Jane Dreher
Editor’s Note: The Happy Beginnings series features recent College of Arts & Sciences graduates who are getting started in careers, graduate school and service. See more Fall 2021 commencement stories.
Jane Dreher approaches Fall 2021 Commencement confident about her plans and with a clear sense of how to analyze the world around her—and how to build a better future.
Dreher, from Kennett Square, Penn., is majoring in History Pre-Law and minoring in World Religions. She’s also adding two certificates to her resume: European Studies and War and Peace.
Q&A with Jane Dreher
Q: What are your next steps or plans for the future?
A: My next step is working as an assistant general manager at Dewey’s Pizza in Columbus. I’m really excited about this opportunity, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me. This next step was not exactly what I had envisioned after college, but I also really wasn’t sure what I was going to do. This decision is one I feel confident in, and I believe it will lead me to a successful future.
Q: What was your ah-ha moment at OHIO—that point where you said to yourself, “I’ve got this!”?
A: My ah-ha moment at OHIO would have to be around the time that I studied abroad. OHIO gave me the opportunity to study in Berlin and learn a new culture while also giving me the ability to grow on a personal level. Studying in Germany gave me a new perspective of the world and of the United States as well. Along with this, my professors at OHIO taught me so much about the world, the communities we live in, and how to build a better future.
Q: Who were your favorite professors and how did they make an impact on your life?
A: This is a hard question for me because every professor I have had in the History and Classics & Religious Studies departments have been phenomenal. Each professor in these two departments is intelligent, kind and talented. I have had the pleasure of having Dr. Jaclyn Maxwell for class as well as working with her for the History Learning Community. I have seen how devoted she is to her students and her work; she strives to make everyone feel welcome and always shows how much she cares.
I also really enjoyed taking Dr. Loren Lybarger’s religion courses. He challenged my understanding of certain topics and encouraged me to ask questions that I hadn’t previously considered. Through the coursework and the questions he had us consider, I sharpened my analyzing skills and understanding of religion in relation to society. His animated teaching made online learning so much easier and fun.
Q: What was the hardest hill you had to climb (not counting Jeff Hill) at OHIO? And how did you overcome challenges or obstacles in your path?
A: The hardest hill I’ve had to climb at OHIO was definitely the fall semester of my sophomore year. I had a lot going on in my personal life, and I wasn’t focused enough on my future and on my schoolwork. That is why I chose to study abroad in the spring because I felt like I needed a change of pace in order to get back on track. This ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made.
Q: What are your favorite OHIO memories?
A: One of my favorite memories would have to be my freshmen year when I met my roommates. We were living in a modstyle dorms, in what many students refer to as “Dirty South” because it’s the back side of South Green and the dorms are not in the best shape. Despite this, my roommates and I made the best of it, we had so much fun and grew to become best friends. We still live together now as seniors. Another one of my favorite memories was working at the Ping Center and Golf and Tennis Center over the summer of 2021. I had so many laughs and great memories from my shifts, and I grew really close to my coworkers and the pro-staff I worked with.
Q: What’s the one thing you would tell a new OHIO student not to miss?
A: I would tell a new Ohio student to step out of their comfort zone no matter how scared they are. Join an organization that you might be intimidated by or take a class that might be out of your comfort zone! Even the smallest steps can make a big difference in someone’s experience. I truly believe that if you continue to put yourself out there you will find what is right for you. The best decisions I made here at OHIO were scary and intimidating but they also ended with me learning something new.
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