Second year first semester:

This semester I started to feel more “at home” in the university since I was able to navigate the campus without getting lost. Also I gained a sense of familiarity and with the university since I was running into friends all around campus. I became a bit more accustomed to the fast pace of college classes and and got used to the idea of always being busy. However I am still leaning to juggle my commitments since this semester I found myself saying the phrase “Sorry, I can’t go because I have to study”. This is not all that bad because I was prioritising my school work and making progress in my studying techniques. Nevertheless, I was failing sometimes to incorporate more social and stress relieving activities into my busy schedule. Near the end of the semester I started to recognised this and tried to become more organised and sometimes get ahead on work in order to be able to do more activities that will enrich my experience in the university.

 

This semester I was involved in the Peer-Leader program for Biology:

This was a wonderful experience because I was able to lead a small class of students in the 1113 Biology course in some review packets and knowledge checks. This experience served as a an opportunity to further my leadership development and to build more confidence in my Biology knowledge. I also greatly enjoyed working with the peer-leader team because it was nice to share ideas with likeminded people who are passionate about teaching and learning Biology.

Second year second semester:

These past two years I have seen myself grow and mature in so many ways. I have learned to prioritise and keep a planner close by in order to not fall behind on my schoolwork. I have outgrown my freshman year FOMO, fear of missing out. I have also learned that balance is the most important factor for becoming a successful student and individual. By balance I mean making time for an active social life, healthy lifestyle and for my school work and carrier oriented work. I’ve learned that you CAN and SHOULD ask for help if available. I had a misconception about asking for help in that it made one look weak or unintelligent. However I have let go of those ideas and have gained a new perspective on asking for help; it shows you are humble enough to accept what you do not know and proactive enough to try to eliminate those areas of doubt.

Some of the things that have helped me maintain balance this year:

  1. Intramural indoor soccer

Signing up for intramural soccer was very beneficial because it kept my body active and helped reduce stress through physical exercise. This was also a good opportunity to make new friends since I only knew the team captain beforehand.

2. Joining the pre-health oriented sorority: Delta Omega Kappa

This was one of the best decisions I have made in my second year. I got to meet some of the most intelligent, dedicated and optimistic people in joining this organisation. I have made great friends and awesome study buddies. Joining this sorority has also helped me maintain balance because it provides opportunities to focus on studies, such as our weekly study tables at Thompson Library, as well as social events in which I can desires and spend time with some friends.

3. Surviving Organic Chemistry 1 and Organic Chemistry Lab 1

This has been so far one of my proudest accomplishments. This class has taught me so much about discipline, the different studying techniques and the importance or repetition and practice. This tough class helped me visualise how preparing ahead and staying organised can help a student be successful in any subject.

 

Resume

MARIA E. BARRERAS

Barreras.7@osu.edu (787)234-3090

 

EDUCATION

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY                                                                            Columbus, OH

2nd year Pre-Med track student in the College of Arts and Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Biology, expected May 2020

  • Ohio State Dean’s list –Autumn 2017

 

LAB EXPERIENCE: Chemistry lab 1210 & 1220, Biology lab 1113 & 1114, Organic Chemistry Lab 2450

 

ACADEMIA MARIA REINA                                                                                      San Juan, PR

Sisters of Saint Joseph of Brentwood New York Prep School

High School Diploma, May 19, 2016.

  • First honors – 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grades
  • National Honor Society – 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grades

 

LEADERSHIP

  • Biological Science Scholars member –2016 to present
    • Peer mentor for Biological Science Scholars- Autumn 2018
  • Delta Omega Kappa: Academic pre-heath sorority – Autumn 2017 to present
    • Cabinet member -Autumn 2018
  • Residence Assistant at Ohio State- Autumn 2018

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

Biology Peer-leader, Ohio State University, Autumn 2017 to Spring 2018

Lead a small, 1 credit hour class, supplemental to Biology 1113 course. A discussion-based class aimed at solidifying the knowledge learned in the Biology lecture course and promote concept analysis and concept interconnection skills.

 

Camp Counselor, Camp Marist, Summer (8 weeks) 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018     Effingham, NH

Taught yoga, tennis and track, among other sports to children ages 6 to 16.

