A Journey Towards Success
Let ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? be part of your journey!
By Ligia Lundine

A year ago, I left family and friends in my native country of Guatemala, and I came to Columbus, Ohio, with very few belongings but great expectations. Like all of you, I saw in Ohio State the opportunity to reach my full potential as a student, and to succeed as a productive member of society.

When my husband and I were searching for universities, we both came to the conclusion that Ohio State had everything we wanted. Solid academic departments, extraordinary research accomplishments in basic and applied research, and an experienced and committed faculty are just some examples of what makes Ohio State a leading academic institution.

With 170 areas of study and 12,000 courses, Ohio State is currently the largest university in the United States and one of the top 25 public universities in the country. Now that you are here, be proud of your first achievement. You are part of Ohio State!

While some of you will adapt easily to your new environment at Ohio State, for others this new experience will test your stamina and determination to face new challenges, as well as your ability to live independently, perhaps for the first time. In your journey towards success, you are not alone. Ohio State has many resources to help you make the adjustment to college. One of those is the First-Year Experience, an initiative created by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to enhance your first year in college. In this issue we include more information about this program.

One of the best things to do is to get involved! Enrich your college years by participating in one of the 11 Latin@ organizations or the many other student organizations on campus. In this issue, you will find more information about them. Furthermore, Ana Berríos of Career Connections, will discuss the value of decision-making and the importance of participating in extra-curricular activities in order to plant the first seeds to develop a successful academic and professional career.

But remember to take your time! The art of prioritizing your time among the demands of studying, perhaps working, and extra-curricular activities can be difficult sometimes, and if it is not handled appropriately it might lead to anxiety and frustration. In this issue you will learn from Cristine Masters and Ernesto Escoto how to deal with stress-related concerns.

Also, learn about the system! Ohio State is a great institution with extensive resources. The key is to learn how things work. During my first year as an employee at Ohio State, I learned that even when the systems appear complex it is up to us to learn and take advantage of available resources. ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? will provide you with some tools that can help you in this process.

Finally, get inspired! Ohio State is the place to fulfill your dreams. In our section of profiles, you will hear stories from students, faculty and alumni who, just like you at times, went through a period of doubt and adjustment, but who were able to confront those challenges and transform them into character-building experiences. This progression is reflected on our cover, where Vanessa Boss, a first-year student, Carlos Araníbar, a senior student, Raquel Raíces, a Ph.D. student, and Dr. Fernando Unzueta, Chair of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, perfectly illustrate a path to follow and a journey towards success!

The Ohio State Latin@ community welcomes you to the 2004-2005 academic year. Let ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? be part of your journey.