I’ve known I was going to attend Ohio University since I was a child, but I could never have imagined how life-changing my time here would truly be. I came to this school with the normal expectations of having the “college experience,” but as these four years have gone by, I’ve recognized that the “college experience” is not one-size-fits-all.
For me, the college experience was about personal growth and finding myself through the experiences I had.
I grew up in a small town along the Ohio River called Wheelersburg, where there weren’t very many things to do. When I came to college, it was my mission to experience as many new things as possible.
I remember going to the involvement fair as a freshman and being overwhelmed by the number of organizations on campus. I wanted to do everything, but I didn’t want to bite off more than I could chew, so I went to a few introductory meetings for organizations I was interested in.
Later, I ended up finding the OU chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, where I immediately felt accepted. I’ve been a part of OU SPJ for four years, and I can’t thank OU SPJ enough for the experiences it has provided me, one of which as the elected president this past year.
My experiences with OUSPJ have taught me to be a leader, mentor and most importantly, a friend. I will forever cherish the relationships I have built through this organization.
At the time, our OU SPJ vice president was participating in the Scripps Semester in DC, and once I learned about the program, I was hooked. I knew I wanted to participate in that program sometime during my time here.
My junior year, it was time for me to go to Washington DC, where I completed my internship at the National Fisheries Institute. I was able to work alongside a former OU SPJ president, which made my internship experience that much sweeter.
Moving away from Ohio, the only state I’d ever lived in, was a huge step for me. This program pushed me to grow personally and professionally. I struggled with homesickness during my time in DC, but I pushed myself to stay and experience what the city and people there had to offer, and I’m glad I did.
I had the opportunity to learn about different cultures, perspectives and industries, all of which broadened my horizons. This experience also helped me learn to focus on myself and the goals I want to pursue.
It was a pivotal step I knew I needed to take, even when I felt uncomfortable. Many times, the experiences that push us to take a leap of faith turn out to be the most rewarding. I can confidently say my experience in DC reflects this.
Aside from my experiences with student organizations and academics, I have also been blessed to experience amazing friendships that will last a lifetime. Friendships are the backbone of the college experience. I am blessed to have friends who encourage me to chase my dreams and support my efforts to pursue my goals.
These friendships have made me a better friend by teaching me the importance of empathy, trust and acceptance in a friendship. They’ve also taught me how to take accountability and grow from my mistakes – a skill that is needed in every aspect of life.
As I move on and into the real world, I will hold my experiences at OU close to my heart because they have helped me grow into the person I am today. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my college experience. Athens will forever be a home to me.
Lilly Marinski is a senior studying journalism strategic communications at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Lilly Marinski about their column? Message them at @LMarinski.
