While most students have the obligatory extracurricular activity or two on their resumes, Ohio University freshman Chris Graves can write down something different: aspiring hip hop artist.

Peter Wusher’s soft clear voice rings out above the assorted instruments of a musical therapy group for the mentally ill at the Gathering Place a mental health organization that has been serving the community of Athens Ohio for 33 years. The members of the group are lively today and everyone seems excited.

When we were told the theme of this first edition of the The Essay was “Live and Learn” and were asked to write an article about our crazy summer road trip, we weren’t sure where to begin. Then again, we weren’t exactly sure where to start when we set about planning a trip that would carry us across the nation, visiting 25 states and most of the great western American landmarks, cameras in hand.

It began Wednesday, the 21st of October.  At 11:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, roughly 200 heavily armed individuals entered Morton Hall amphitheater.  Many were dressed in drab, utilitarian BDUs, some were dressed more extravagantly.  There was even one group who appeared to be wearing lederhosen.

Om nom nom,” says Branden Haney, 18, a biology major, as he tugs on my armband. That’s it. I have been, rather unceremoniously, turned into a zombie.