A Blog on McConnell Center Life

By Megan Crowley Earlier this year, in the midst of my annual summer-break related free time, I read Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library – a book which, despite its apparent promise, had been collecting dust on my bookshelf since the previous December. The plot is fairly simple: after she attempts to end her life, a depressed, 30-something Nora Seed must relive and undo every decision she regrets. In her quest to recover the elusive “perfect life,” she realizes the value and possibilities of her life in her own reality. Indeed, following her life-altering ordeal, the main character opines that: “It takes no effort to miss the friends we didn’t make and the work we didn’t do and the people we didn’t marry and the children we didn’t have. It is not difficult to see yourself through the lens of other people, and to wish you were all the different kaleidoscopic versions of you they wanted you to be… But it is not the lives we regret not living that are the real problem. It is the regret itsel...

By Joe Wilson Life in your early twenties can be quite peculiar, don't you think? It's a phase when you find yourself straddling the line between adolescence and adulthood. Meanwhile, the questions that have swirled in the back of your mind for years suddenly demand answers: What career do I want to pursue? Where do I want to live? What kind of person do I want to become? These questions hold the power to shape the trajectory of our lives, so it is an anxiety-inducing experience to grapple with all of them at such a young age. Whenever I encounter this pressure, I often turn to the words of the people I most admire. I keep a notebook full of my favorite quotes from famous writers, politicians, and other historical figures for whenever I need encouragement or inspiration. Here is a selection of just some of the words of wisdom that have guided me through my college career. “The will must be stronger than the skill.” –Muhammad Ali Starting a new project is always exciting, be it ...

By Jack Moseley      On June 3rd, 2017, Alex Honnold approached the base of El Capitan, the iconic 3,000-foot-tall sheer granite cliff in Yosemite, and made history. In just under four hours, he climbed this stupendous rock formation without ropes or tethers. The New York Times subsequently described the climb as “One of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever” (Duane, 2017). Honnold’s astonishing ascent was chronicled in eerie detail by some of his greatest friends, culminating in the 2018 Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo. Almost instantly, this vertigo-inducing film gained immense popularity, bringing unprecedented mainstream attention to the sport.       This daring ascent, as portrayed in the documentary, transcends the boundaries of mere athleticism to delve into the human psyche's deep-seated need to confront mortality, challenge personal limitations, and seek profound understanding amidst life's inherent dangers.       ...

By Allie Rose Phillips 1. Don’t stress so much about classes and school. It’s okay to enjoy college and enjoy the new city that you are living in. Class and schoolwork can still be completed without living in the library 24/7. Your health—both mental and physical—is more important than completing an assignment. 2. You are going to miss your home and family and it’s okay. You are at school to work toward your future and your family is going to support you the whole way. You will wish you were at home with your family, but you will visit them so much over the school year. They will even come and visit you multiple times when you get too busy to travel home.  3. Random roommates are not a good idea. You should room with friends and people you know to have the best experience with roommates.  4. You are going to make so many great friends. Don’t be scared and worry about being alone at college. 5. You are not behind on completing your goals. There are many ways to get to one place...

By Piper Coleman Around the time of my fourteenth birthday my mom gave me a copy of Joan Didion’s essay collection entitled “Slouching Towards Bethlehem.” Upon first glance, it seemed to be a book about California and the ‘60’s. I placed it on my shelf, not wanting to discard a gift but also not wanting to waste my time on a book that seemed to have little to offer. I don't recall exactly what sparked my interest in the book later that year, but I will never forget being mesmerized by Didion’s writing style: a seamless combination of Hemingway and Faulkner—an oscillation between concise statements and sentences that seem to go on forever. “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” expands a wide range of topics, most of which I knew nothing about, and yet I could not stop underlining and dog-earing and circling. I have re-read nearly all of the essays, and you will scarcely find a page that is not marked up.  I am now three days away from my twentieth birthday, and I recently re-read the book’s...

By Shelby Disney In the not-too-distant past, I failed to appreciate the significant impact that teachers have on students' lives. It is easy for many people to view educators as mere facilitators of learning, but over time, we come to realize just how much power they hold in shaping our futures. Education is a potent tool that shapes both individuals and society as a whole. The influence of teachers extends far beyond the confines of the classroom and reaches into every aspect of our personal and professional lives. They play a crucial role in molding future leaders, doctors, lawyers, police officers, preachers, and educators. Emilie du Chatelet once said, "love of learning is the most necessary passion… in it lies our happiness. It’s a sure remedy for what ails us, an unending source of pleasure." One remarkable impact that educators have on their students is their ability to ignite a deep love for learning. When teachers are passionate about their subjects and possess ...

