leon bibb, the celebrated cleveland news anchor, bowling green alum, and former trustee of the university once said, "my life really began anew at the age of 17 when i came to this plot of land called bowling green." and, quite frankly, i couldn't agree more. i, too, was a kid of 17 when i first came to bgsu. and i have never been the same. in bowling green i found a second home, a second family, and friends that i will treasure always.
i arrived at bowling green a spanish major, confident that i would one day work for major league baseball teaching all of the spanish-speaking players english. i often shared an anecdote about julian tavarez, a one-time cleveland indian who ate only chicken for an extensive period of time because this was the one of the few english words he knew. i was excited about this vocation. i had plans of learning other languages, finding ways to cross cultures and change the world through language and communication. however, per usual, another plan existed, one far better than my own could ever have been.
and it was all up hill from there. i became a journalism major, a resident advisor, and a falcon for life. i stayed on at bowling green for two masters degrees in addition to my undergraduate degree. i was a house mom for delta tau delta fraternity, active in dance marathon, and held an internship at the wellness connection that remains one of the most important parts of my life, mostly because of the life lessons i learned and the life-long friendships that i made, in addition to the professional experience.
i still go back to bowling green from time to time. it used to be difficult. i think that was because i did not feel like i found where i fit into the world outside of bowling green. to go back was to belong. and to leave was to feel out of place. but now i am able to go back and feel happy, safe, and enjoy the memories that i am surrounded by.
often when i go into town i do my trip down memory lane. i will drive past kreischer where i lived my sophomore, junior, and senior years as a resident advisor. i will then drive past mcdonald, my freshman year res hall. i will loop down south college past a house i lived in for two years, and then drive down clough past the fraternity house. i like to walk around campus. walk through the library to see if the kids working the desk are doing their jobs properly. go through the union and see what art work is on display and if there are any new hoodies in the bookstore. i love to have lunch at el zarape or take some pollyeyes breadsticks home for my family.
campus has changed a lot since i left. saddlemire, the big round building, is no longer. rodgers hall has since been torn down, and i have heard that mcdonald is also slated for demolition down the road. there will be a new basketball arena, new residence halls, and new academic buildings. and while it makes me sad that i won't have that same familiarity with the campus, it makes me proud because my university is growing, needs additional space, and has the funding to do that.
i wish that everyone could be so fortunate to have such a positive university experience. to find a place that just clicked. i loved, learned, and lost while there. i was challenged and changed, hurt and healed while i was there. there are many places that i have enjoyed visiting, but in bowling green i indeed found a second home.
alma mater, hear us,
as we praise thy name,
make us worthy sons and daughters
adding to thy fame.
time will treat you kindly,
years from now you'll be
ever dearer in our hearts,
our university.
from your halls of ivy,
to the campus scene,
chimes ring out with gladness
for our dear bowling green.
when all is just a mem'ry
of the bygone days,
hear our hymn, dear alma mater,
as thy name we praise.
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