Community Literacy

We are all apart of Communities that benefit us and teach us lesson and qualities. Some of these qualities will stick with us forever, while some will be lost along the journey.

Some of the communities that have affected my life the most are my family, my friends and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers or SME. I have learned priceless qualities from each one of these communities. I am going to talk about only one from each. From my family I learned one of the most important qualities that you can have in life, respect. Living with my five older siblings helped me learn this feature rather quickly. A quality that my friends affected greatly is my language and the way I act. I grew up with them so we all act very similarly; each taking a little from each other making our group what we are today. SME has taught me my business language and how I must act around superiors and bosses in settings like interviews and such.

All of these qualities have affected my life greatly and will help me succeed in life undoubtedly. I am forever grateful for these communities.

By Spencer Geissel

A Community That Marches Forward Together

By Brooke Baldi

Ladies and Gentlemen, under the direction of Doctor Richard Suk, we proudly present the most exciting band in the land: The Ohio University Marching 110!  Unlike most freshmen my first day of school I already had over 200 friends, I was a member of the Marching 110. A week before classes started at OU I was working with every other band member to make sure we were better than the best ever. During training week everyone had to give one hundred and ten percent; there was lots of sweat, some tears, and even some blood. At the end of training week I was sore in places I didn't know existed but I couldn't have been happier.

Before the Marching 110 I never considered spending cross long bus rides entertaining myself and those around me instead of listening to my iPod and I really never thought I would buy a two hundred dollar jacket for myself then proceed to cover it in dirt and mud. Now I wear my jacket with pride and I couldn’t image my freshmen year without being in the marching band.

It wasn’t until later in the school year I realized how important being in the band was to me. All fall quarter I had grown and became friends with so many people. Then in winter quarter the fun continued by playing for basketball games. I never considered myself a basketball fan, but just being there with the band surrounded by others just as emotionally invested as I was filled me with Bobcat pride. Once spring quarter arrived there weren’t any band events I could attend and my mellophone collected dust under my bed.

Until May 30^th: the Jam Session. For the last time of the academic year the whole band got back together to play one last time. We said farewell to the graduating seniors and played our hearts out. Just being with the entire band made me realize how much they meant to me. To my surprise I was playing songs I haven’t played in weeks entirely from memory and by the end my lips were completely numb.  I was reminded of what the band means to me. There is a spot on that field for me next year and I have to earn it.