This blog post has been brought to you by Assistant Academic Director Dr. Fortune Ononiwu
Hi everyone,
Did you know that the state vegetable of Oklahoma, where I have been fortunate to live for the past six weeks, is a watermelon? Yes, a watermelon! Don’t ask! We play by a different set of rules here. Maybe take a second and look up the state meal of Oklahoma or your state.
I do not yet have the words to describe the experience of these past… how many weeks? I don’t even know!? Or has it been months? Years?Or maybe it’s only been a few minutes? I am not sure, because somehow time has been simultaneously standing still and flying by. But whatever time has elapsed between when I arrived for startup week on June 9th, and today (July 18th), has been transformative.
So, I am going to share a few takeaways from SSP SWOSU that come to mind. I am not sure yet what they will catalyze, but here they are:
Kindness matters, even in the little things. This is true in many respects, but it was especially evident in food this summer. During our startup week, faculty shared home-cooked meals. It all started with burgers at the OChem professor’s house. The inorganic chemistry professor’s wife made some of the best chicken enchiladas I’ve ever had. There were nachos from the TA who wore many hats, and the periodic table memorizing SD’s chili. One time, at the dining hall, the staff gave us extra watermelon when they overheard that some of the participants loved it. Though small when viewed individually, collectively, these acts of kindness were the foundation of community in an unfamiliar place.
People are a beautiful mosaic of talents and identities. Gordon Ramsey, a West Coast rapper, and an East Coast scholar can all somehow exist in one person. The same goes for a fisherwoman from Texas, a balloon artist, and a scientist. Your event MC might be doing some chemistry in his parent’s garage and also has his own garden. The OChem professor from Oklahoma is also a scoutmaster, a star baseball player, basketball player, and has a great bromance with the analytical chemistry professor down the hall, who is also the GOAT at teaching.
The best thing about my SSP SWOSU 2024 experience is the people! What a blessing to be able to say that and truly mean it. I could go on, but I am trying to keep this to one page.
Here are some scenes from this summer that I will speak about only cryptically, because sometimes trying to overly explain people or places risks reducing their magic…The aspiring stoic taught me to listen. Listen. The sound all around us is constantly making music. At this point, you should pause and just listen.
Now, this next little thing is from the flutist from Dallas, who never wants to lose a single milligram of her hard-earned ligand. Pinky promises made during dinner do not mean anything if you do not spit on it!
This is not quite a little thing, but it is a book title I heard from a gentle soul that almost made a mistake worth a couple hundred thousand. The title of the book is “On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous.” I am not sure what it is, but this title makes me feel things. I will be thinking about this for a while.
Finally, stay LOCKED IN!
Well, I guess that wasn’t my last sentence. When I am not learning from the truly incredible and talented students I have been privileged to work with this summer, I watch some shows that help calm me. One of such shows is “The Office.” In one of my favorite scenes, Andy said he wished there was a way to know when you are in the good old days. I have no doubt that there is something about SSP this year that will make it into my “good old days” memory.
