This student found she could, thanks to Ohio State
Studying abroad in Spain changed Ariana Winbush, who grew up with an explorer’s heart but expectations to never travel far from home.
Ariana Winbush, who is graduating next month, is proud to be “a Buckeye through and through.” A native of Newark, Ohio, here she is taking a selfie outside Toledo, Spain.
A first-generation college student, I grew up in a household where traveling was a rare occurrence. The idea of venturing beyond home was no more than a distant dream. Yet there was always a part of me that craved exploration. I would describe it as a desire to push past the boundaries of my comfort zone and see what lies beyond the confines of Newark, Ohio.
That’s why I initially resisted the idea of attending Ohio State. Coming from Newark, where we have our own campus, it seemed like everyone from my hometown ended up at Ohio State. I applied to make my parents, lifelong Buckeye fans, happy and agreed to visit the Columbus campus, partly enticed by the prospect of a day off from school.
They say when you find the right school, you just know. I used to question what that meant. Yet the moment I set foot on campus, I felt an instant connection. Everything felt as if I belonged. That same evening, I received an email notifying me of my acceptance into the University Honors Program. From that day, I knew without a doubt I was meant to be at Ohio State — a proud Buckeye through and through.
Though I would be taking a pre-law route, I focused my education on English and Spanish. It was not just a decision based on my passion for bridging cultural divides and advocating for meaningful change, it was a way to study parts of the world I would never have a chance to see.
Studying abroad wasn’t on my radar until, during a routine discussion, my advisor, Rachel Steele ’00, ’11 MA, noticed I was on track to graduate early. Wanting to ensure I had the full college experience, she brought up studying abroad. The prospect seemed daunting, if not impossible. Doubts crept in, whispering tales of inadequacy and financial limitation, and I dismissed the idea.
Nevertheless, I was intrigued, coming to understand this was a chance to make my dreams a reality. Rachel walked me through the various opportunities and funding options available. I resolved: To refuse to succumb to the limitations imposed by circumstance. To refuse to accept that my background determined my destiny.
In my third year, I embarked on this journey that redefined my academic pursuits and reshaped my sense of self and possibility.
In Madrid, I settled in the vibrant neighborhood of Atocha, sharing an apartment with my host mother, Zaida. She treated me like family and, over our first meal every day, shared invaluable wisdom on everything from navigating the city to being unapologetically myself.
After breakfast, I’d make my way to the metro, joining the flocks of commuters as we traversed Madrid’s underground labyrinth. The streets of the city 3,998 miles from my hometown buzzed with energy, lined with quaint cafés and historic landmarks waiting to be explored. Every corner held the promise of adventure. Every moment was a testament to the beauty of embracing the unfamiliar.
I, Ariana Winbush, was living out something I never thought I’d do, and my time there was nothing short of transformative.
In my quest to commemorate it, I searched for the perfect quote to encapsulate my experience, ultimately intending to get it as a tattoo. I asked Zaida, other locals I came to know or met on the street — virtually anyone I could communicate with — if they knew a quote I could use for inspiration.
They all responded similarly: Nothing they could tell me would have as much meaning as something I found on my own.
In my final week, making my way home from the day’s adventure and disembarking the metro at the “Estación del Arte,” I noticed a Pablo Picasso poster I had passed every day, hidden in plain sight. “Todo lo que puedes imaginar es real.”
Everything you can imagine is real.
It was a true revelation, a moment of clarity. In those words, I found solace and empowerment. They spoke to the essence of my journey, to the realization that the only limitations we face are those we impose upon ourselves.
With newfound resolve, I embraced the mantra that had been staring me in the face all along.
These days, my tattoo is a source of strength, as are the memories of my time abroad. It was not just about exploring a new culture or mastering a new language; it was about confronting the barriers that stood between me and my dreams and emerging stronger on the other side.
It was about rewriting the narrative of my own potential.
