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Ohio State Alumni > Student-Alumni Council > SAC Blog

2/16/2012

New Member: Mike Mikola

Name: Michael (Mike) Mikola

Year: Sophomore

Major: Sports and Leisure Studies

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

 

-Why did you pick Ohio State?

I came to Ohio State because of their outstanding education reputation and because I grew up in Columbus always knowing I was truly a Buckeye.

 

-Why did you decided to join SAC?

I joined SAC because I was in an organization similar to it at Ohio University and knew that I needed to be in it.

 

-What direction do you face in the shower?

It depends, if I’m in singing mode towards it because it is my microphone, if I’m not away from it.

 

-Name three celebrities that you would;

*Sky-dive with: Mila Kunis.  It would be the first of many dates with her.

 

*Sing Karaoke with: Will Ferrell.  Because his voice is a combination of Fergie and Jesus, and mine is more like Rebecca Black and Scotty Diamond (SAC’s own).

 

*Go to lunch with: Zach Galifianakis.  See reasoning for Mila Kunis but sub out her for him.

 

-What is one thing on your bucket list of things to do before you graduate?

Before I graduate I want to go outside of the United States with a close group of friends and do OHIO so we can be in that OSU commercial.

 

-Name your favorite childhood TV show.

BOY MEETS WORLD.

 

-Pick a song to Karaoke to.

Backstreet Boys- Backstreets Back.  Duh.

 

-What is once place that you want to visit?

I have always wanted to visit Rio De Janeiro, Brazil just because it has the big city vibe but is not in the United States, and it is absolutely beautiful there.

 

-Who is your SAC crush?

Justin Spence.  Ever since he tried to tackle me through a door I knew we were meant to be.  Just don’t tell him.

 

-What is your favorite place on campus?

Ohio Stadium.  Reason being is I idolized it as a kid and I still get chills walking into it.  Being around it before game time is just magical.  Nothing can beat that feeling.

 

-What is your favorite color pen to write with?

Black.  No reason why though.

 

-Do you prefer gloves or mittens?

Gloves.  I feel so restricted in mittens.

Posted at 5:09 PM by OSUAA\SAC | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (1)
New Member: Leah Alexander

Name: Leah Alexander

Year: Freshman

Major: Biology/Pre-Med             

Hometown: Largo, Florida

 

-Why did you pick Ohio State?

My dad went to Medical School here and so I was basically born and raised on the campus. I couldn’t see myself anywhere else!

 

-Why did you decided to join SAC?

I wanted to become involved in a well-known and active organization. SAC is extremely involved on campus and has amazing leadership opportunities within the club and also many opportunities for the future. 

 

-What direction do you face in the shower?

Away from the water??

 

-Name three celebrities that you would;

Sky-dive with: Justin Bieber

            Sing Karaoke with: Kristen Wiig

            Go to lunch with: Rachel McAdams

 

-What is one thing on your bucket list of things to do before you graduate?

Travel to Europe

 

-Name your favorite childhood TV show.

Lizzie McGuire

 

-Pick a song to Karaoke to.

It’s Raining Men

 

-What is once place that you want to visit?

Australia

 

-Who is your SAC crush?

Taryn Weiss…..

 

-What is your favorite place on campus?

The sloppy donkey (just kidding) but probs the RPAC

 

-What is your favorite color pen to write with?

Pink!

 

-Do you prefer gloves or mittens?

Gloves, hands down (haha)

 

Posted at 5:09 PM by OSUAA\SAC | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (1)
New Member: Brian Derrick

Name: Brian Derrick

Year: First Year

Major: Public Health

Hometown: Loveland, Ohio

 

-Why did you pick Ohio State?

I chose Ohio State for the students! When I visited I found a passion in the students here that I couldn’t find anywhere else. It was truly contagious and I wanted to be a part of it. The amazing opportunities, academics, and traditions didn’t hurt either

 

-Why did you decided to join SAC?

I first considered SAC because I had some friends in the organization and they encouraged me to attend some meetings. When I started coming on Thursdays in October, I loved it! I applied to SAC because I identified with the mission of promoting the University and its students, alumni, and friends.

