Looking Back

Olin Hall was pretty much my home for 4 years.  Math, Astronomy, Physics.

So here I am at 1am when, instead of sleeping, I'm here on the internet.  Often I would consider what I do on the internet at this hour wasting time by checking emails that never come, browsing music, surfing Wikipedia, updating facebook, etc.  Tonight I was about to go to bed when I ran into a facebook group that I was invited to join.  It was made for my graduating class at Denison and the idea, at least in the short term, is to update everyone on what we're doing.  It brought a wave of nostalgia crashing over me.  Sure Ohio isn't my favorite state, but boy do I love Denison University.  I have a lot of loyalty to the University of Miami, but Denison to me has a much more special place in my heart.  Since graduating, I've only been back for 2-3 days which was to visit for graduation in 2010.  I'm still in touch with a handful of people from Denison, some on a regular basis and others I'll talk to every year or so.  By and large, there's no one from Denison with whom I would consider myself in good communication.  I have a history of not keeping up with people.  My whole life I've had this issue.  However, that's not the topic of the night tonight.  Tonight, I'm simply trying to express that I miss college life.  I miss being an undergrad at Denison.  I miss the friends, the close proximity, the schedule, the opportunities, the clubs, the knowledge to gain, the scenery, the friendliness of the school and surrounding town, the professors, and really having a defined role in all of it.  My mind is just drifting through memories of my time there in no particular order.  I'm thinking of my work with the Physics department, the concerts I played, my freshman year dorm, spending time in the observatory, track meets, roommates, dining halls, classes, and then much more specific experiences.  I poured all of my effort into doing my best during those years and because I was so fiercely devoted to giving it my all, I am now all the more attached to it.  Denison will forever be my alma mater no matter where I go or what I do.

Go Big Red!

Because my permanent address is still listed in Ohio, it takes a long time for my parents to build up enough of a supply of mail to merit sending away to me.  Such is the case for the most recent issue of the Denison Magazine, a publication given to all alumni of the one and only Denison University.  On the front cover I discovered that in March the men's swimming and diving team finally knocked off Kenyon College's 31-year steak of being the national champions winning the meet 500.5 to 499.5, a margin sure to rival Phelp's 7th gold medal won by a hundredth of a second back in 2008.

Roommates Nathan, John, and Brian just after graduation.

In the final pages, brief updates on students are listed by year of graduation and this is always one of my favorite sections to read.  I was actually surprised to see my name in there because I don't know when and how I gave my information (but I'm glad it was in there because I think the more people included, the better!).  The update said that I keep up a blog but listed the end of the website as blogsport.com, which is not right.  If anyone reading this has caught the typo and found my blog thanks to the Denison Magazine, welcome!  I'm glad you made it!

Denison University will always be my alma mater.  I shed a lot of blood, sweat, and tears at that school and love it to death.  Sure I may attend other schools for graduate classes or programs, but Denison forever holds a special place in my heart.  Go Big Red!