A JCLove Letter to the Best Delegation in the World Taylor McGowan, OJCL Editor
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A JCLove Letter to the Best Delegation in the World Taylor McGowan, OJCL Editor
I love the OJCL.
You’ ve probably already figured that out— after all, I probably wouldn’ t be writing this letter to you guys if I didn’ t love you— but that doesn’ t mean I’ ll ever stop saying it. I could never say it enough.
I was in eighth grade when I attended my first state convention. Believe or not, I didn’ t come willingly; when I told my Latin teacher I didn’ t want to go to some boring nerd convention, he signed me up anyway.( Thanks, Dr. Gruber. I owe you big time.) Before I knew it, I was stuffing a bedsheet into a duffel bag and trudging into the lobby of the infamous Ramada, wearing an oversized CA Latin Club t-shirt and a scowl. I had already drawn all the necessary conclusions to pass judgment on this weird OJCL thing: it was boring, there were too many people, and I couldn’ t find where anything was. I’ d barely stepped inside before I wanted to go home.
Then the convention began in earnest … and I fell head-overheels in love.
It was a whirlwind romance at its finest: dizzying, fast-paced, and joyful beyond words. With each Certamen question I answered, I grinned a little wider. With every test bubble I colored in, I felt a little lighter. With every new friend I made, I laughed a little louder. Over the course of that spectacular weekend, the OJCL found its way into my reluctant heart and filled a space I hadn’ t even known to be vacant.
Now, flash-forward. I’ m a senior now, a Latin 5 student who has already faced the bloodthirsty beast of the Latin AP and somehow emerged with her sanity— and love for the language— intact. I have poured my time, energy, and soul into eight conventions, including four Nationals. The OJCL tops my list of extracurriculars on the Common App. And, best of all, I can finally say what I’ ve dreaming of saying ever since my very first convention in March 2014: my name is Taylor McGowan, and I am your OJCL Editor. I love the OJCL; that goes without saying. You’ ll probably get tired of hearing it. But I will never, ever get tired of saying it.
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