My second year at Ohio State had a lot of ups and downs, but it went a lot better than my first. This was my first full year as a history major and I loved my classes! I applied for and was accepted into an education abroad program, and I learned a lot about World War II. Unfortunately I am not able to go on the trip (due to COVID-19), but I was still able to accomplish a lot this year. This year I was able to get my GPA up, past a 3.0. This was a really big deal for me because last year, as a health sciences major, I struggled to get my GPA past a 2.7. This year I was able to form relationships with faculty in the history department, and that has been a goal of mine for a while. I think that my biggest challenges this year included balancing school and work, and navigating the new online classes brought on by COVID-19. Both of these started out being rather difficult but, after a while, I was able to easily adapt. Speaking of my job, I started working at the Ohio History Center. This has been extremely beneficial to me because it has given me the opportunity to further explore the history field and learn about how I can be involved. I’m looking forward to next year!
Performance Classes in Quarantine
Once Ohio State announced that classes would be online for the rest of the semester, I was confused. While I had multiple reasons to be confused, I was especially confused and curious about how my flute choir class would run for the rest of the semester. We did not meet during the first week of online classes, and I assumed that we would not meet again for the rest of the semester. Thankfully, I was wrong. We started meeting during the next week. The class turned into each of us having individual lessons from our instructor during our weekly class time. It has been very beneficial for everyone involved, especially since most of us have not had lessons since we were in high school. I am reminded by the fact that originally I believed that if I was the instructor, I would have just cancelled the class for the rest of the semester. This whole experience has taught me that even though a situation might seem impossible, it is important to look for ways to get past it. I will keep this class in mind next time I find myself in a situation like this either as a student, or as a professional.
A Lesson on Inclusivity and Self-Confidence
In my theatre class, we have been discussing inclusivity. Our discussions have covered a range of ideas relating to inclusivity, but in one particular class I remember discussing the idea that everyone deserves to be given the option to be included. This is something that I have always agreed with because I think that there are hardly any reasons to exclude people from things (apart from obvious reasons like contracting an infectious disease or something that makes the inclusion unsafe). I have always believed this to be true regarding everyone…except myself. For some reason I can always think of a multitude of reasons that people shouldn’t include me in things or that I don’t deserve to be included. I’ve felt sad because of this, but I’ve always reasoned that it was for the best because there’s always been something about me that people shouldn’t like.
This feeling eventually changed because of the discussion we had in class. One of the reasons that I like the class so much is because everyone in it is so supportive and kind to one another. They made me realize that I, too, deserve to be included. Ever since then, I’ve noticed that my confidence has increased and that I am more likely to speak up while working in group settings. Instead of assuming that I should keep quiet because no one wants to hear what I have to say, or that no one cares about me being in the group, I have been putting myself out there. As a result, I’ve found that people actually do want to hear what I have to say and that more people see me than I had previously assumed. I’m really thankful for the discussions in my theatre class because of fulfilling moments like these!
My First Semester at OSU
This semester has been really rough for me. I went into college knowing it was going to be hard work because I had taken college classes in high school. However, I was not prepared for the challenges OSU presented me. When the semester first started I had a really hard time making friends. I did everything alone or with my boyfriend and it was difficult for me. Once I actually started meeting people and trying to make friends, the people I was meeting did not have a lot in common with me. Luckily, I was able to see that quickly and find people who I did have a lot in common with.
Once things started looking up, I started failing my classes. This was incredibly frustrating for me because it seemed like no matter how much I studied and went to tutoring I still could not get my grades up. I felt like I was losing my mind. A little over half-way through the semester I was ready to give up. I figured that I just wasn’t fit to go to college and I should drop out like my brother did. I wasn’t sleeping well and I just kept struggling in my classes so my mom suggested I see a doctor. Shortly after that I was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I was prescribed Adderall and I wouldn’t say it’s turned my life around, but it’s definitely helped. I’m going to have to retake two classes and I’m trying to be okay with that. I try to remember that it’s okay to struggle and I don’t have to do it alone.
I know that I’ve made this semester seem like complete garbage but it hasn’t been completely horrible. The most fun I’ve had at OSU has been being a part of the humanities scholars. I’ve gotten to experience so many new things through this group that I might not have experienced otherwise. Whether it was going to a festival and experiencing other cultures, making a short film, or just going to the community meetings, I was able to forget about everything else for a little bit and just have fun. For someone who does nothing but stress all the time, things like this are extremely important. I’m so glad I was chosen to be a part of the humanities community and I’m ready to see where it takes me next.