 

-What direction do you face in the shower?

I turn in circles.

 

-Name three celebrities that you would;

Sky-dive with: Amy Poehler

 

             Sing Karaoke with: Tina Fey

 

              Go to lunch with: Blake Mycoskie

 

-What is one thing on your bucket list of things to do before you graduate?

I have a huge Ohio State bucket list, and the more I learn about OSU, the more I add. One of the top items on my list is to be invited to dinner at Gordon Gee’s house.

 

-Name your favorite childhood TV show.

Arthur

 

-Pick a song to Karaoke to.

Adele – Someone Like You

 

-What is once place that you want to visit?

Nepal

 

-Who is your SAC crush?

Christine Kaiser

 

-What is your favorite place on campus?

The Union (especially the Center for Student Leadership and Service) I pretty much live there.

 

-What is your favorite color pen to write with?

Green

 

-Do you prefer gloves or mittens?

Gloves

Posted at 5:08 PM by OSUAA\SAC | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (1)
New Member: Ashley Forsythe

Name: Ashley Forsythe

Year: 1st year

Major: Finance

Hometown: Lewis Center, Ohio

 

-Why did you pick Ohio State?

I decided to attend Ohio State because of the tradition, loyalty and the academic excellence (plus I LOVE Ohio State football!!)

 

-Why did you decided to join SAC?

I wanted to join an organization that played a big role within the University.  I liked how it strived to create loyalty and spirit within its current students and connected to alumni.

 

-What direction do you face in the shower?

It depends…If I am washing my hair I face the wall and if I’m washing my body I face the water.

 

-Name three celebrities that you would;

*Sky-dive with: Jackie Chan because he would do some awesome moves in the air

 

*Sing Karaoke with: Beyoncé, because her voice would over power mine and you wouldn’t be able to hear it.

               

*Go to lunch with: Rachel Ray, so she could cook me amazing food

 

-What is one thing on your bucket list of things to do before you graduate?

Go in the bell tower of Orton hall

 

-Name your favorite childhood TV show.

Barney

 

-Pick a song to Karaoke to.

I can’t sing at all so I most likely would never karaoke

 

-What is once place that you want to visit?

Italy

 

-Who is your SAC crush?

I feel like I can’t have one since I’ve had the same boyfriend for over 4 years

 

-What is your favorite place on campus?

The Horseshoe

 

-What is your favorite color pen to write with?

Turquoise

 

-Do you prefer gloves or mittens?

Gloves

Posted at 5:08 PM by OSUAA\SAC | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (1)

1/5/2012

Pay it Forward SAC By: Rachel Carlsen

Student-Alumni Council: Paying It Forward is one of SAC’s newest programs. It is inspired by the Woody Hayes quote “You can never pay back, but you can always pay forward.”  It involves handouts and initiatives across campus that anyone can benefit from.  Paying it Forward is an exercise in stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. It is easy and common to walk around campus, ignoring your fellow students, faculty and staff. It is painless to have the only nice thing you do be to smile when you make eye contact. But doing the bare minimum is not what Paying it Forward, and not what Ohio State, is about. The Ohio State community prides itself on the sense of community it possesses; Paying it Forward is merely a tangible expression of that sensation.

            It is said of service work that the volunteer gets as much out of the experience than the person they are helping. This same principle applies to Paying it Forward because making someone else’s day in turn makes your day. I’ll be honest, going to a handout makes me nervous every time and this is my position. But after a few minutes the fear of putting myself out there with people I’ve never seen before disappears when I see how responsive people are. The expressions on their face or the thanks one receives are so genuine. Being nice to one another is an Ohio State value, and Paying it Forward lives it.

            But Paying it Forward is not just about giving things away. It strives to disseminate the message of random acts of kindness across campus. Essential to every Paying It Forward program is some attribute that encourages the recipient to fulfill the purpose of the program: to pay it forward. One of the best examples of this is the cookie pass out that occurred this fall. Students were given two cookies and instructed to give the second cookie to someone they passed. I was unsure as to whether or not the students would actually follow through; if you gave me two cookies, I would be tempted to eat both. However, one SAC member tried to give a pack of cookies to someone and he told her that he already received one from someone she had just given a pack to. Moments like that show how responsive and great Buckeyes are.

