The NJCL Experience
Secretary Andrew Cahall, Columbus Academy
In late July, after getting incredibly lost on the
Oxford, Ohio backroads two separate times, I
arrived at National Latin Convention, not really
knowing what to expect. I knew it was cool, and I
knew that OJCLers always had a blast there. But full
disclosure, I was a little bit intimidated.
See, I was under the impression that the NJCL
was essentially a cult-like gathering of 1,000+
returning delegates who already knew each other
well. That I wouldn’t know anyone there, and that
everyone in attendance would be ridiculously
nerdy (although I have no room to talk.)
And I was right.
But that’s exactly what made my first NJCL
experience so amazing. Within minutes, I had met
many people and made many friends, bonded over
a shared love of Latin that teeters the line between
admirable and concerning, and become fully
initiated into the cult that is the JCL.
From dances, to chorus, to multi-regional
hybrid Ultimate Frisbee teams (Oihoa will never
die), I met awesome people from all over the
nation,and got closer with people from Ohio whom
I already knew.
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