Humanities This Week
Thinking about humanities happening in the past week sounds like a very specific and difficult thing to think about. My life is rather boring but I know that there is always something relating to humanities around me.
Just a few days ago I had the amazing opportunity to see Aladdin the Musical. I’m a total musical junkie so I am extremely lucky to have gotten the chance to see it. This week was also Halloween. Halloween is full of humanities themes because it involves art and culture. People get to express themselves and be someone else for a night by creating costumes. I got to go to highball Halloween in the short north and see a hallloween inspired fashion show. It was amazing to see what those artists were able to create with just a little bit of cloth. It was all so creative and I’m so glad I got to see it.
Humans of OSU
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This is Simon Murdock, a second year student at OSU. When I asked Simon to tell me his story, he was confused at first. He didn’t know what to tell me about. What he ended up telling me was a tale of great bravery and sacrifice. This is his story:
One time Simon was on a flight to get to his family’s vacation house on Grand Caymen Island. He was jarred awake by the airplane coming to a stop and he looked at the seat next to him. Sitting in the seat, there was a water bottle. Simon knew he could not leave the water bottle on the plane so he decided it was his duty to be responsible for it. He genuinely believes that this event has shaped him into the person he is today.
Welcome to my Honors & Scholars e-Portfolio
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Year in Review-First Year
My first year here at Ohio State was incredibly difficult. During my first semester I did not do very well in my classes and I absolutely hated school. I felt lost because I realized that after years of wanting to become a physical therapist, I no longer wanted to go into the health field. Science was not something that I felt like further exploring and I definitely could not see myself doing it for the rest of my life. Going into my second semester, I was depressed. I did not know what I wanted to get out of my education, and I really did not know what I was interested in. I took a theater class and a literature class and I was hooked. Reading books and plays from so long ago helped me understand what my true passion was for: History. Since then I have switched my major to History, enrolled in a WWII education abroad program, and set new goals for myself. These goals include traveling the world, getting my PhD in Women’s History, and becoming a college professor. I have gotten a job at the Ohio History Center and I plan on developing relationships with the History Department faculty to further my participation in the history field. I would also like to eventually complete a history-related internship to make me more marketable to potential graduate schools. I am beyond excited for what lies ahead!
G.O.A.L.S. Update and Career Plan Reflection
Here is how I plan to accomplish my G.O.A.L.S. here at Ohio State:
Global Awareness: Initially my global awareness goals included learning more about the French language and getting the opportunity to study abroad. I have been able to complete my foreign language requirement by taking French 1,2, and 3. Through these classes I have been able to learn a lot about the French language and French culture. I also learned a lot about French culture through the French literature course I took last year. Right now my main focus is on the study abroad portion of the goal. I hope to be able to study abroad next summer or sometime during my senior year.
Original Inquiry: My original inquiry goal is to do more research on Women’s History. I am not sure what my original goal was for this, but after taking a research seminar this past year, I know that research is something that I enjoy doing and that it is something that I would like to continue to do. I am hoping to find an internship that allows me to do research on topics that I am passionate about.
Academic Enrichment: After a difficult first year of college, I hope to be able to graduate with at least a 3.7 gpa. I also hope to qualify for the Dean’s List during the rest of my time at Ohio State.
Leadership Development: During the rest of my time at Ohio State I would like to join more clubs and activities that allow me to have a leadership role. I would also like to have a leadership role with a future internship, volunteer, or professional position.
Service Engagement: While at Ohio State I would like to volunteer more. I have been able to volunteer and raise money for Buckeyethon for two years and I would like to continue. I am also interested in volunteering for nonprofits like the Ohio History Connection.
Being in Humanities Scholars has truly opened my eyes about how many opportunities are available to me on and off campus. It has helped me understand my interests academically and professionally, and it has allowed me to express myself in ways that I cannot in the classroom. I hope that my experiences in Humanities Scholars will help me advance on to graduate school and into the professional world. I have had so many new experiences that I never would have had without the scholars program. For example, going on the New York City trip in 2019 was one step towards my goal of traveling more. Even though it was not abroad, it was a new environment and culture than I experience here in Columbus. Humanities Scholars also provides me with many opportunities to participate in Service Engagement, which is helpful. Overall, I love how Humanities Scholars continues to help me achieve my goals and transform me into a better person.
Career
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