 

VOLUNTEER WORK

Volunteer Teacher, teaching in public elementary school English, science, math and music class to children from 4th, 5th, 6th, and 2nd grade. (2013, 2014, 2015)

 

Jesuit Mission Volunteer, Campamento Misión, Holy Week 2015                          Dominican Republic

Spring break trip to the poverty-stricken community of Arenoso. During the mission I helped in the construction of homes, tended to some of the communities’ basic needs, organized and lead cultural activities, played and taught sports to the children, and visited their houses on a daily basis.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Fundación Dr. García Rinaldi, Summer 2015                                                       San Juan, PR

Medicine field exploration program for medical and aspiring students. Included medical shadowing program in hospitals, a group research project (Topic: The effectiveness of alternative medicine for the treatment of chronic migraines), academic seminars related to health professions, and community service.

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS

  • Enjoy playing the violin for over 10 years
  • OSU Intramural Sports: Flag football, Indoor Soccer

My Year in Review: First semester freshman year

As the end of my first semester here at OSU comes to an end I reflect back on what I have learned and how I have grown since I got here. When I first arrived I had no idea what to expect, but I knew two things for certain: it would be very different from home and it would not be easy. Both of these statements were true. I embrace the fact that the environment and the people are different. It is because of this that I am able to learn new perspectives and ideas from people from different backgrounds and interests. Also, it has been difficult in more than one way. I have had to adapt to living in a different culture, speaking a different language, managing my time, learning in a different style of classes from what I was used to and adjusting to the weather. However, even though these haven’t been easy tasks OSU has provided numerous resources, such as professors, TAs, RAs, advisors, counsellors, among many others, that have made my transition much smoother. I am beginning to learn to utilise these resources and to accept that asking for help is okay. It is not a sigh of weakness or inferior intellectual ability. On the contrary, asking for help proves that a person recognises his or her weaknesses and is smart enough to use the tools provided to improve on such areas. The scholars program has been a very useful resource that has helped me overcome many of the challenges of my first semester at OSU. The seminar provides guidance, direction and resources to help organise myself in order to plan and prepare for my career path. The Biological Science Scholars community has also been a source of support and academic help because I have made great friendships and study pals. By getting involved in the Scholars activities I was able to meet more people in the program, which helped build a greater sense of inclusion within my living environment, since I live in the Bio. Sci. Scholars residence hall. I am very grateful and happy to be part of this community and to the people who are part of it. A special shoutout to Melissa Basford, the manager of the scholars program, for having the patience to deal with us and for giving me the peace of mind that everything related to my academic plans will be okay. And as a wise man once said “You the real MVP!”

In front of Thompson Library

In front of Thompson Library, photo taken on my first visit to The Ohio State University, April 2016

My G.O.A.L.S.

 

My interest in science has been a constant through most of my time in high school, however; recently I became more inclined to the idea of pursuing a career in this area. My interest sparked after taking more challenging science courses in my last years of high school and by participating in a summer program called Fundación Dr. García Rinaldi. In high school I took AP Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology and Adv. Chemistry. Even though sometimes they became difficult I enjoyed taking them because the material was always interesting to me. The Fundación Dr. García Rinaldi summer program enabled me to get a preview of the daily life of medical specialists in Puerto Rico by “shadowing” several doctors with different areas of expertise.

Participating in the Fundación Dr. Gacrcía Rinaldi summer program

Fundación Dr. Gacrcía Rinaldi summer program, with Cherlotte(right), another student in the program.

Participating in the García Rinaldi Foundation summer program allowed me expand my knowledge of medical practices and helped me discover that being a doctor is something that I can see myself doing in the future.

Community service is a great part of my life. I have been involved in community service events for as long as I can remember. More recently I began taking more of a leadership role by organizing a small community service group that distributes meals to the homeless people in Rio Piedras, PR. My group is composed of some of my school friends who share the same passion for helping others.

Community service event I organized to serve meals to homeless people in Rio Piedras.

Community service event serving meals to homeless people in Rio Piedras.

This is another factor that drew me towards the idea of becoming a doctor; since a doctor’s work is to serve the people around him or her by helping them regain health and have a better quality of life.

Although I usually focus on the present and often take things day by day, now that I am in college I see a great advantage in preparing a “game plan” for my future. My dream job is to become a skillful physician and gain enough resources to be able to organize and perform mission trips to impoverished communities around the globe through which I could provide my services as a doctor to those in need. In addition, I would also like to be able to open a free clinic in my home city in Puerto Rico in order to provide people who lack financial resources adequate treatment for their medical conditions.

My first step towards reaching my goal begins with my undergraduate plan and my preparation for medical school. This plan begins with my choice of major: Biology. By picking this major I will gain knowledge and analytical skills that will enable me to succeed in medical school. Also, I plan to get involved in research either next semester or sophomore year so that in that way I can begin to familiarize myself with some of the tools and procedures I will use in medical school.

