Freshman Reflection

by Devyn Lee '13 (State College, PA)

It’s difficult to go through a new experience without comparing it to something from your past. So, in my first month here at Case, I’ve been comparing almost everything to what I’ve known in the past. Having grown up in State College, Pennsylvania, that means that I am constantly thinking about Penn State University.

Both of my parents work at Penn State, and life in our town is frequently dictated by what is going on at the university. For example, if you’re going to be driving on weekends in the fall, it’s important to know if the football game is home or away, for traffic patterns change significantly when a town of about 40,000 is invaded by thousands more crazy football fans. Most of the best restaurants and stores are right next to the Penn State campus, so if you live in State College, it’s easy to be familiar with the campus even as a freshman in high school. At least 60% of graduates from my high school end up going to Penn State, and the town is filled with alumni, so the tradition runs deep.

I had the chance to go to the Ohio State- Toledo football game with my teammate Maeve, an Ohioan (ha ha… that word is so funny to me). I initially refused, because I thought I could never enjoy watching an OSU game if they weren’t playing Penn State and losing, but I decided that since Maeve’s brother is a Toledo student, and she would be rooting for the Rockets, I could do that too. Besides, last year Toledo upset the Buckeyes, and I welcomed any chance of witnessing that kind of upset. While the same thing sadly did not occur this year, I had a great time rooting against the Buckeyes, even though Toledo fans were outnumbered approximately 20 to 1.

So, this might not make sense to anyone who hasn’t grown up in State College, but when you live in such a football-crazy community, you can’t help but be swept into it, and you can’t help but hate any rival team. I’m getting over the urge to yell “BOOOO,” whenever I see an Ohio State fan, but I’m positive I will never join in the “O-H” and “I-O” call and response cheer, because “We are… Penn State!” has been a part of me for so long.

It’s also strange to live in a city where life doesn’t revolve around the college. Case is only one school in Cleveland; it’s not the only school, and events here don’t usually have an impact on the community; for example the football game last night. However, though I can’t help but think of things in how they compare to Penn State, I couldn’t be happier with my choice of schools. At PSU I would be one of 40,000 kids, and wouldn’t have access to elite hospitals blocks away from campus for research or volunteering opportunities. At Case I have the opportunity to explore the entire city of Cleveland, and I’ve already successfully used the RTA (after one initial… adventure) to get downtown for an Indians game. After several weeks of classes, it’s apparent to me that I’m going to get a great education here, and my fellow students are among the best in the country. My soccer teammates are all awesome young women who obviously all have talent in areas on and off the field, and I am glad that I have older players to ask for help. They’re always there to lend advice, whether it’s soccer-related or not. In short, though coming to Case has meant a multitude of changes, it’s going well so far, and I’m looking forward to even more new experiences.

Photo: Caroline Garber '10, Devyn Lee '13, Anna Kennedy '12, and Amy Bishara '11