Just as work drives the bees under the sun…your OJCL Executive Board is hard at work to ensure that OJCL 2023 State Convention is the best yet! As I start thinking of new ideas, I begin to reflect on my previous convention experiences. It’s hard to imagine that 2019 was the last time we had a “normal” convention, 5 years ago. It is even harder to imagine that my first convention was 6 years ago at the DoubleTree in Columbus. However, I still remember it like it was yesterday. Specifically, the feelings of joy when it finally hit me…I was 1.5 hours away from my parents, in a hotel, rooming with my best friends, free to do whatever I wanted. Probably one of the best feelings a 7th grader could have. In that short weekend, I learned how to make Roman armor, that socks could stick to hotel walls, the Latin seniors at my school were the coolest kids ever, and that the OJCL really is the best family to be a part of. I was already looking forward to next year!
Here we are… 6 years later, my final convention as a JCLer comes closer every day. It’s a very strange feeling, one I can’t quite put into words yet, knowing that this year will be my last. Knowing that after this there won’t be any more sleepless nights spent cramming creative art projects or studying for certamen. No more walking into spirit and being hit with a wall of noise. And no more staying up late meeting new people in the hallway.
Cicero once wrote, “Omnia Rerum Principia Parva Sunt” or “the beginning of all things are small”. This perfectly sums up my time in the JCL. From meeting people from other schools for the first time to running for office, the OJCL provided me with opportunities that shaped me into the person I am today. This is why I challenge you, whether it’s your first or last convention, to try something new, take a small step, dive deep into the JCL community, and enjoy your time at the state convention!
President Katelyn Cheng
The beginning of all things are small
Winter 2023
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