Joining the Pre-med Club this semester is another way in witch I will engage in activities, gain useful tools and meet people related to my desired career path. Another club related to my major I am joining this semester is MEd life, the community service based organization for students interested in medicine and service around the world. I am particularly interested in this club because it combines two of my passions, medical science and helping others. In this club I believe that I will be able to both increase my global awareness and engage in service, two important areas of the Honors and Scholars program. Additionally, I was considering after participating actively in this organization for some time maybe taking up a leadership position in it might help me further develop my leadership and responsibility skills as well as help me build my resume. To further increase my knowledge about career options and specific areas in the medical field I will also be attending several events offered on campus. These events will help me in gaining academic enrichment, which is part of my goals for the Honors and Scholars program.

Another way in which I plan on gaining academic enrichment is by taking classes unrelated to my major. This is favorable in more ways than one because I can, not only learn about areas that interest me, but also because I gain a more rounded educational experience. This semester I am taking a violin class. Later on, I also wish to take an art or design class and Spanish literature. In addition to this I am considering minoring in a field unrelated to science, which I plan to choose based on my experience of taking some of these non-major courses.

I know that I have a long road ahead of me and that it will not be an easy journey, but I believe that establishing a good plan and a set of goals will help me pave my way to a successful future.

MY Artifacts

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.

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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.

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-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.

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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.

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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.

A Bit About Me

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I am Maria Elisa Barreras Torres. I am a Biology major at The Ohio State University. I live in Puerto Rico and traveled to Ohio to do my undergraduate studies. Here is a bit about myself and what makes me ME.

My exposure to the arts has shaped me into the person I am. My parents first exposed me to the world of art when I was a child. They showed me how I should be open and appreciative to all types of art forms. At the age of 6 I began taking violin lessons. I also spent time drawing and painting. My mother, being an artist herself, taught me the basics, and the rest I learned by watching her, practicing, and experimenting on my own. My fascination for the arts grew deeper the more I learned about different mediums, artists, techniques, and styles. Through the arts, I developed patience and dedication by practicing repeatedly a violin piece until I got it right; creativity and visualization by devising ideas for drawings and paintings; and perspective through the appreciation of music, graphic, and plastic arts. Experimenting in the arts has taught me to slow down and focus on a single task in order to attempt to perform it as close to perfection as possible. Paradoxically, it also taught me to appreciate imperfections, and to understand that true beauty lies not in perfection but in the endeavor of creation.

 

The arts have enabled me to have a balanced life. Throughout my school years I have worked hard and strived for excellence. As a result I place a great deal of pressure on myself, which can occasionally become a little overwhelming. However, I have realized that to achieve my goals I need to maintain a degree of equilibrium between work and pleasure, pressure and relaxation. In the busy, fast-paced, life we live it is difficult to slow down and reflect. The arts have helped me do precisely that. When I play my violin or paint, I become enraptured in what I am doing, nothing else matters at that moment. Performing these arts allows me to focus on a single task and block out anxieties, worries and mental noise. It enables me to organize the flow of ideas and emotions in my head.

 

Arts have also helped me connect with other people. Last April, I attended a Catholic mission trip to an impoverished community in the Dominican Republic. In serving others, I experienced how art can bring people together. Many children in the community we visited were very active and social, yet others were shy and did not interact with us. One day I decided to bring a notebook and coloring pencils to unite the children by giving them drawing lessons. The result was simply wonderful; all of the children became actively involved, even the timid ones, and were able to express their creativity in a constructive and cooperative manner. I also encountered a similar situation closer to home, in a public elementary school I volunteered in last year. The students exhibited short temperedness when facing small disagreements with each other. The last day I surprised them by bringing my violin. As I prepared to play, I saw some of them beginning to argue about something. But, as soon as I started, I was astonished to see how all the kids grew silent, ceased their little feuds and listened attentively to the melody. Through these experiences I learned how universal art is and how it can become an agent that links people together.

 

The arts have been an invaluable instrument in shaping my young life. They have taught me the value of persistence and dedication, served as the medium through which I have embraced a balanced life, and allowed me to connect with, and bring out the best in, other people. They encourage broader perspectives, which can greatly facilitate one’s grasp of new knowledge and development of analytical skills. These lessons I have learned through my exposure to the arts motivate me to continue to cultivate it in my future, as a student and as a professional.