend and Homecoming for next year. These experiences were extremely helpful and rewarding for me, for they allowed me to meet many new faces and feel like I was contributing to the bettering of the University of Cincinnati. I learned how to better cooperate with groups of people to accomplish projects. I learned how to connect with alumni on a professional and personal level, listening to their stories, advice, and praise of UC. I learned also that you do not have to be an upperclassman to make a big difference. Being in SAC this year taught me a lot about getting along with people, forming lasting friendships, and engaging yourself in communities and networks.
One of my biggest decisions of the year was deciding that I wanted to join a social fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE). This decision caused me the most anxiety and uncertainty at the beginning of the year. There were many positives and negatives to joining Greek life. On one side of the spectrum, Greek life offered leadership opportunities, a network of students on campus to meet, lifelong friendships, social events and activities, and various trips throughout the year. On the other side, however, with Greek life came the stereotypes of crazy partying, bad habits, and negative influences that could affect me. My hesitation in joining a fraternity was erased after I was initiated in the Fall of 2012, as I honestly had no idea of all of the wonderful benefits that Greek life brought. The negative stereotype that everyone sees in movies did not exist at all at UC. My network of friends multiplied tenfold on campus, my involvement in student groups and experiences increased, and I felt like I belonged to a cause greater than myself right away. I was able to go on trips to Lake Cumberland, Tennessee; Chicago, Illinois; and Windsor, Canada this year with the fraternity, participating in formals and leadership summits. We created major philanthropic initiatives like PIKE Spike, Casino Night, and Cycle for Life, which raised a lot of support for local and national charities. I was able to showcase my leadership abilities immediately as I was chosen to be the Class Secretary, on the Recruitment Committee, and the Bearcat Pride Chairman for next year. The biggest impact and most significant benefit from being in PIKE, however, is the friends I have made, whom I am confident will stick with me for years after graduating UC. The community over at the Nester House–whether it is during football tailgates, at a scholarship dinner, practicing a dance routine for Greek Week, or a party on a Friday night—has made me feel more comfortable and confident at UC than I ever imagined I would.
Perhaps my most meaningful experience at UC thus far was my mission trip to Nicaragua over Spring Break, where we helped to dig trenches and lay down pipes that transported clean water to communities in need. Along with seven other students from UC and about forty students from across the US, I worked in the rural, mountainous city of Chinandega, meeting various people throughout the trip, including grandparents, fathers, mothers, teenagers, children, taxi drivers, firefighters, priests, missionaries, and many others. On the trip, I formed meaningful relationships and made lasting memories that will be cherished forever. The families we met were more loving and welcoming than any other people I’ve met. I learned a lot about Nicaraguan culture, the Spanish language, and the lifestyles and values of a third-world country. My perspective on life has changed dramatically since going on this trip. I have a much deeper appreciation for all of the gifts in my life and a better understanding of the global community as a whole. My horizon has been expanded as I have been able to experience life in a completely different way. The trip reinforced in me the importance of leading a life of service. This trip to Nicaragua was a perfect opportunity to be of service to others and I cannot wait to continue my lifelong mission of being a “man for and with others,” both at UC and throughout the rest of my life.
These experiences, along with countless others, have truly transformed me this year into a better person and a more educated and cultured individual. As I get older and find myself in new situations and different places, I will be able to reflect on all of my experiences and use them to better myself and the other people around me.
Part II: Now What?
Now that I have all of these experiences under my belt, it is my responsibility and desire to use them to help me in my future endeavors. They can all be resourceful and useful in knowing how to handle certain situations and relating to students what to do in similar circumstances. I am excited to keep adding to this list of accomplishments and experiences because I realize how beneficial, rewarding, and impactful they can be.
If I could give myself advice for next year and beyond, three pieces of guidance would come to mind. First, seize every opportunity that interests you while you still have the time because before you know it, college will be over and the real-world will begin to kick in. Never again will I have as much time, energy, and freedom to do whatever I want, whether that be travelling to different countries or cities; discovering new ideas, programs, or events; making lifelong friends; or participating in a water balloon fight in between classes. Never again will I have the opportunity to be with my friends all day long, every day of the week. Never pass up an invitation to go out to eat, pass a football, or go on an adventure at night, because all of these experiences are what makes college so memorable and fun. My second piece of advice would be use the gifts you have here at UC to establish yourself in the professional arena. The UC community is one of the most powerful networks in the Midwest, and there are more opportunities for growth and success that one can imagine. The importance of networking with companies and meeting new people every day is huge. Now is the time to establish a path for my future, and I need to take advantage of it. Whether that means attending networking events with companies like Fifth Third and GE, participating in a leadership program such as P&G’s for a day, attending a speaker series event, or going out to lunch with a UC alumni to discuss their experiences, all of these meetings and conversations will add up to a successful professional reputation, which is absolutely critical in establishing good relationships with people. Thirdly, and most importantly, I would advise myself to not lose sight of who I am as a person. My morals, values, and beliefs are the core of who I am. There are a lot of distractions in college and people trying to influence you in different directions, but it is vitally important to not change who you are as a person. I am grateful to have been able to stay close to home this year, because my family is the foundation of my values. I feel that being able to see them frequently has helped me stay true to my values.
If I could give myself advice for next year and beyond, three pieces of guidance would come to mind. First, seize every opportunity that interests you while you still have the time because before you know it, college will be over and the real-world will begin to kick in. Never again will I have as much time, energy, and freedom to do whatever I want, whether that be travelling to different countries or cities; discovering new ideas, programs, or events; making lifelong friends; or participating in a water balloon fight in between classes. Never again will I have the opportunity to be with my friends all day long, every day of the week. Never pass up an invitation to go out to eat, pass a football, or go on an adventure at night, because all of these experiences are what makes college so memorable and fun. My second piece of advice would be use the gifts you have here at UC to establish yourself in the professional arena. The UC community is one of the most powerful networks in the Midwest, and there are more opportunities for growth and success that one can imagine. The importance of networking with companies and meeting new people every day is huge. Now is the time to establish a path for my future, and I need to take advantage of it. Whether that means attending networking events with companies like Fifth Third and GE, participating in a leadership program such as P&G’s for a day, attending a speaker series event, or going out to lunch with a UC alumni to discuss their experiences, all of these meetings and conversations will add up to a successful professional reputation, which is absolutely critical in establishing good relationships with people. Thirdly, and most importantly, I would advise myself to not lose sight of who I am as a person. My morals, values, and beliefs are the core of who I am. There are a lot of distractions in college and people trying to influence you in different directions, but it is vitally important to not change who you are as a person. I am grateful to have been able to stay close to home this year, because my family is the foundation of my values. I feel that being able to see them frequently has helped me stay true to my values.