Where am I from?

I am from Ottawa Hills, Ohio. It’s known as “the Village,” because even though it’s situated in the larger city of Toledo, it really is it’s own little world. Predominantly made up of white, upper-middle class families, there is an unspoken pressure to conform to the community around you. And not just in an academic sense, which is what we are best known for, but also in every other aspect. The way you look, dress, speak, who you associate with, the list goes on. Growing up, I was a very shy, quiet child. I didn’t make my first friend until second grade, when a sympathetic teacher introduced me to a girl who would go on to become my best friend. Instead, my world was comprised of books; I was a voracious reader who was chastised by parents and teachers alike for reading when I should have been paying attention in class or doing schoolwork. Although books offered me a brief respite from real life, there really was no way of avoiding the social pressures of my environment. I always felt stuck between two worlds, never quite sure where I belonged: my parents’ Chinese culture that I never quite grasped or that of my homogeneous, picture-perfect community? Coming from a place lacking the acceptance I desired, my newfound college community seems like a dream come true. In such an enormous pool of people of varying cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, the weight of conformity I felt growing up has definitely been eased. That’s not to say that I don’t miss and appreciate aspects of my childhood home – there is something to be said for a small, tight-knit community. However, I have grown to love the vastness, and by extension both diversity and anonymity, that Ohio State offers.

Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

  • Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc.
  • Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
  • Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
  • Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
  • Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Artifacts

[Artifacts are the items you consider to be representative of your academic interests and achievements. For each entry, include both an artifact and a detailed annotation.  An annotation includes both a description of the artifact and a reflection on why it is important to you, what you learned, and what it means for your next steps.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

About Me

[Your “About Me” is a brief biographical statement that might include your intended major, your academic interests, your goals, as well as the things that make you unique.  Definitely include a picture! Also, remember that you can always update this post at any point. For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]