            The goal of Paying it Forward is to remind others of the propensity for neighborliness and kindness they have inside them.  Paying it Forward in one’s everyday life is not always about giving things away; we make these grand gestures so that others will remember the smaller ones.  Paying it Forward is about complimenting someone, holding the elevator, telling a professor you appreciate them, giving someone in line with you the change they need to cover their purchases, and the thousands of other feats people can commit to make the world a friendlier place. And of course, the real application of Paying it Forward’s principles will be to use the education we receive at Ohio State to enhance the world at large.

Posted at 4:21 PM by OSUAA\SAC | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (1)

11/7/2011

How Firm Thy Friendship By: Zachary Cordner

Oh! Come, let's sing Ohio's praise...

I stepped onto the Oval in the fall of 2000, looking west as the sun set over mirror lake and William Oxley Thompson Library. As I took the first of many “Long Walks,” the chimes from Orton Hall struck the hour and I watched as students from virtually every town in Ohio and every corner of the globe, busy with interests as diverse as their cultures, passed each other united by various shades of scarlet and gray; I had found a University I could proudly call home.

During my years at Ohio State, I studied Biochemistry and Integrative Medicine, but through my experiences, I learned far more. With the support of dear friends, caring mentors, and a nurturing University I discovered my aspirations, broadened my perspectives, and found my passion outside of the classroom in SAC.

Time and change…

Since graduating from Ohio State, I have moved on to study medicine, psychiatry, and genetics as I pursue an MD/PhD from the Johns Hopkins University. My hope, founded on experiences from Ohio State and growing up in a small town in the foothills of Appalachia, is to provide evidence-based, personalized care to the underserved elderly, and it has always been a dream of mine that I might again someday call Ohio State home.

I’ve occasionally returned to Ohio State for another “Long Walk” or a Saturday in the Horseshoe, and I’ve watched the campus transform, just as it does with every passing generation of students. And though the Oval now is filled with bright new faces, beautiful new buildings, and exciting new traditions, Alumni will forever be connected to Ohio State, and the heritage of our Alma Mater will always be a part of
our lives.

In the SAC spirit,
Zachary Cordner
B.S. ‘08

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Study Abroad in Siena By: Erin Mischler
As I lay in the Rome airport trying to sleep and wondering why I hadn't shelled out the extra 100 euro for a hotel, I began to think about all of the adventures I'd been on over the past two months.  The bulk of my trip had been spent studying abroad in in Siena, Italy.  Arriving in Siena felt like I had walked onto a  movie set.  My first few days were spent taking pictures of anything and everything I saw because it was all incredibly picturesque.  Throughout the following weeks I practiced my Italian, watched one of the most incredible horse races that began in medieval times, and ate the best food I had ever had in my life (thanks to Luciana the woman I stayed with).  Of course, it was not all fun and games.  For example, the quaint hills of Tuscany are beautiful but start to be a pain (literally) when you walk up and down them to school every day.  More of a pain was being stranded for a day and night due to a train strike.  But honestly, who am I kidding?  The summer I spent studying abroad in Italy and afterwards exploring other countries in Europe was the best summer of my life, and knowing I was coming home to a Buckeye fall made me determined to continue living the dream during my senior year.
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A Summer in Ecuador By: Naomi David
This summer I traveled to Quito, Ecuador to immerse myself in both the culture and language of the beautiful country. Ecuador was so kind to me. I was there for ten weeks and there was not one day where I wanted to go home back to the United States. I lived with a host family, had Spanish class everyday, and explored the entire country. I could write for days about my amazing experience, but I would like to think that those three sum up my trip pretty well.

