This past weekend, I felt small. Standing in the middle of Owen Field before a sold out game can have that effect on a person. Still, I wasn't there without reason. As luck would have it, I was chosen as the Outstanding Senior for the College of Arts and Sciences a few weeks ago. To say that I was surprised would be an understanding; I remember letting the words "oh shit" slip out of surprise when the Director of Leadership Development and Volunteerism told me the news over the phone. I'm thankful that she was understanding.
While it was a unique experience to be recognized on a field, the weekend was a reminder of how many people have helped me become who I am. My parents got to watch from the sidelines, and they relayed the event to relatives. My mentor, a retired US Army Major general, had the opportunity to watch me receive my award on Friday. It's a shame my sister could not have been there; she does a great job at keeping me humble.
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| Mom and Dad. I still cannot believe that my mother, an OSU alumna, was willing to wear that sticker. (Personal photo, taken November 2014). |
Over the weekend, an observation became increasingly apparent. I realized that those who felt the most pride for me were the people that had helped me most in my life. In my opinion, the correlation is strong. I suppose the relationship exists because we relinquish and invest a little bit of our ego in another every time we chose to lend a hand. It makes sense to me. Why else would we feel such pride for accomplishments that are not ours. Then again, maybe part of it is genetic. In that case, the pride we feel for others comes from the knowledge that we have a little bit of ourselves--that is, within DNA--in those we feel pride for. I would hope it's more than just a reflection of our biology.
All and all, it was a good weekend, a weekend that acted as a reminder of the people for whom I am thankful.
That is such a great honor, Jake, and I am really happy for you!!! Thanks for sharing that here... is it okay with you if I include this in the class announcements? Let me know. I think the other people in the class who have gotten to know you through your blog and your Storybook would be really excited for this wonderful news! :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Jake! I remember attending the game when they were handing out those awards. I also remember thinking to myself "how does one qualify for outstanding senior?". I can only imagine how proud your family was when they heard the news. I think it's awesome how you took the time to reflect and recognize those that helped you achieve such an accomplishment. I wish you the best of luck with your future endeavors!
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