Casino Royale, But Make It Grad School

As we all know, February is the month of love, and I was genuinely excited to attend the OUAB Valentine’s Day Ball at The Ohio State University. The theme was Casino Royale, and for one night, the usual winter grad-school uniform of backpacks, heavy jackets, and sweaters was replaced with tuxedos, gowns, and everyone fully leaning into the theme.

What I loved most was the mix. MBA, MAcc, SMF, MHRM students and many others were all in one room, not talking about deliverables or deadlines, just laughing, eating way too much food, and taking plenty of photos. It felt refreshing and different from the normal pace of the semester.

One of the biggest surprises of the night was Savio Joseph’s live magic session. I will be honest, I am skeptical about magic. I am usually the person trying to solve the trick instead of enjoying it. But this had me questioning everything. At one point, a couple stood on stage with their eyes closed. He touched the guy’s shoulder, and somehow the girl reacted as if she felt it too. The entire room gasped. Later, he guessed someone’s childhood crush without any obvious clues. I stopped analyzing and simply allowed myself to be amazed.

And then came the afterparty.

The DJ opened the floor for song requests, and it was beautiful to experience different cultures, generations, and dance styles all in one space. I requested two Afrobeats songs, not knowing how the crowd would respond. Within seconds, the dance floor came alive. Watching everyone move together was easily my favorite moment of the night.

Honestly, it was just a good night. No pressure, no overthinking. Just good vibes, good people, and good memories. I am definitely showing up to the next one.