Artifacts: GLI Comes to An End

 

After an entire year of new friends and memories, my time with GLI (The Global Leadership Initiative) has sadly come to an end and as I reminisce about all the things I have been able to accomplish this year I can say that I will greatly miss this program. I touched upon the GLI program in a previous post a few months ago and as I write this post as an official “graduate” of the program I can say that much has changed since then. From the fancy monthly dinners to the amazing guests and great people I have been able to meet through this program I can say that the person who I am now is much different from the person I was a year ago this time. I have been able to forge friendships with people I may have never even met if it were not for this program and for that I am grateful for this experience. This photo was taken at the last monthly dinner for my cohort and the first monthly dinner for the new cohort and there is a wide range of nationalities and ethnicities represented. Seeing my cohort members all together one last time was emotional in the sense that I would not being seeing their faces every week but it was also nice to see the new cohort and their hopeful faces as they asked us about our experience. While my time as a GLI member has come to an end it felt nice to pass the torch onto the next cohort and see the excitement on their faces during the event.

This year presented itself with many ups and downs, and about half  of them could be attributed to GLI. I was challenged with many tasks that I may have shied away from in previous years and seeing the person that I have been able to become due to the choices I have been able to make has been a humbling experience. While I am far from where I would like to be once I graduate, I am very optimistic about the future and I can say that GLI has played a significant role in shaping my character.

Artifacts: Global Leadership Initiative

This is from one of our earlier weekly meetings with Dr. Larry Inks

This year as a new member of the Global Leadership Initiative I have gotten the amazing opportunity to be a part of such an amazing and diverse group of individuals. The Global Leadership Initiative is a cohort that chooses 24 individuals with 12 domestic students and 12 international students with the purpose to help bridge the gap between both communities on campus. We have weekly meetings with new speakers and monthly dinners with speakers and much socializing. Also we are divided into sister cities groups where we are responsible for organizing an event for our sister city, representing the culture and customs of the city. My sister city is Seville, Spain and although I didn’t know much about the city, through researching it I have been able to learn about the unique influence of the Moors, which is evident in the architecture of the city and the love for flamenco dances. My group and I are still in the planning procesas for our event which will take place next semester.

Through just interacting and building friendships with the other student in the cohort this year I have been able to learn so much about the many cultures and backgrounds of my peers. Instead of thinking of them as students much different from myself, and their cultures being completely differently from my own. By interacting with them and befriending these diverse students I am able to find the commonalities present in all of us. Also by learning more about other people, I am also learning about myself. I have been able to learn what makes me me and why I think the way I do, breaking old stereotypes I might of had. Overall, I have already enjoyed the first half of being in the cohort and I am excited to see what the coming semester brings.

Welcome to my Honors & Scholars e-Portfolio

Hello, Asslaama Alaykum, Merhaba, Ni Hao, Hola, Annyeonghaseyo, people of the world!

My name is Suad Osman I am a second year Neuroscience major and International Affairs Scholars. Join me as I document my time here at OSU through my ups and downs as a student in this wonderful institution!

Year in Review

Coming into the Ohio State University, I knew that I wanted to change my life around and had a feeling OSU would be a great place for me to start. I was very ambitious from a young age and knew that I wanted to accomplish many things, things that my peers were not interested in. So coming into such a large and diverse campus community I was ready for a fresh start and was hoping that the IA scholars program would help me get out of my shell and expand my leadership skills. As a freshman beginning the IA scholars program, I did not hold high expectations. I wanted to learn more about the world and I thought that that would be the extent of my time in the program. And while this was true, much of my time in the program was dedicated to cultivating my global leadership and mentor ship skills. My freshman year I took part in the seminar which was set up like a class and was made up of class discussions and UN Millennium Goal project. The seminar enabled me to discuss globally minded issues within a classroom. Outside of the seminar I attended both IA and non-IA events, events that were sometimes far from my scope of knowledge and allowed me to learn about various issues.

Now in my second year I am a member of the International Community group within the IA scholars program and I have been able to use my leadership positions in GLI and the Somali Students’ Association to fulfill these requirements. Through my involvement in these programs I have been able to practice my leadership skills and further maximize my time her at OSU. The various tests, trial and tribulations have given me the tools to succeed in this campus environment and use my skills to help others. I have grown to become a much more open minded, mature and capable individual, one who is ready to lend a hand and use her skills for the greater good. Continuing my time in the IA scholars program has opened my eyes to many possibilities and opportunities I would otherwise know nothing about and for that I am extremely grateful. Being able to reflect back on my own personal growth has motivated me to continue what I am doing because I am seeing progress. I am able to see what I am doing right and what I am doing wrong and how I can further shape my college experience to make it the most productive one.

G.O.A.L.S.

Going back into time roughly two years ago, many things have changed from my characteristics, goals and aspirations. I have yet to regret a choice I made since I applied to THE Ohio State University, however, I can say that I was not thinking many of the things I am currently thinking. As a high school senior many aspects of the college experience were completely foreign to me and being the first person in the family to apply for university did not make it any easier. As I was filling out the common application a few things caught my eye, the Honors and Scholars Program at OSU being one of them. I did not know much about the program, but I knew that I had nothing to lose applying for it I might even enjoy it. Upon reading more about the program I decided that I wanted to be in either the Health Sciences Scholars or the International Affairs Scholars program and listed them as two of my top choices.  Fast forward two years later and I am near the end of my career as an International Affairs Scholar and I can say that I have very much enjoyed the experience.

