Homecoming week at Ohio University is a time everyone looks forward to from the start of fall semester. This year, homecoming week was considered “fall break” for us Bobcats being we were robbed of this time off with the switch to semesters. Except, we’re not the only ones who don’t get to enjoy a five-day weekend. All of our alumni also don’t get the luxury of a random long weekend. For most alumni, coming back to Athens for homecoming is a vacation in itself.
For recent graduate Carrie Augenstein, homecoming was an opportunity she refused to miss. But a weekend she usually dreamed about for weeks suddenly wasn’t the same time she remembered. As a student, homecoming is a time to celebrate your school and an excuse to stay up all night with your friends. As an alum, it’s a bittersweet feeling.
“Even though campus life felt the same, I felt out of place being at the school I no longer attend,” Carrie says. “I felt welcomed but misplaced at the same time.”
Watching students chant loud and proud about being a bobcat brought back memories of times she used to experience. Though it may be different not being a student anymore, Carrie is part of a new proud group, alumni!
“The worst part about coming back was seeing that everyone moves on, and I don’t really have a place at OU as a student anymore,” Carrie says. “The best part, however, was seeing how many people come back after we graduate. It was great seeing how much pride alumni continue to have even after graduation.”
The best lesson learned after homecoming weekend: once a bobcat, always a bobcat. No matter if you are a freshman new to the entire experience and fresh to campus, a senior living on their last time as a student or alumni reliving the best years of their lives. The best thing about OU is the school pride and the feeling of home when you are here.
Some words of advice from Carrie to students, “Homecoming is the perfect opportunity to remind yourself of all the reasons we love OU. Even though it is difficult to visit knowing you have to go back to the real world, it is a great way to stay connected to the school that made us who we are after graduation. I think everyone should come back for homecoming.”
We love our school, and it’s always great to see alumni coming back year after year to keep the love alive outside of the Athens bubble.