Last semester was a whirlwind that, in hindsight, went by so fast. It was filled with many firsts, from my first day of college to my first OSU football game as a Buckeye. I entered as a criminology major and I’m glad that this has proven to work out for me so far. I love learning and with this major it’s been really intriguing to learn some of the processes behind why we behave the way we do and the theory of crime along with crime statistics.

The start of college also signified my start as a Mount Leadership Society Scholar and Morrill Scholar. My whole life I’ve been involved in different advocacy, community service, and leadership experiences that I was glad to continue it with these two incredible programs. From going to retreat to attending Leadership Summit, it’s been a blast. I loved volunteering for various service events and even joining the R.O.W. (Recruitment, Outreach, and Welcoming) committee for Mount.

I also started my Girl’s Circle journey with participating in Women’s Circle. To prepare us for working with Columbus area girls and help us learn about ourselves, we were in small groups to discuss our own experiences as women. I found this to be very powerful and motivating just to have a place where I could go during the week, leave whatever else I was dealing with at the door, and just have open dialogue with other women. Every week that time was so therapeutic and refreshing to be able to release my feelings from different life experiences I’ve had, while learning more about myself and the women around me. I look forward to leading a Girl’s Circle this semester and not only make an impact on these young women, but also continue to learn more about myself.

This semester I hope to continue my academic progress and drive. I’m excited to pursue new academic and career focused opportunities along with continuing to develop my leadership and interpersonal skills. I can’t wait to see what’s ahead and I look forward to more experiences with my fellow Mounties, MSP, and Girl’s Circle!

Over the course of this school year, I’ve had access to many extraordinary experiences and opportunities. Whether it was volunteering with Mount, traveling to Washington D.C., being a Morrill Scholar, or leading elementary schools girls in promoting self-esteem and empowerment with Girls Circle, It’s been amazing to be a Buckeye. I’ve witnessed myself grow not just academically, but professionally and personally.  I’ve been able to immerse myself in an entirely different environment and learn what values and beliefs I truly want to have for myself. Not only did I make the adjustment to the chaotic world of college, but I’ve learned so much about myself. I’m able to handle conflict well, a skill I’ve continually been working on. I’ve also been able to grow in experiences where I’ve been placed outside of my comfort zone. Through personality tests I took with Mount, I learned my Clifton strengths and VIA personality traits. These helped me put into words the characteristics of my personality and my strongest skills.

I also feel more confident in my choice of major. When I initially entered college I picked my path of study relatively randomly, but through taking classes and interacting with different professionals and alumni, I feel more secure in my path of criminology. I also recently made the addition of security and intelligence as a minor; I’m still contemplating adding an additional major or minor. While I’m not yet certain of what lies ahead, I currently have aspirations towards becoming an intelligence analyst. I’ve just finished one section of my college journey, but I’m excited for what my next years of college have in store.