Not only have I been able to grow within the scope of the Scholars program but I have been able to flourish within the greater campus community and Columbus community. Throughout my time in the scholars program I noticed a trend within various other scholars, specifically IA scholars. Due to the nature of the IA scholars program, IA scholars are required to be open minded, independent and goal orientated individuals. The IA scholars program is intended for those individuals who have a thrill for adventure, a lust for challenges and a thirst for success. We are reminded to maintain a global perspective, which can be daunting for those close minded individuals who rather think locally and remain in their comfort zones. A global leader is able to transcend physical borders, connect individuals and bridge differences.

Through my time as an IA scholar and my other extracurricular activities I believe that I have been able to achieve the skills needed to be a capable global leader. I try not to shy away from challenges and face issues head on, while looking at issues through an open minded perspective. Although I have much to learn during my time left here at OSU, I believe that I display many of the qualities of a successful IA scholar. These past two years have allowed me to flourish and get out of my comfort zone. Some bumps in the road for me have been learning how to get used to a large and diverse campus environment which was very different from my upbringing surrounded by other Somalis. Many times I would attend events on campus alone not only to get to know a larger group of people but also to become more independent. I believe that this seemingly small action has allowed me to become much more well-connected and resourceful.

Career

Education

B.S. Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, 281 W. Lane Ave.          Aug 2014-present81

  • University Honors & Scholars, International Affairs Scholar
  • GLI Cohort 2015-2016
  • John Glenn School High School Intern

Certifications

STNA Certification, Alia Healthcare Training Services, 1495 Morse Rd.               July 2015

CPR For Healthcare Professionals (BLS), Central Ohio CPR, 6260 Huntley Rd. July 2015

Experience

Somali Student’s Association, 1739 N. High Street       2015-present

Treasurer

  • Organized an outreach program for students from a low-performing charter high school
  • Goal is to serve as mentors, as individuals who were in the same spot
  • Manage the yearly budget

 

OSU Office of International Affairs,1712 Neil Ave 2015-2016

Global Leadership Initiative Cohort Member

  • Responsible for organizing an off campus cultural event representing the sister city Seville
  • Complete smaller projects to foster cultural diversity and citizenship awareness

 

Ohio House of Representatives, 77 S High St           Jan 2014-April 2014

Constituent Aide

  • Served as the liaison between the representative’s Legislative Aide and constituents
  • Almost 100 hours while maintaining a full high school course load and college classes

 

Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive Columbus     2013-2014

Volunteer

  • Helped connect patients with their visitors
  • Assisted in making their stay and discharge seamless and pleasant

OSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 281 W. Lane Ave.                Jan 2015-present

Student Front Desk Assistant

  • Serve as face of the office and as the link between the Admissions officers and visitors
  • Work with various academic advisors to provide ease to the first year experience

 

Languages

English: Native language

Somali: Mother language, fluent

Spanish: Novice Speaker, Advanced Reading and Writing

Arabic: Intermediate Reading and Writing, Novice Speaker

Korean: Intermediate Reading and Writing, Novice Speaker

 

Activities and Interests

Volunteering, activism, meeting with like minded indivuals to discuss issues pertaining the Greater Columbus community, documentaries, etc…

 

References

Available upon request

Artifacts: Half the Sky

Half the Sky (book).jpg

Half the Sky by husband and wife Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn discusses the many forms of the oppression regarding women’s rights in many parts of the world and the importance of taking action against these acts. The book, which is also adapted into a documentary, includes Kristof and WuDunn visiting the countries where oppressive acts are taking place and meeting with women who are spearheading organizations, nonprofits and grassroots movements that are taking action to give the women in their country opportunities. I first heard of this book/documentary my senior year, I was in need of a good read and also the fact that Edna Aden, a huge inspiration of mine, was featured in the book helped peak my interest even more. Edna Aden is well known in Somaliland for being the first in many things, but what particularly drew me to her was the fact that she founded the Edna Aden Maternity Hospital in Hargeisa where she sees seeks to decrease the high maternal mortality rate present in Somalia. At her hospital she trains midwives and dispatches them throughout the country to provide more women with trained healthcare professionals to ease the struggle of chldbirth. She is also a huge fighter against the FGM (female genital mutilation) practices that are present all through out Somalia and many cultures around the world.

The film/book gave me an insight into a world I didn’t know much about, a world that is a reality for some girls around the world. The girls who are being trafficked sometimes by people close to them. Girls who are raped and sexually abused sometimes in their own homes, where they should be the most comfortable. Girls who have thoughts and ideas that are strong enough to change the world, but aren’t given the space to express them. Girls who aren’t given a voice, girls who are so marginalized that they forgot their own worth. There is no difference between me and those girls, maybe a difference in circumstance but that is just luck not something I worked for. Many of these girls are bright and string, they just lack an open space to explore their talents and they could be trailblazers, they could change the whole world as we know it. Although I watched much of these struggles through the TV screen, they resonated in my heart. The girls that were in the documentary were no different from the girls living here, the girls I see everyday; they were no different from me. And I feel like it is much easier for people living more privileged lifestyles to watch such films and read such books than to actually think about how prevalent these issues are in our own communities. We believe that these problems are far from us, they take place in exotic places. We believe that by donating a few bucks and volunteering a few hours we are doing our part in fixing problems that are in places we will probably never visit.

Although the book/film opened my eyes to many of the atrocious acts that are being done to girls living around the world it also allowed to open my eyes and realize that those acts can occur here and that I shouldn’t have such a detached mindset when talking about issues in other communities. Half the Sky opened a window into a world I used to hear about but never truly related to. There is a difference between vaguely reading about an issue you cannot relate to and seeing those who are directly affected by said issues, that these issues affect living, breathing individuals such as myself. This is only the beginning of my journey in bettering myself and hopefully the world.