By Greta Noble There is a tangible excitement that fills the streets of Cincinnati, Ohio the first week of September. The Great American crown turns orange just as the leaves begin to do the same. The city shifts from “Take me out to the ball game” to “Welcome to the Jungle” in a matter of days. The beginning of the NFL season is the beginning of cozy Sundays in front of the TV cheering on the team that has brought passion back to the city I've called home. While I’ve never been the biggest football fan and you could probably call me a Joe Burrow bandwagon, I've always looked forward to this first week of September. This was never because of my love of the sport but rather my love of the food that accompanies it. I have grown up looking forward to the smell of my dad's homemade mac and cheese, my brother's buffalo chicken dip, and my mom's grape jelly meatballs when I walk down the stairs on a Sunday morning.  John Noble Macaroni and Cheese  Grape Jelly Meatballs  B...

By Logan Bibby      On May 24th, I traveled with the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS) to Costa Rica, where I would stay until June 21st. We would stay in three cities in the western half of the country: La Fortuna, Sámara, and La Paz. If I were to break up the trip into four parts, I would say we divided our time between service, excursions, classes, and bonding. The first six days were split between two cities called La Fortuna and Sámara. Our time there was focused on service, excursions, and bonding; we learned about the communities through visits to places such as Volcán Arenal and Sámara Beach, along with volunteer work at a local organization called CREAR. Our service with CREAR was especially wonderful as we were able to beautify a local elementary school with children who attended the school and their families! We had time to get to know each other, learn about the school system in Costa Rica, and work to benefit the community simultaneously. I ...

By William VonHandorf        As a kid who grew up in Northern Kentucky only fifteen minutes away from Cincinnati, there is one musician who I clearly remember listening to growing up. He had a special connection to Cincinnati and its extended family in Northern Kentucky for many reasons, but mostly because his career and fanbase exploded in that city. His concert was one of my personal favorites, and I am truly heartbroken that I will never see him play live again. The man I am referring to is Jimmy Buffett, who died on September 1st. Jimmy Buffett has always been a part of my life, and his music was the underscore to summers out by the pool, days at Kings Island, hanging out with my friends, or just driving around with my family. Jimmy Buffett is one of my favorite musicians, so I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss his music and help others see him as the beautiful poet I consider him to be.       I’m sure there are plenty who only know J...

By Mallory Slucher “You know, we are not as different as people seem to think,” Ahmed said as he filled my cup with more sugary Moroccan mint tea.  “You’re right,” I said. “If we just stop for a second and think about the things we have in common, I think the world would be a much different place”.  I sat in the back area of his jewelry shop on a couch with my new friends, reflecting on how cool it was that I ended up here. After spending the last two weeks in Morocco, I was no stranger to Moroccan hospitality, but my interaction with Ahmed in his shop was different.  It all began with a simple, “mutsharfin” (nice to meet you in Darija, the Moroccan dialect of Arabic), as I walked into his shop in Essaouira, a small city off the coast of Morocco. I had been shopping all day, but I was searching for a ring to bring back home for my mom. Ahmed looked at me, elated that I spoke to him in Darija. In that moment I could feel that a mutual trust was formed.  I am always lo...

By Anna Williams      As the daughter of an ex-college football player, it has been innate for me to enjoy anything and everything related to football. I always expressed immense interest in the stories my dad would tell me from his time on the field. He told me during the pre-season his college coach at Tennessee State University would make the players pair up and act as a transportation device for their partners, all the way up the stadium bleachers for hours. He also told me about the unbearable pre-season training camp heat he had to endure and how his team would cook eggs on the top of their helmets to cope. Needless to say, athletes go through some intense physical trials that test their ability to persevere through those challenges.      Football, like many other sports I admire, requires what my dad would call “mental toughness:” the capacity in the brain to push past any challenges in order to achieve a physical goal. I could actively see that abil...

By Camryn McPherson Everyone loves a good superhero story; Superman, The Avengers, and my personal favorite, The Flash, all have a way of giving us hope. The classic superhero story goes something like this: At a young age, a future hero is struck by enough grief and tragedy for a lifetime. Before they can fall down a rabbit hole of despair, something saves them—in The Flash’s case, it’s his adoptive family, Joe West and his daughter, Iris. Whether struck by lightning or born superhuman, they all end up using their powers to fulfill their destiny: to save the world. Usually, they are most inspired by the ones they love and the ones they have lost.  These heroes are willing to put their lives on the line for their family, their city, and their world. Yet, every time a hero faces death at their front door, the story changes. Barry Allen, or The Flash, knows that if he dies, his wife (Iris West-Allen), his team (Team Flash), and his future kids (Nora and Bart) will go on without his p...