G.O.A.L.S.

The University Honors & Scholars Center at The Ohio State University serves high-ability, motivated undergraduate students. While embracing diversity in both ideas and people, the Center fosters purposeful learning communities that enhance students’ academic and social experiences. The Center facilitates impactful, rigorous, and unique opportunities that further student success and involvement in our G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement.

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.