Esther DeClerck

What's your educational background?

Florida State University
Master of Education in Higher Education with a focus on Student Affairs
Class of 2029

University of Oklahoma
Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations
Minor in African and African American Studies
Class of  2017

As a student, where did you leave your mark on campus?

As a student at OU, I had the opportunity to be involved in several different areas of campus. I think the place where I really left my mark though, was Camp Crimson. Having the opportunity to start as an Outstanding Camper during my own camp experience and then getting to be an SGL and eventually be on staff as an Orientation Guide was something that changed me for the better. I loved the chance to work with my peers to help welcome our new family members to the OU family and to help develop my peers along the way.

Define the OU Family in your own words.

The OU family is exactly what it sounds like, a family. I believe that our campus is incredibly unique in the fact that we don't just talk about being a family, but that we actually show up that way. At OU we pride ourselves on our ability to make others feel welcome and at home here and I believe that is one of our best assets.

When was the moment you felt the greatest Sooner pride?

We as Sooners have a lot of opportunities to be proud. Whether it's at sporting events or in the world of academia. To me, the times I have the most Sooner pride are when I connect with someone whom I didn't know in my time at OU and we are able to share the same amount of excitement and love for OU that we had when we were here. To me, this example lends to the OU family and the fact that we all love OU and our experiences here long after we attended.

What was the greatest gift you took with you after graduation?

The greatest gifts I took from my time at OU were my pride in my institution and the spirit of lifelong connection. I believe that while I was at OU I really learned what it meant to have pride in a degree and an institution beyond its sports or institutional accolades. I am proud of the things that I did here at OU and that is really special. Additionally, I made lifelong connections with people and with this place, and that has formed a lot of who I am today. 

Reveal one secret about campus.

I'm not sure how much of a secret it is anymore, but on the West side of Bizz, there is a serene little garden with some benches called Canyon Garden. This place was one of my absolute favorite places to go and study/read/hang out during my time at OU. If you don't know, go find it! 10/10 would recommend!

What is your favorite OU tradition?

My favorite OU tradition has to be OU-Texas weekend. I love OU-Texas because I think it is a great showcase of the Sooner Family, of Sooner Magic, and of Sooner Pride. It is so fun to see OU travel to Texas and commune over a place and a team we all love so much. 

What advice do you have for prospective students?

The best piece of advice I can give to prospective students is to dive in! As cliché as it sounds, you truly get what you give to OU. Find things that you are interested in or discover new clubs while you are here because it will lead to your best friends and favorite memories that will last you a lifetime. Take every chance and put yourself in the uncomfortable because from that you will grow into who you truly are while you are here.