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This story is part of a series of specially designed stories that represents some of the best journalism The Post has to offer. Check out the rest of the special projects here.
RILEY SCOTT
05.30.19
EMILEE CHINN | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Truthfully, I don’t remember much about my time at freshman orientation.
I remember the dancing orientation leaders, Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones talking about pizza and trying to figure out what DARS was to schedule my classes for Fall Semester.
I wasn’t quick to consider Ohio University my home right away. During my time at OU, I feel like everyone else had the epiphany moment when they walked on campus for orientation and realized they had found the place they were meant to be. For me, it took some time to get there.
This is not to say OU isn’t an amazing place; I love everything about the university and Athens. Nothing beats looking out the top floor windows of Alden Library while studying for finals. There are so many local restaurants like Bagel Street Deli, and coffee shops like Court Street Coffee, to find your favorite Athens tastes. When the weather is warm, I like to go for a run on the bike trail or do homework outside of Baker Center.
However, I was hesitant when I first started. I felt like I couldn’t find where I belonged, while everyone else did so easily. I quickly learned to get out of my comfort zone after my freshman year. I got a new roommate (hi Nicole), made new friends, explored new areas of writing at The Post and studied abroad in Italy for a semester.
Now, I cannot imagine going to school anywhere else and consider Athens my second home.
If someone told me at my freshman orientation that I would be editor-in-chief of The Post, I would not have believed them. I couldn’t be more excited to be in this position and for my senior year — I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t explored all the possibilities OU has to offer.
The Orientation Guide from The Post is meant to be a guideline for freshman as they take in their first experience as an OU Bobcat. The Post has been the independent voice on campus and in Athens for over 100 years. Make sure to follow us on Twitter @ThePost, pick up our tabloid every Thursday and subscribe to Post Haste, our daily newsletter.
As you step onto campus for your orientation, you’re going to have a lot of feelings: excitement, anxiety, nervousness. It’s a crazy time in your life where you’re ending an important chapter in your life, but a new one is just beginning.
My advice to you: dive in! Go outside your comfort zone! There is no better time in your life to do it, and your only regret will be not doing it sooner. Try out everything Athens has to offer because, unfortunately, four years will go by quickly.
Ellen Wagner is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University and the editor-in-chief of The Post. Have questions? Email Ellen at ew047615@ohio.edu or tweet her @ewagner19.
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This story is part of a series of specially designed stories that represents some of the best journalism The Post has to offer. Check out the rest of the special projects here.