I just finished one Hell of a semester at Ohio University. After finishing summer classes, I immediately went straight into fall semester of my second year (technically junior credit wise class standing). I was also going in with a new leadership role as president and campus correspondent for Her Campus, an online magazine. I had plans and ideas and was ready to attack the semester. Little did I know this would be a semester full of growth, learning, odd interactions, and the cutting out of major negativity and toxicity in my life. I faced moments of stress and defeat, but saw joy and strength come in return. I have been extremely absent on my own blog with the amount of work I went through this semester, so as promised, here is a recap of my entire past semester: I came into fall semester as an RA alternate meaning that I could be hired at any point or time up until around April of 2019. I was lucky enough to be picked to attend RA summer training that took place 2 weeks before the school year began. Going through training put me at the top of the list of other alternates when it came to hiring an RA mid semester. After training, it was ultimately a waiting game to see who and when the alternates who received training would be offered a position. In the meantime, I lived in Bryan Hall with a random roommate (who deserves her own blog post, but we'll save that for another day...). Classes began August 27th. I would be taking 18 credit hours this semester with my last two core journalism classes in the workload. Starting the semester, I felt like I could handle the added stress and pressure of the difficult course-load and figured I knew enough college "tips" to get me through. Wow I was wrong, classes were difficult and took a lot of time. I also felt this was a hard semester because there wasn't a class that really stuck out to me as one that I enjoyed and loved going to. With RA training and my first week of classes over, my boyfriend Vinny (EX) came down to OU to visit. We had an amazing time spending the long Labor Day weekend together eating, meeting friends and I took Vinny (EX) hammocking for his first time, but also we mainly just took a lot of naps. As the semester continued, I kept grinding on with my school work. At this point of the semester, I was working hard to improve the Ohio University chapter of Her Campus. With many bumps along the way, a completely new team of writers, weekly meetings, emails and events, the work paid off. This semester I edited and published 106 articles and wrote 19 of those articles. At the beginning of October, Vinny (EX) came down for another visit (this time with less naps). After an amazing weekend, I was saddened to go back to the reality of classes, my roommate and the waiting game of becoming an RA. On October 25th, I was walking to my car (I honestly don't remember why) talking on the phone with my mom about the RA winter training that I was offered to do as an alternate earlier in the morning. I noticed that my Apple watch started vibrating out of control. When I finally looked down I saw the email offering me a position as an RA. My watch was going out of control because housing called me to offer me a position instead of RA alternate winter training, along with an email telling me the complex I was hired in. This job honestly saved me. I personally hated being in my room, did not enjoy who I had been living with and was unable to sleep at night with the stress of what I would do for housing in the future year if I was not hired. Due to being hired the Thursday before HallOUween weekend, I was still able to go to the Court Street Block Party and enjoy the weekend with my friends. I went as Post Malone (and yes it was very scary how accurate the costume was). The Sunday and Monday following the weekend I spent packing my entire room and on Tuesday I got the keys to my new dorm (WHICH HAS ITS OWN BATHROOM!) and moved everything I owned in one day. The week following was insane! The day of Halloween I had my first staff meeting with a meeting following that went over all of the information I would need, the site with our paperwork and the requirements I would need to meet by the end of the semester. I quickly put up my "about me" board and then went home for my birthday (which was planned and my supervisor allowed me to go!) I spent my first night back feasting on Chick-fil-A and going shopping at Target and the local craft store. The day of my birthday my family spent time exploring Stone Garden Farm & Village in Richfield, OH and the Everett Covered Bridge in Peninsula, OH and then got a late lunch/early dinner before heading home for cake and gifts. After a fun weekend home I held my first floor meeting with my new residents so that we all had a chance to meet each other! Only a short two weeks later, I went home again for Thanksgiving break. Here are some photos from my time spent at home: Another two short weeks later and I was home once again for an incredibly busy weekend home right before finals week. It was a stressful week leading up to coming home with closing floor meetings, the last Her Campus meeting of the semester, the last staff meeting of the semester and making sure that I worked on the FOUR final papers that were due the Tuesday of finals week, but it was all worth it to have a weekend off. Saturday was a full day spent celebrating Vinny's (EX) graduation!!! And then off to a holiday party for his new job. Finals week was stressful and tiring as per usual, but rewarding since my official grades for the semester were four A's and two A-'s putting me on the Dean's list for the 3rd semester in a row! Closing the dorm down as an RA was actually fast with only minor problems! My staff spent the next morning eating brunch and giving our secret Santa gifts away before we were released to go home. I have absolutely loved the time I have spent as an RA and cannot wait to continue next semester and the following year. As of December 20th, it was announced that Her Campus Ohio U has returned to Pink Level chapter status and I couldn't be more proud of all the hard work everyone did to make it possible. As for this first week home, I've spent my time relaxing before I begin scholarship and internship applications. I'm looking forward to returning to Athens early for more RA training and for my classes to begin. I'm excited to be moving onto a better semester with better, exciting classes, amazing friends who have my back and support me endlessly and a better, improved me ❤️
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