Year 2

For my second year of college, I stayed at CSU determined to push aside the idea of transferring and give the campus every chance to feel like home. I threw myself into involvement, earning a spot on the A team for Club Tennis, running the team’s Instagram, keeping my starting position on the Women’s Club Soccer team, and staying active in the TRIO program. I traveled to tournaments across Ohio and even to the USTA campus in Orlando, and for a while, it felt like things were finally clicking.

By midterms, though, I felt burnt out and still searching for something that truly fulfilled me. I wanted a campus with energy, school spirit, and opportunities that matched my goals. I remember coming home from a long day of work, classes, and tennis practice and realizing I wasn’t excited for tomorrow. I needed a place where I could grow at my own pace, pursue a major that aligned with my passion for community health, and feel connected to the campus around me.

The next day, I researched every public university in Ohio—and UC stood out immediately. It offered the city environment I loved, a mid‑sized campus, strong job placement and internship opportunities, and a growing public health program. With support from my family, I applied quietly and felt a spark of excitement I hadn’t felt in a long time.

The transition was smooth. A friend helped me move out, and I spent winter break preparing for my new start. My first semester at UC began in the spring, giving me time to settle in, focus on myself, and build a new routine. I tried new workout classes, joined an intramural team, and slowly formed a new community. I applied to switch my major to Public Health, submitted applications for internships and leadership roles, interviewed for a social media coordinator position, and even applied for a summer study abroad. I got accepted into the Public Health program, got a position as social media coordinator for NSLS, got accepted for the Scandinavia Public Health Study Abroad, and earned my first internship at Sandusky County Public Health as the Environmental Health Intern. I took online summer classes and set up my first fall semester at Cincinnati to finally put myself in the place I always wanted to be. 

By the end of this year, I understood that growth sometimes requires change.