Part 1: What? So What?
It would be an understatement to say that this year has been tough. On top of my usual commitments beyond the classroom, I served as president of ROAR. Furthermore, I experienced a break up as well as a falling out with a few of my close friends. One of my aunts passed away spring semester, which was the first death in the family I have experienced in my life. Additionally, I started to study for the LSAT spring semester which added another level of stress. However, this year I learned a lot about myself and the way I want to approach my senior year.
One of the most significant relationships I developed this year was with my Bearcat Buddy. During spring semester, I served as a tutor to a 2nd grade student at Hays-Porter Elementary School through UC’s Bearcat Buddies tutoring program. My Bearcat Buddy was extremely motivated. Every week, we got through the assigned lesson quickly and then had leftover time for leisure reading or just talking. I learned a lot about his home life and plans for his future. One of the most heartbreaking moments was when he told me about how he cannot do homework at home because he does not have any school supplies. After that moment, I made sure to bring him some pencils or a fun eraser or a folder almost every visit. He taught me so much about the struggles facing the elementary school students around the Greater Cincinnati area. My biggest hope for him is that his socioeconomic situation does not impede his academic success.
One thing I would change about this year is that I wish I would have lived more in the moment. I was stressed out most of the time worrying about law school or ROAR-related matters that I did not enjoy other things as much as I should have. I did, saw, and attended some really cool things this year and did not realize the impact of these things until after they happened. My goal senior year is to enjoy life and take time to embrace everything I am doing.
Though this school year was one of the toughest I have faced, there were some highlights as well. I had the opportunity to be an Honors Welcome Retreat Leader again—and will continue that trend at the beginning of my senior year. The commercial I was cast in began to air on television during UC athletic events, a week seldom passed without someone sending me a picture of my face on their television screen. I got nominated by ROAR for Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Leadership Honorary—and subsequently got tapped and initiated into ODK. I watched a UC basketball game from the fancy box seats in 5/3 Arena. I went to my first professional basketball game in Cleveland to see the Cavs with my family. I organized ROAR’s first overnight retreat. I earned the Paradise Scholarship with one of my best friends. And began my summer with a study abroad trip to Scotland (reflection coming soon!). This school year, I tried to live through the quote: “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
Part 2: Now What?
I think I have changed this year as I have started to realize my ability to bounce back from failure and hide my struggles. Being in a leadership role on campus, I felt as though I was always being watched—which was sometimes true. Because of this, I felt like I always had to portray an image of perfection. While this began to get tiring when things got tough, it taught me that I can handle a lot of adversity and maintain my resilience in the “public eye.”
Going off of previous sentiments, one piece I would like to give to myself is to live in the moment and appreciate my last year at UC as an undergraduate. To do this, one of my biggest goals this year is to be a little selfish. Throughout my time at UC, I have felt as though I am constantly doing things for other people or my student organizations. While I will continue to remain involved, my goal this year is to take more time for me and the things I enjoy. I would like to dance more, play the piano more, read more, work out more, and make more time for my friends.
I have a feeling senior year will be one of my favorite years at UC and I can't wait to see the adventures this year brings!
It would be an understatement to say that this year has been tough. On top of my usual commitments beyond the classroom, I served as president of ROAR. Furthermore, I experienced a break up as well as a falling out with a few of my close friends. One of my aunts passed away spring semester, which was the first death in the family I have experienced in my life. Additionally, I started to study for the LSAT spring semester which added another level of stress. However, this year I learned a lot about myself and the way I want to approach my senior year.
One of the most significant relationships I developed this year was with my Bearcat Buddy. During spring semester, I served as a tutor to a 2nd grade student at Hays-Porter Elementary School through UC’s Bearcat Buddies tutoring program. My Bearcat Buddy was extremely motivated. Every week, we got through the assigned lesson quickly and then had leftover time for leisure reading or just talking. I learned a lot about his home life and plans for his future. One of the most heartbreaking moments was when he told me about how he cannot do homework at home because he does not have any school supplies. After that moment, I made sure to bring him some pencils or a fun eraser or a folder almost every visit. He taught me so much about the struggles facing the elementary school students around the Greater Cincinnati area. My biggest hope for him is that his socioeconomic situation does not impede his academic success.
One thing I would change about this year is that I wish I would have lived more in the moment. I was stressed out most of the time worrying about law school or ROAR-related matters that I did not enjoy other things as much as I should have. I did, saw, and attended some really cool things this year and did not realize the impact of these things until after they happened. My goal senior year is to enjoy life and take time to embrace everything I am doing.
Though this school year was one of the toughest I have faced, there were some highlights as well. I had the opportunity to be an Honors Welcome Retreat Leader again—and will continue that trend at the beginning of my senior year. The commercial I was cast in began to air on television during UC athletic events, a week seldom passed without someone sending me a picture of my face on their television screen. I got nominated by ROAR for Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Leadership Honorary—and subsequently got tapped and initiated into ODK. I watched a UC basketball game from the fancy box seats in 5/3 Arena. I went to my first professional basketball game in Cleveland to see the Cavs with my family. I organized ROAR’s first overnight retreat. I earned the Paradise Scholarship with one of my best friends. And began my summer with a study abroad trip to Scotland (reflection coming soon!). This school year, I tried to live through the quote: “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
Part 2: Now What?
I think I have changed this year as I have started to realize my ability to bounce back from failure and hide my struggles. Being in a leadership role on campus, I felt as though I was always being watched—which was sometimes true. Because of this, I felt like I always had to portray an image of perfection. While this began to get tiring when things got tough, it taught me that I can handle a lot of adversity and maintain my resilience in the “public eye.”
Going off of previous sentiments, one piece I would like to give to myself is to live in the moment and appreciate my last year at UC as an undergraduate. To do this, one of my biggest goals this year is to be a little selfish. Throughout my time at UC, I have felt as though I am constantly doing things for other people or my student organizations. While I will continue to remain involved, my goal this year is to take more time for me and the things I enjoy. I would like to dance more, play the piano more, read more, work out more, and make more time for my friends.
I have a feeling senior year will be one of my favorite years at UC and I can't wait to see the adventures this year brings!