We all came to Ohio University knowing our lives would change. However, it wasn’t until today, as I’m sitting here and reflecting on these past four years, that I truly understood the magnitude to which being a Bobcat would change me.
I never knew that I would meet a group of people who I now can’t imagine my life without… people who, in a few short weeks, will all be on seperate sides of the country.
I never knew my every thought would be challenged and my entire worldview would change.
I never knew how precious my pre-college relationships are – they have shown me what it really means to support and love one another, through the good times and the bad.
Most of all, I never knew it was possible for one small town in the middle of Appalachia to slowly and surely become my home.
Four years ago, I made it my number one goal to make the most of these years. As a freshman, I soaked in every single piece of advice given to me: get involved, get internships, stay in Athens for a summer, take a class for fun, get to know the town, study abroad… the list goes on and on. What I’ve learned is that each of these chunks of advice have tied together and actually changed who I am and how I see myself in this world. Every opportunity for growth can be traced back to one single decision I made here at Ohio University… joining PRSSA.
This is a place where I was not only given opportunities to grow as a professional, but also meet people that changed the absolute trajectory of my life. Through this organization, I’ve been exposed to so many different ways of thinking and situations that have challenged me for the better. I’ve not only grown as a professional, but as a friend, a woman, a sister, a daughter, a Bobcat and so much more.
As the inscription on alumni gateway says, “So enter that daily thou mayest grow in knowledge wisdom and love.” These words symbolize everything Ohio University has been to me. When I first marched through those arches on August of 2015, I never knew that leaving the bricks and walking away from all of you would be so hard.
Brigitte Meisse is a graduating journalism-strategic communication major. She is also the outgoing 2018-2019 President of Scripps PRSSA. Follow her post-grad adventures on Twitter @meisse2spicy