My host family was amazing. I lived in a house with a dad, mom, and two brothers. After growing up in a household as the oldest child with only one sister, being the youngest of two brothers was something that took some getting used to. However, I think that traveling abroad is about learning how to adapt to certain situations and running with it. My dad was the owner of his own electrical company. His work and tennis consumed the majority of his time, but he made sure to eat breakfast with me almost every morning. He liked to test me on United States history in Spanish. Needless to say, I became a better Spanish speaker after speaking about World War II and why Americans celebrate the 4th of July. My mom was unbelievable. Think of the kindest person you know and multiply that by one-hundred and you get my mom. She cooked for me, took care of me when I was sick, and turned her home into my home on the very first day. She loved having a girl in the house, and she treated me like her very own daughter. My brothers acted as if I was truly a part of the family. Rodolfo and Jose Luis took me under their wing, showed me the ropes of Ecuador, and treated me like their younger sister. I became close with them very quickly and the time flew way too fast when we were together.

My Spanish classes were great. It is great to live in a country where they only speak Spanish and then take classes in the same subject. I would like to think that my Spanish improved a great deal thanks to that. My teachers, Mario and Veronica, were incredible educators and made the transition into a new country and new class style very easy. Saying goodbye to them was awfully difficult.

Traveling around the country was probably my favorite part of the trip. The coolest thing about Ecuador is that when you get tired of the city, all you have to do is hop on a bus, drive for an hour, and you are in a completely different area. The buses cost less than $6 and transportation is accessible and easy. I traveled to the beach, to the mountain area, to the oldest city in Ecuador, to the hot springs, and to the indigenous market all during my time there. I have a hard time keeping my feet on the ground because of my love for traveling, so the fact that it was so easy was a huge plus.

I am nothing but thankful for my study abroad experience. Learning the language, witnessing a different lifestyle, and seeing and traveling around a beautiful country made this summer one that I will never forget!
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10/7/2011

My Summer Abroad By: James Larcus

Coming in as a freshman to The Ohio State University, I was lost. I felt as if there was so much going on, and I wanted to be a part of it all. Luckily, I had the mentorship of a few great seniors to help guide me through these “challenging” days. Since most of my mentors my freshman year were seniors, I made it a point to ask each of them two important questions: What was the best part of your OSU experience? What was the one thing you “regret” about your OSU experience? Surprisingly, the answer that was consistent for either one was study abroad.

 

After the message of study abroad was planted in my head, I decided to look more into it. I knew that with the looming semester change that the summer after my sophomore year would be the time to do it. I decided to go to the study abroad fair here at school with the desire for a sport management internship in an English speaking country. Not too specific right? Well, to my amazement, I found a company that had a program that fit all of these criteria. I moved through the application process, and made my plans to leave.

 

My study abroad experience was to take place in Australia, and I left two weeks after our last finals. I was quite nervous not only traveling to a new continent, but also starting a job with a company I knew nothing about. In the end however, it turned out to be the best experience I could have ever asked for. My study abroad experience included working for a small fitness center in Sydney Australia. Here, I helped in administrative duties, trained clients, as well as helped in the promotion and opening of a new branch of the gym.

 

Not only did I grow professionally, but I grew just as much personally. I grew to love the culture and nature of the people. I had to chance to travel and try new things. Overall, I came back in a better place personally after my trip.

 

I can now see why my mentors answered those two tough questions the way they did.

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Student Leadership Conference and Medicine and Healthcare By: Kevin Smidt

I have spent the past two summers working for the National Student Leadership Conference and Medicine and Healthcare in Washington, D.C. When I was first hired a year and a half ago, I had no idea what to expect from the program. I remembered receiving invitations to attend the program as a high school student and thinking, "Oh, this looks like a great opportunity!" Unfortunately, the cost of the program coupled with summer football practices excluded my candidacy. Working for the NSLC, however, has been a tremendous experience. As a first year Team Advisor for the program, I was responsible for guiding a small group of 12-16 students through their NSLC experience. I connected really well with many of the students as I was only entering my sophomore year of college. I still talk to some of students to this day!


This past summer, I worked as the Head Team Advisor for the program. This experience was a little different than the previous in the sense that I had a bit more administrator duties including hiring and training interns and working with the Program Director on the logistics and dynamics of each session. It was another amazing summer in our nations's capitol. I also had the opportunity to work with SACer's Justin Spence, Ben Johnston, and Ryan Brown. It was great to spend my summer with some of my best friends while impacting the lives of hundreds of high school students. It was an experience we will all share for the rest of our lives!

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