2014-2015 Year in Review
When I look back upon the past year, my first at the University of Cincinnati, several visions come to mind. I see the hauntingly beautiful glow of McMicken at sunset. I see the dark wood of a Mock Trial courtroom. I see the backdrop of downtown Cincinnati from the nonprofit organization where I had the pleasure of working. I see the smiles that abound through fellowship with H2O, President Ono laughing from various podiums, crowds erupting at Bearcat baseball games, and the sun shining on Machu Picchu in Peru. These glorious memories come to mind first, but behind them I can also see the seemingly insignificant moments that stitched the year together: the bleary-eyed glow of the computer screen going on the 5th hour of homework in the coffee shop, red ink on essays, the flash of the ice that covered campus for weeks. White cement block walls, elevators, and evenings that smell like Chipotle and coffee.
My first year at UC was full of beauty, triumph, and laughter. Yet it was also full of setbacks, emails that said, “no,” and lots and lots of questions. Will I find activities that foster my potential? Will I find good friends? Will I succeed academically? Am I missing something I should be doing? Am I doing enough? It was tough to face those questions at first, but in hindsight, I’m so thankful for the tough clean slate presented by college. 9 months later, my slate is filling up. I joined UC Mock Trial, got involved in a college ministry, became an Honors Ambassador, traveled to Peru with UC International, joined Bearcat Buddies, and became a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, a National Honor Society. I enjoy having some questions answered, but I like that there are answers still to be discovered. |
All of the growth of this past year has been a milestone in my 2 decades of life. Each tiny task and every monumental obstacle has culminated in the accomplishment of something I have long been striving for, and that is the pursuit of post-secondary education and the discovery of a new home for growth to take place. I came to UC for a reason, because I believed that it could be that home. I have stayed for a reason, because I have found it to exceed every expectation I had. I am grateful that UC is a place where opportunity abounds, but I am even more grateful that it is a place where one has to work for that opportunity. With so many talented leaders at UC, I have been humbled by strong peers and those whose grand qualities are greater than my own. However, this does not discourage me. It would have before, but this year I have come to embrace the presence of individuals who I can learn from, who help me strive to be better. This year I have been able to rapple with several opportunities, but I am also blessed by those instances where I was humbled by rejection. I so look forward to learning and growing and giving certain things another go.
As I face another clean slate and a fresh new year at UC, I can’t wait to put into practice all the lessons I learned during my first year. I have happened across some precious new passions that I look forward to embracing. I also recognize the need to prioritize my time and only engage in activities that are truly meaningful to me. Before I return to the Queen City for this beautiful new year, however, I am beyond thrilled to move to Washington, D.C. for the summer to pursue an internship with a nonprofit organization that holds my heart! It definitely isn’t the same as McMicken at sunset, but I suppose the Washington Monument will do just fine.
"I hope everyone that is reading this is having a really good day. And if you are not, just know that in every new minute that passes you have an opportunity to change that." -Gillian Anderson
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"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." -James 1:5 |