No strangers among Bobcats

The walk to 1307 New York Ave. N.W. in Washington, D.C., should’ve been quick. But, that white building with green windows sits at the confluence of New York, H, and 13 ^th streets. Which street it’s on? A mystery, even to Uber.

The five intrepid OHIO alumnae joining me found it—more easily than I—and settled in to the conference room at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s headquarters. Strangers whose OHIO days ranged from 1966 through 2008, we shared common ground: womanhood, OHIO, and D.C. We were girlfriends, chatting over coffee and pastries.

We talked about how OHIO changes you.

Brenda Dancil-Jones, AB ’70 I attended the University during some pretty turbulent times. The AFSCME workers went on strike…the students felt the need to support them. It was a great experience to be involved in something bigger than myself. That started me on the journey of being more aware.

Natalie Stevens, AB ’06 I was a senior in high school on September 11, (2001). That sparked my interest in international studies. Getting to OU and being around other people who had energy and who were incredibly smart caused me to want to get outside of my bubble.

Lily Asrat, MA ’01 My (graduate) program was a microcosm of people coming together from all over the world…people with youth and with energy. It was that kind of environment for me: of growth, and learning, and the ability to connect with people. They’re in different parts of the globe, still working toward the same ideals and values that we espoused (at OHIO).

Kristin Strobel, BA ’07, MA ’08 (OHIO) reinforced the sense of humility that I was raised with. Midwest, Ohio values. I continue to try to live by those values out here in D.C., where it’s sometimes challenging to remain centered, and humble, and kind. I try to carry that with me every day.

Suzanne Simon, BS ’93 There is an open-mindedness fostered at Ohio University. (Women’s Studies) was my first exposure to feminism. I had a single, working mom. I didn’t think that was any big deal. Then, I started taking these classes and learning about women’s issues. That exposure had an impact.

We delved into how we discover ourselves and develop identity, at OHIO and beyond.

Natalie: I’m the oldest (sibling), so I grew up with a sense of responsibility and being the go-to person for my sisters. I can see that in my work now.

Brenda: I’m the oldest (sibling) and the only girl. I turned out to be pretty independent. The influence that my parents had on me in terms of being in charge and standing up for what you believe, I’m sure I have passed on to our daughters. I know the world that we live in as women. There are challenges and obstacles that we face. I can’t protect them from everything, but I want them to be prepared.

Suzanne: If I can just add to that…I grew up in a small industrial town in Ohio. I have this background of knowing that there can be a huge diversity between smaller towns and larger, more urban areas in any state. It’s tough to have a family and raise kids in an environment like Washington, D.C., teaching them that this isn’t what everyone has. I think about how lucky I feel to be in this position with so much privilege. That stems from my upbringing. I had smart parents who worked hard. They raised me to not judge people and to give people respect.

Kristin: (My parents) are both very hard working and very humble, and they provided me with the same humility. They constantly pushed me in a positive direction to achieve success and give back to the community. I did that when I was at Ohio University, too, and still do today. All of my success comes from the way that my parents raised me.

Lily: I was studying development and poverty about the rest of the world—in Athens, Ohio, surrounded by Appalachia. I never would have imagined, as someone who grew up in developing countries, that there would be that kind of poverty, that kind of inequality, in the United States. Studying those issues of development, and being somewhere in the United States that had a lot of those same issues that we're tackling globally, right there in Ohio, was fascinating.

We considered knowing who we are and taking risks.

Lily: I think you do have to hustle…you can’t just sit back and wait for opportunities to be presented to you…It’s about having the idea and making it happen for yourself. Sometimes there has been opposition, and closed doors, and people who have told me “no.” Being able to resist, and be persistent, and find people who can have your back, support you, and be an ally is really important.

Kristin: I participate in the OHIO Mentorship Program and have a couple of mentees who are current Ohio University students. My mentors told me, “As you rise to the top, make sure to send the elevator back down.” I try to do that with everyone. Even if I have a really busy day, if I spend a half-an-hour speaking to my mentee, I know that’s going to have a very large impact on them.

Brenda: I stayed at home for seven years with my children. (When) they were old enough, I started thinking about getting back out there, using my degree, and developing myself professionally. There was this dilemma: If I go to interview for a job, they’re going to be asking me what have I done all these years…That’s what put me on the path (toward incorporating my own business). The leap for me was to not be bound by fear. Whatever it is that you’re thinking about doing, don’t let (fear) stop you because you’ve never done (something) before.

Natalie: There are times when, if I'm struggling with something or feeling a loss of confidence, I have to remind myself that “you’re there for a reason, and you do know the answer.” Having that internal confidence is incredibly helpful when making leaps or taking on new opportunities.

Suzanne: I want to add to that the importance of having the right people around you, networking, and creating those mentorships for yourself. Whether…something didn’t work out the way that you wanted it to or you’re trying to do something new, people are willing to come to the table. But, you do have to ask, and you do have to put some energy into it.

We connected to what Bobcats have in common.

Suzanne: Ohio University is like a second home. I remember graduating and feeling really sad that I was leaving. There wasn’t this feeling of “I’m so ready to move on and do something.” I had such great memories and met so many great people who are still in my life.

Natalie: Love of being a Bobcat. It’s a common denominator.

Kristin: Being a political science student…there weren’t a lot of women in my program. The friendships that I built outside of my program with other female students—both in my sorority and in other activities I did on campus—those are still my friendships today.

Brenda: The whole of the campus…There are so many wonderful things about that environment.

Lily : Part of the reason there is this connection there and this feeling of home and place is because it is isolated. I think people bond there differently, perhaps, than in other places.

Threads of sisterhood wove through the conversation.

Brenda: We formed life-long relationships when we were on campus. Those people have been our support system. It’s that connection. We are all Bobcats. We’re women. We’ve faced a number of the same challenges. We recognize our similarities as women in this culture. That is a cementing piece I believe we will carry with us to our graves.

We left more bonded than when we arrived. Our collective Green & White running deeper.

Read similar conversations with alumnae living in San Francisco ,  Cincinnati , and the Pittsburgh area.