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Month: August 2015
Year in Review: Looking Back at My First Year as A Buckeye
As the school year is winding down I can say that I have grown so much while here at Ohio State in several ways. Most importantly I have grown as a person. College is an excellent arena for self-exploration. As cliché as it may seem, college is truly a great place to find yourself. You can reinvent yourself and be whomever you want. Almost like a fresh start. Being here at Ohio State has also allowed me to re-realize why I want to study Arabic. All of the events I went to this year made me realize why I love Arabic and Arabic culture so much. There are so many social, cultural, and academic opportunities available that make it easy to discover things about yourself. By doing this, I was able to enhance my knowledge of different aspects of the world. College also provided me with an atmosphere for growth in terms of responsibility. Having to take care of myself for the first time instilled a sense of responsibility. I had to figure out how to pay for school almost entirely by myself. I finally had real responsibilities that would affect my life greatly if I didn’t do them. I haven’t completely figured it out, but I think I am making some good progress. Of course this, at times, is challenging, however it will truly be rewarding when I am finished school and can say I did it.
Looking back at the year there are definitely some improvements I want to make for next year. The first improvement is to lower my procrastination levels. This year I would wait until last minute to do a lot of my assignments. While my work always gets done, I think it is a bad habit that I need to kick before my classes become more and more difficult. My next improvement is more personal. Next year I would like to see myself living a healthier lifestyle. This includes eating better food and going to the gym more often. I think that if I do this I will perform better in school since I should have more energy and not be tired all of the time.
After experiencing my first year in college I have realized that the time goes so fast and that I really need to enjoy it while I can. With that being said, I can’t wait to see what my second year at Ohio State brings to my life.
G.O.A.L.S.
Update:
Academic Enrichment: This semester I took Terror and Terrorism with Jeffery Lewis. This class was very informative to me because it gave me a new perspective on terrorism. I learned that things that we categorize as terrorism may not actually be terrorism. They could be freedom fighters. this is especially the case with the FLN in Algeria when they were under the French. Through this class I was also able to learn about a lot of different “terrorist” organizations. For example, I learned about the Weather Underground. They were a terrorist group in the United States during the 60’s who were very much anti-government.
Leadership Development: I currently hold 2 leadership positions. First, I am the Co-President of Arabic Language Club. As Co-President, I do administrative tasks and ensure that the meetings run smoothly as well as provide material for group discussion. I am also a Student Cook Lead at Traditions at Kennedy. I make sure that all of the required tasks get done efficiently and assist the full time Cooks with anything they need. I am currently working on becoming a Student Cook Manager. I am finished with my Student Cook Manager List and am just waiting to hear back from my boss with the results of my interview and test. I am very excited to be the new Student Cook Manager at Kennedy.
Service Engagement: I have had the fantastic to volunteer with refugees in Columbus. I got to work with elementary school kids with World Relief Columbus. This was an amazing opportunity because I got to speak with kids who had just recently moved to the United States from the Middle East. I loved getting to spend time with the kids and just have fun. We were able to teach each other English and Arabic.
Career
This is the resume that I use for government internships or jobs to which I apply. I have to have this specialized resume because government internships require different information than a standard resume.
About Me
Hi. I am Madison Andrews. I am an out of state student from Laurel, Maryland. My hometown is less than 45 minutes from Washington, D.C., which is the central area for politics and government in the United States. I have lived In the same city for my whole life. Also, while in high school I was an International Baccalaureate Program candidate. While in this program I was exposed to a variety of cultures and ideas. This was especially so in our Model United Nations Organization. I have a younger sister who is in the fifth grade now and was sad to see me go so far away from home. Yes, I left my home of 18 years to come to The Ohio State University. I chose to come to this awesome school because of its diversity and lively atmosphere. The campus in itself drew me in, and I immediately knew where I wanted to be.
I am double majoring in International Studies with a concentration in Security and Intelligence and in Arabic. I chose this major for two reasons. The first reason being that I watched a video on YouTube where Ohio State students had to find a way to deal with a mock terrorist attack. I thought the activity and the strategy skills that were required in this activity were really interesting. I knew that this was something I wanted to be a part of. The second reason I chose this major was because my mother works at the State Department, so I hear about some events that are taking place both internationally and domestically that affect the Unite States. I wanted to be able to help keep this country and its people safe. This major is most suitable for the career path I would like to take in the Intelligence Community. With this degree I hope to work with the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of State. At this point I am not sure of the specific area of intelligence in which I want to work. Hopefully, during my time at Ohio State my major classes will help me narrow my focus on a specific career.
While at The Ohio State University I hope to take advantages of the many opportunities that are presented. Whether it be internships, study abroad programs, community service, or just making connections with the faculty and staff. I am currently in the Second-Year Transformational Experience Program. This program has allowed me to meet many people outside of my major and gain different perspectives from them. This program will also allow me to participate in a project that will allow me to grow as an individual. The program will fund any experience up to two thousand dollars. I am currently working on getting a Leadership activity approved. This program is an International Studies Leadership Conference in Dubai. Being able to participate in this activity would be beneficial for both of degrees. I would have an opportunity to practice my Arabic speaking in practical situations. I hope that I am able to get this experience approved.
UPDATE:
In the 2016-2017 school I was the Co-President and soon to be Cultural Chair in the coming school year. We are a new club this year so it was a learning experience for all. Unlike the more uncommon languages taught at OSU, Arabic doesn’t have a round-table for students to practice their speaking. So, this club has given me the opportunity to practice in an informal setting. I have seen some substantial growth with my Arabic skills. As a part of the club leadership, I lead group discussion, run meetings, club administration: making social media posts, reserve rooms, manage club attendance, identify weekly meeting topics for discussion. Personally, Arabic club has made me love the Arabic language more. I incorporate Arabic into my daily life by listening to Arabic music and watching films in Arabic. I hope to travel around the Middle East so I can experience the culture first-hand.
Next year I will be a Resident Advisor on the International Affairs Scholar’s floor in Smith-Steeb. I am very excited to be working as a RA. I hope to have a positive impact on my residents and make their college experience memorable. I will be working with another RA who is also an International Affairs Scholar. I can’t wait to get to know Will and my residents and have a good year with them.