Kent read, Kent write, Kent State. That’s what so many students hear when they are telling family and friends they’ve been accepted to, or are committing to, Kent State. Some of the older generations will say something along the lines of “Be safe, you know there was a shooting on that campus.” You just shrug your shoulders and change the subject to what dorm you’re staying in or what major you’ve chosen.
Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, you’re here. There are more black squirrels then people, you can’t find a single parking spot other then out at Dix Stadium and you think “Why is everyone so dressed up?” (wait those are the fashion kids). Campus police are constanty driving around. You will begin to meet people from the same city or state as you, and you learn more about the campus history. When you visit the May 4 Visitors Center, you see how far our school has come.
The air will get cold, and you’ll notice the wind tunnel on campus. Surprise! Our school was actually designed for Arizona…how it ended up here is another story. Snowball fights will take place outside of dorm rooms and girls will still walk across campus in skirts to get to the frats on weekends. You’ll become a coffee drinker, and not pumpkin spice lattes; I mean a black coffee drinker…no cream or sugar or artificial flavorings, just the good ol’ house brew.
You’ll realize the architecture students never leave their lighthouse (Taylor Hall) and the nursing students never leave the study lounges in the library. You will also learn the hard way that no studying actually gets done on the fourth floor of the library. If you didn’t already know, meal plan is pure gold at Kent State. Cherish it and love it; cooking real food sucks.
In the blink of an eye, you’ll be a junior or senior preparing to go abroad for whatever journey your major has planned for you. While you’re there, don’t forget about little Kent State, it’s where you planted your roots and grew. Don’t forget about the little organization you joined, or the friends on your floor freshman year. They’ll be the ones missing you the most when you’re away.
Reminisce because one day you will look back and that day will be graduation. Picture it, sitting in the MACC, Beverly Warren is giving a speech and you’re not listening, you’re day dreaming and remembering your first step on campus. You’re thinking about your first bad exam grade, meeting the love of your life, remembering the biggest heartbreak that you overcame, the friends who are soon to be your future bridesmaids, and that time you went abroad and did stupid things in the streets of Europe. You’ll think about the stupid things, and your biggest accomplishments here.
This was all possible because of Kent State.
Kent read, Kent write, Kent State? More like excellence in action. This school provides so many opportunities and resources. I couldn’t be more thankful to have chosen to start my journey here. Some students transfer, or decided after freshman that year college isn’t for them. Kent State changed me for the better.
Thank you Kent State, for teaching me to work hard. Thank you Kent State, for the help, assistance and for your amazing professors that remind me everyday I chose a great major. Thank you Kent State, for having so many student organizations that allow me to write an article like this one. Thank you for this experience, it was four years, but it was the best four years of my life and I couldn’t be more appreciative for everything that you have given to the student body.