Year One
It always made sense to me to go into new situations with zero expectations, because that lessened the possibility of disappointment towards the outcome. Before coming to UC, I avoided imagining scenarios of what could happen or who I could meet just so that when the year finally rolled around, every real experience would not have to measure up to one in my imagination. Naturally, I did have some thoughts of where I wanted the year to go, but looking back, my first year was absolutely a fantastic and intentionally important time of my life, and exceed any expectation (and banished every fear) that I had.
Without a doubt, the year would not have been the same without the friends that I have made and the people I have been honored to meet. From the get-go, I thought my roommate, Morgan, and I would not get along. We were truly polar opposites in every aspect: she was careful with her words and honest, while I preferred lots of chitchat and euphemisms. She preferred interaction only when it was purposeful, while I pursued others for sake of conversation. She was amazing at math and a pro at video games, neither of which have ever been my forte. We had seemingly very little in common, and I would have never expected us to become the best friends that we are today. She is on the right of me in the picture above, dressed as Len Kagamine (a Vocaloid singer); before this year, I had little knowledge of the topics that interested her, like Japanese culture and video games, but I've learned so much from her and it has really opened my mind to understanding people and interests that are truly cool.
Without a doubt, the year would not have been the same without the friends that I have made and the people I have been honored to meet. From the get-go, I thought my roommate, Morgan, and I would not get along. We were truly polar opposites in every aspect: she was careful with her words and honest, while I preferred lots of chitchat and euphemisms. She preferred interaction only when it was purposeful, while I pursued others for sake of conversation. She was amazing at math and a pro at video games, neither of which have ever been my forte. We had seemingly very little in common, and I would have never expected us to become the best friends that we are today. She is on the right of me in the picture above, dressed as Len Kagamine (a Vocaloid singer); before this year, I had little knowledge of the topics that interested her, like Japanese culture and video games, but I've learned so much from her and it has really opened my mind to understanding people and interests that are truly cool.
On the first evening after moving in, Morgan and I attended the Honors social, put on to welcome new students and start some introductions. We were in small groups for a scavenger hunt, and two guys ran to join our group at the last minute. Strangely enough, those latecomers become two of my dearest friends through the year. Kyle is in DAAP, and one of the funniest people I have ever met. Jordan and I clicked immediately, and we have been nearly inseparable ever since. He is intelligent, funny and painfully truthful, three qualities that I respect and appreciate. Without a doubt, I would not have gotten through this year without him.
Along the way, I have been so lucky to meet great people through the Honors program and in my classes. After a few weeks of living in the Honors dorm in Stratford, it was clear that I was living with a fantastic group of people, which is why I chose to showcase them in my Gateway project. My friends and I from the building formed a tightknit group that studied together through the week, and explored Cincinnati on the weekends. Sam and I have a shared love for the medical field, though his interests are in emergency medicine. Alex is a chemical engineering student who loves what he does, and that passion is infectious. Jordan studies graphic design, and balanced out the group's heavy science interests. Luke and I bonded over a shirt that referenced the show Arrested Development, and our similar personalities made us fast friends. Anahita and I became close because of shared backgrounds and shared passions and beliefs, and it was always interesting to see our different approaches to the same conclusion. They all made my year interesting, and without them, I would not have been as invested in our university and the amazing city around us.
Looking back, I'm glad that I wasn't as preoccupied with grades as was in high school. My intentions in studying finally shifted from getting the grade to learning for the sake of learning, and for the first time, I feel that my knowledge could contribute to something greater. This year I figured out that I struggle a lot with textbook-guided learning, which hurt some of my grades in the first semester. Luckily, after talking to professors and a bit of experimentation, I figured out a way to balance experiential and required knowledge. Once again, I owe this to the friends that I made. Pictured to the left, Jordan, Kyle, and my longtime friend Hannah dragged me from stressing about studying to teach me how to play croquet, and it was one of the best days of my life.
Another fun aspect of the year was the excessive use of Snapchat as a primary mode of communication. We Snapchatted each other to get food together, to keep tabs on one another over break, and of basically every squirrel or insect that we saw. To showcase this, under the Year One in Review tab is a slideshow of some of these Snapchats. It's interesting to see that throughout the year, we had been creating images and taking screenshots of some of the most mundane moments that seem like so much fun now that they have happened. I have also asked my friends for some of their favorites to add on to the slideshow, so hopefully it can create multiple perspectives on the year that we shared together.
Another fun aspect of the year was the excessive use of Snapchat as a primary mode of communication. We Snapchatted each other to get food together, to keep tabs on one another over break, and of basically every squirrel or insect that we saw. To showcase this, under the Year One in Review tab is a slideshow of some of these Snapchats. It's interesting to see that throughout the year, we had been creating images and taking screenshots of some of the most mundane moments that seem like so much fun now that they have happened. I have also asked my friends for some of their favorites to add on to the slideshow, so hopefully it can create multiple perspectives on the year that we shared together.
Through the year, I got to participate in different clubs and events which really changed my views on what I can contribute to the world. Being in the First Year Leadership Program gave me the opportunity to cratith a student body presidential campaign. The most important event of the year came through working at Crossroad Health Center and with Bearcat Buddies. Crossroad is an amazing establishment and so far I've learned a lot about the administrative side of health care, while Bearcat Buddies made me realize that I hold interests in teaching and helping children achieve their potentials. After a long and insightful talk with my honors advisor, Kayti, I realized that I owed it to myself to look into more options for not just a career, but for my life. This search was aided by Anahita, who told me about Camp Nuhop in Perrysville, Ohio. After applying and interviewing, I accepted a job for the summer, and I am looking forward to seeing how it affects my pursuits and outlook on life, which I hope to document in this portfolio.
Perhaps the most important event of this year was taking the honors course, Climate Change, with Eric Gruenstein. I had never really given the issue the thought that it deserves, which really does reflect the general urgency surrounding the issue. The subjects discussed and the people that we met who are involved in the movement changed my approach to the issue and truly educated me on the issue. Thanks to the course, I have been able to learn about ways to get involved in the climate change mitigation movement right here in the Cincinnati area.
The most important lesson that I have learned this year is that we never know when someone will change our lives, and more importantly, we don't know how our smallest actions can affect the lives of someone else. Even though I have been at Camp Nuhop for only a few weeks, I've already learned that the way that we are taught to treat people and the expectations that we hold of certain constructs and barriers, specifically in regards to behavior and learning styles. I've realized that I need to take a hard look at the programs that I am involved in, and consider their greater impacts and how I fit into those. As Year Two at the University of Cincinnati quickly approaches, I hope that I can take the lessons that others have taught me and implement them in my daily actions. I absolutely want to get more involved in the educational movements in the Cincinnati area, especially for students with learning differences, and perhaps even get involved with the political aspect of education in urban settings. While I am so thankful to be a part of the Dual Admissions Program, I also realized this part year how important the education system in this country is to me, and that these next three years are my chance to get involved with organizations in Cincinnati, hopefully to stay involved through medical school and beyond.