Tue May 13, 2008
26 in 26
Spring quarter is coming to an end. For some, this is your first spring quarter on campus, and I hope it was great. For others (and for me), this is your last, and I hope you’ve made the most of it. Recently, my friend Michael Donovan sent out a list of 75 things to do in the last 75 days before graduation. I’ve been working through that list the past 49 days and have found it to be a great way to wrap up my college experience. I’ve edited the list down to 26 things to do in the last 26 days before June 8th in the hopes that it will help you think about your experience so far and maybe even help you get the most out of our remaining days here at Ohio State. So without further ado, I present “26 in 26:”
1. Call your parents, tell them you love them and thank them for giving you the opportunity to be where you are in life. It's tacky, I know, but it's still true.
2. Pass all your classes.
3. Do some community service.
4. Go back to your room from freshman year, see who is living there and have a five minute conversation with them, about anything…
5. Leave your cell phone off for an entire day, don't check your email, and if you really feel up for it, don't leave your room. The world can survive with out you for one day, you should take advantage of that while it's still true.
6. Scream O-H on the oval, like a complete freshman, and then laugh at yourself.
7. Eat in the Commons one more time, hate it, then never do it again.
8. Touch Gordon Gee (appropriately…or otherwise…high fives or tooshie squeezes count for this one).
9. Pick one thing about yourself you do not like and change it. It could be losing weight, gaining weight, getting your teeth whitened, being more assertive, whatever—just do it.
10. Pick one thing about yourself you do not like and embrace it. Nobody is perfect, and most bad habits or imperfections are chalked up to "character" if you're successful enough. Example: Presidents and Prime Minister have been drunks or complete jerks, Fortune 500 CEO's can't spell worth a crap, Professors (more often than not) lack a sense of style… Big deal… you're pretty sweet, embrace it, homie.
11. SCREAM! You'll love it, because most of us probably haven't done that in a long time. I mean really let it all out… (Example: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!)
12. Visit the person who was your advisor when you a freshman (maybe it's the same person, but maybe it's not) and let them know how you're doing.
13. Skip class…any of them one day, all of them one day…go frolic on the Oval instead, or frolic in a bar (also fun).
14. Keep it real.
15. Get the mailing addresses, phone numbers and emails of anyone you think you might want to stay in touch with and put them in an Excel database. There is going to come a time when you just want to reach out and "shout someone a holler" (that's hillbilly for "get in touch with them"). If you have all their contact info, it won't just be a nice thought, it will be a nice action.
16. Get in touch with your roommate from freshman year. See what he or she is doing, what's new, and what hasn't changed. Once again, easier for some than others.
17. Go to an OUAB Sponsored Event (calendar available at http://ouab.osu.edu/) You've already paid for it, might as well enjoy it… (I couldn’t resist leaving this one in!)
18. Countdown the days until graduation…26 right now. Don't hide from the fact that it's coming to an end. If you have it visible every day, you'll make the most out of each one. Don't hang out or go out "tomorrow"—you’re running out of tomorrows.
19. Do something you know you are going to regret… Example – Eat a PJ's Fat Sandwich… or two in one sitting.
20. Watch the Ohio State vs. Michigan Documentary that was shown on HBO…preferably whilst wearing a jersey or a buckeye necklace.
21. Pass on some piece of knowledge about something to someone who will be here next year, challenge them to do the same when the time comes for them.
22. Go to the classroom where you first college class was. If you need help, remember you can check it by viewing your schedule for that particular quarter and year. If you want to get bonus points, go during the time your class was held
23. Write a letter to yourself as a freshman in college. Give yourself tips on what to do, what not to do, what you could expect to learn. It should serve you well as a reflective tool. Maybe you'll hang on to it and read it every once in a while and appreciate your college experience more and more each time.
24. Hit the hot tub and the sauna in the RPAC…you deserve it.
25. Find someone who does not know the words to Carmen Ohio and teach them. Do that as many times as you can.
26. Finally, close to dusk one night, take a long, slow walk, by yourself or with your closest friends, all around campus and take it all in.
There you have it—26 things to do in the next 26 days. Enjoy this time—there won’t be another one like it for the rest of your life.
GO BUCKS!
Jake McKim
OUAB President
