3/5. Over halfway complete, surreal really. Although it feels as though I have so much time left in school, I really don't have much left. I have completed five semesters of classes and currently am on my third semester of co-op working in Cincinnati, leaving only two more co-op semesters and three semesters of classes before I am forced out into the real world. Thinking about after college is overwhelming - where do I want to live? In Cincinnati? Chicago? California? Where do I want to work? I am more than thankful for the co-op opportunity provided to me through UC which have given me these opportunities to network and reassure my Architecture and Engineering passions.
This year has been a year I have really focused on challenging myself and testing my limits. I have becoming more involved around campus; I am a CEAS Ambassador, a member of Student Safety Board, and I am the Vice President of Recruitment for Panhellenic. VPR has become such a passion of mine. To be on the community's Panhellenic Executive Board and be able to lead and organize all recruitment for every chapter and the community is exciting and challenging when doing in conjunction with my course load and social life, but that is what I love to do. I think this year I learned the value of involvement. Being able to step into a new environment and outside of your comfort zone to utilize and develop your talents to better the community is very rewarding. I have met and developed many friendships that I would not have without what I am involved in, and it allows me to focus on something outside of class and exams and projects and homework.
I have been pushing myself outside of UC as well. I recently just completed a 1/3 Ironman Duathalon - which is a 5k run, 36 mile bike ride, and then a 15k run. It was by far one of the most physically exhausting things I have ever put myself through, but I had my three best friends and supporters by my side completing it with me. I have always been an active person, but I never thought of myself as one to compete in a race like this, and it was so empowering to be surrounded by a very supportive community. When you all struggle together, you are so much more supportive of one another, which is something I have missed ever since playing highschool soccer. The team mentality in these races despite the actual race being an individual sport is incredible. I am blessed to have friends that inspire and push me to do these things so far out of my imagination. I think that is something we all need.
And third, i have been pushing my own wildest dreams and imagination through adventure and travel. From reading my other post of years past, you can probably see that travel is a deep passion of mine. Stemming from the open mindedness and support of my parents, i have developed the desire and love for other people and cultures around the world, and I am constantly seeking to explore new beauties and cultures all over. I am thankful to have parents who support, encourage, and bring me along with their own travels to immerse me in what I love to do. This past winter of 2017/2018, my family and I traveled to Egypt on a Nile River Cruise and Jordyn to explore the beauty of the ancient city of Petra. Both of these places were unreal; to be able to the the towering Pyramids of Giza while riding a camel in the desert, to being inches away from a mummified King Tut, to floating in the Dead Sea covered in mud, these countries showed me a world of ancient history I had experienced before. To be remembering back to all I learned about Egypt in grade school, and then to be able to see everything in person was so surreal. Everything came to life, greater than I could have imagined it when I was learning about it. The historical exploration and travel did not stop there though; over Spring Break, I traveled to Europe going to Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. These places too, although not as old as Egypt, had great history and beauty. Riding along the canals in Amsterdam and visiting the Ann Frank House was one of my favorite things my sister and I did. Thinking back again, I remember reading the Diary of Ann Frank, and to have that come to life walking through that house and hearing audio clips from the book was incredible. There is so much information and history and beauty every country offers and getting to explore that in person is life changing.
Moving forward into this next year, I want to continue this goal of pushing myself in everything I do. From hands on experience, I know that people grow the most when they are outside their comfort zone. While it may be a cliche, it is not often actually executed, and the phrase it much easier tossed out than actually done. To do this I will need to continue to surround myself with people wanting to do the same, to grow and strive to push their own limits and support me in mine.