Every student at Ohio University will leave Athens with a unique perspective on the “college experience.” Some students may find relaxation among the nature surrounding the town while others will prefer to unwind walking on Court Street late at night and finding house parties on the weekends. Each Bobcat will have to learn what works for them when it comes to balancing academic and personal lives, and Athens contains several opportunities that can be universally used as tools in finding the balance.
Taking time for oneself is vitally important to maintaining a social battery in college, which can be one of the most socially intense and immersive few years of a young person's life. One way to enjoy alone time outside of a dorm is to frequent the many businesses in town. Whether you take yourself out for a drink at Donkey Coffee or spend an afternoon on a shopping spree at Uptown Costumes, there are many opportunities to support small businesses in town and make an occasion of some alone time.
Athens also offers many resources to recharge your battery while simultaneously fulfilling the movement needs of your body. Strouds Run and The Ridges are excellent places nearby to swim or hike in nature. The bike path along the Hocking River is a beautiful stretch of road on which to walk, run or bike among cherry blossoms or picnic on a river bank.
Additionally, each OU student is granted free membership to the Ping Recreation Center. The gym has fitness resources like weight rooms, basketball courts, fitness classes, a running track and a rock climbing wall all included in tuition.
Aside from exercise, Athens is also home to a variety of entertainment to fit the unwinding needs of many students. The recently reopened Athena Cinema is one of these places, screening movies of many genres and hosting different themed events throughout the year.
For students over the age of 21, Court Street contains many bars where patrons can socialize, listen to music and dance away their troubles. Numerous performances happen throughout the year, from local bands participating in house shows to big-name artists passing through Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium and the highly anticipated Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Union in October. All of these events are more affordable than they would be in a big city and are good opportunities to make new friends and unwind.
While most of the aforementioned activities can be enjoyed alone, they are also fun when shared with friends. Making new friends is an important part of college, and all of these resources can be used as bonding activities and ways to relax as a group. Groups of friends can gather for a hike in the surrounding area, or spend an afternoon going out to lunch or the movies, among many other options.
There are also ways to reduce the stress of the academic parts of college by combining studies with social activities. Alden Library has many group study areas where friends can do their work together or take a break to enjoy a snack from Café BiblioTech. The practice of group study sessions is a good way to be held accountable and spend time with friends to take the edge off of a stressful workload.
Another way to combine the academic and social worlds is through student organizations. Many clubs offer opportunities for resume-building and the furthering of academic pursuits all in a social environment designed to foster friendships between students of similar interests.
The transition into university life can be a stressful one, and lots of things will change within your first few months at OU. However, finding ways to manage those stressors through relaxing activities, either alone or with friends, is a great way to make the most of the new environment.
College is a great place to learn, make friends and grow as a person, and Athens offers plenty of opportunities to foster all of those things in conjunction with each other.
