ACES Mentor/Mentee Interview
Harriet Osei Twerefour: Biology Major
- How did you decide on the major you have chosen?
- How do you plan to get involved on campus?
- Why did you choose ACES?
- What is your dream job and why?
- What is one of the most important things that you have learned so far at Ohio State?
Over the past couple of months, I have had the pleasure of meeting my mentee, Harriet, and getting to know her more each time we’ve met. Each time we meet, I get to see more of Harriet’s personality and understand the aspects of her life that make her who she is. Over coffee, Harriet and I discussed many of these aspects of her life. Harriet, a biology major, aspires to be a pediatrician in a hospital. She would love to work at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in downtown Columbus. I found it very interesting that Harriet was so set on being a pediatrician. Her answer to why she had chosen this path, was even more interesting. Harriet grew up in Ghana, Africa. As a child, she can remember her grandmother always making home medicine for her family. Her grandmother, was therefore, her greatest inspiration to pursue a career in medicine.
Harriet and I also got to talk about the involvement opportunities on campus. I learned that Harriet is involved in a social organization on campus, called African Youth League. This organization allows her to meet new people and do a lot of fun social activities, such as canvas painting. Another organization Harriet is involved with is Program for Advancing in Scholarships and Service. She had heard about this organization while in high school and applied before beginning her first semester here at Ohio State. The program provides many opportunities for service and has tons of food at every meeting, which is Harriet’s favorite thing about the program! Along with these organizations, Harriet also has found a church that she attends Mass at each week.
Harriet also loves being an Advocate for Community and Education Scholar. Originally, Harriet had hoped to be in the Health Science Scholars program. She now, however, is glad to be a part of ACES. Her favorite part about the program is getting to meet students with a variety of interests. She also enjoys how laid back the program is, as her school work can be very stressful. Though community service was one of Harriet’s favorite things to do in high school, she feels that getting involved in service opportunities may be more difficult at Ohio State. As Harriet’s mentor, I will help her find ways to get involved in the community. During our meeting, I gave her ideas on where to volunteer based on my experience last year as a first-year member of ACES.
Coming to Ohio State has been a big change for Harriet, as it is for most students. She loves the diversity on campus, which is one of the main reasons she chose a big university like Ohio State. Throughout her time at Ohio State she hopes to meet many new people, study abroad, and get an “A” in Calculus, which has proven to be her hardest class thus far! The most important thing that she has learned so far at Ohio State is to be true to who she is. Harriet knows when it is time to study and when it is time to hang out with friends. Harriet does not fall into peer pressure and knows when to draw the line if she is stepping too far out of her comfort zone. I truly value this aspect of Harriet and admire her for her ability to stay true to who she is!
Throughout the year, I hope to continue to build a relationship with Harriet as both her mentor and friend. As we both have a strong interest in the health field, I hope to be able to give Harriet advice on this path since I have been through many of the same things she will be going through her first year. I will serve as her mentor to help her get involved in the community and accomplish the service component that the Advocates for Community and Education Scholars program greatly values.