Summer Job at Camp Marist:
My summer job for summer of 2016 was working at Camp Marist in Effingham, NH, as a camp counsellor. My job consisted on working in a cabin as well as leading activities such as yoga, tennis, track an soccer. Throughout the summer I made it my mission to be as responsible, optimistic and energetic as I possibly can, all while maintaining the campers in a positive and safe environment. I want the campers to feel as I felt when I was a camper: that I was having the “best summer of my life”. This job has been an invaluable part of my personal growth and development because I have experienced a greater amount of responsibility and independence. As a counselor I find myself in the position of acting as a role model for younger people, and my mission as such is to make a meaningful and positive impact on the lives of the kids I look after and lead. In short, I love working at camp and most of all I love that through my work and with the help of many others I can help the kids take home something good out of their experience here at camp.
Girls from Scot’s Lodge cabin, the cabin I worked and slept in.
It has affected me greatly and made me a more confident, strong and caring person. I have further developed my problem solving skills as well as my social skills. In addition, the friendships I have made these past weeks at camp are ones I wish to hold for the rest of my life. Here I have met some amazing people who have each left me something valuable; whether it be a tip on how to swing a tennis racket, encouragement to do the iron man, taught me a funky dance or even just exchanged some kind words. It is very meaningful to me and I can honestly say camp has had a huge impact on my life.
Coming to OSU:
Choosing to attend The Ohio State University was not an easy decision. I never though that I would end up attending a school so great in size and spirit and so far away from home. I live in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and coming up to the states to study is a huge step in both my academic and personal life. I knew the transition would take effort and time. I knew I would experience many new things, such as getting used to speaking English in my everyday life instead of Spanish, learning more about American culture, and meeting people from different places in the US and occasionally from other parts of the world. Also, another big thing is how I will (hopefully) learn how to survive winter, especially considering I have never been through a full winter since Puerto Rico only has tropical, summer weather year-round. Even though coming to OSU posed daunting challenges, I am determined to excel here. One of the main reasons I came to the states to study is because of the plethora of opportunities, resources and classes that I would be able to benefit from, a much wider range than that I would have had if I did my undergraduate studies in PR. Another thing that drew me to OSU was how most of the people from here I came into contact with are so friendly and willing help. I noticed here there is always a resource for aid in any aspect that it may be needed, whether it be for tutoring for classes, learning more about the campus and the school, personal or academic advise, etc. In addition to all of these wonderful traits, OSU has a fervent spirit and pride which also won me over. In the short time that I have been here at OSU, I have grown to love this magnificent school and especially the people in it. I do miss my home a great deal, but when I think about all the possibilities of the things I can do, learn and accomplish here in OSU, I feel it is worth it.
Activities in OSU:
-MEDlife
MEDlife is a nonprofit organization that does community service work as well as informational meetings related to the medical sciences. Many of the members in the club are pre-med students who, like me, have a passion for serving others. What I enjoy most about this club is that it combines two things that I love, serving others and medicine. This organization holds meetings in which guest speakers talk about issues or topics related to the world of medicine. Also, in other meetings, service related or fundraising activities take place. This organization also does three big service trips per year in which medical aid is provided to poor communities in underdeveloped countries or regions. I hope to go on one of these trips next year and have the opportunity to work hands giving to those in need.
-Pre-med Club
The pre-med club provides numerous resources and orientation sessions in order to better prepare its members for medical school. It is a hard and arduous process even before arriving to med school, thus I plan to be prepared by learning all about the process and the steps I need to take each year in this club. Also, through this club I have met some other students who have similar career plans and with whom I have been able to share my ideas, doubts, concerns and expectations about medical school.
-Intramural football:
Getting involved in the intramural flag football team is my attempt to try something new here at OSU. I have never played football before, but I though I would try it out because I thought it might be a good opportunity to get to know more people from Bio Sci scholars and who also live in my residence hall, Barrett House. It is a fun and active way to become closer to likeminded people who have similar career paths in mind.
Bio Sci scholars intramural football team picture
-Wexner Center for the Arts exhibition
I am very fond of the arts and enjoy both performing and admiring them. I often paint and draw as a stress relieving activity as well as a pastime. For this reason as soon as I heard there was an exhibition party at the Wexner Center for the Arts I was thrilled and sure to attend. I invited some friends from my residence hall and we had a fun night filled with inspiring art pieces, bad dancing, lovely live music and bizarre films. I plan to continue to attend to similar enriching and fun events.
Bio Sci scholars and friends from my residence hall
-Delta Omega Kappa
DOK, for short, is a pre-health majors sorority that has allowed me to meet a very intelligent, driven, kind and optimistic group of girls who have enriched my experience at OSU. They have become some of my closest friends, best study buddies and coolest people to destress and hang out with. I now get to know older girls in my same career track who are a good resource for advise and help in any career related questions I may have. I am getting involved in this organisation as a elected cabinet member for the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 semesters.
-Scholarship Donor Luncheon
I was able to speak to several donors about how grateful us students are for their generosity. This was a good opportunity to talk about our current achievements and to show the measure the donor’s influence in the recipient’s lives and academic careers. It was very nice to be able to share this experience with two other recipients of my same scholarship which is directed towards Puerto Rican Students of academic excellence.