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.

G.O.A.L.S.

I have the privilege of serving at two organizations during my sophomore year at The Ohio State University as part of Mount Leadership Society’s Year of Service. The Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Homework Help Center and the Columbus Dream Center’s Sisterhood program both invest in the next generation of leaders through academic enrichment and social support.

At the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Homework Help Center, I get to teach and guide students of all ages and from a plethora of backgrounds in completing their homework and project assignments. Due to the diversity of the Whetstone branch, I encounter some students who speak English as a second language, some who attend Columbus Public Schools, and some who attend private schools. As a future educator, I am challenged by this variety, as I learn and grow personally through instructing different students every day. I have also been made aware of some of the pitfalls in the American education system and how these educational issues disproportionately affect students due to their races and family incomes. The social justice issue of education and poverty is seen every time I visit the Help Center, and after leaving, I’m always grateful the Help Center exists, for marginalized students especially, and that I get to be a part of it.

While serving at the Columbus Dream Center’s Sisterhood program, I get to lead and mentor a group of middle school and high school girls from low income neighborhoods. As the girls open up about the issues they readily overcome, the social justice issues of poverty and youth challenges are seen and addressed. I feel so grateful to get to grow personally at this program, while also helping these girls learn, grow, and discover who they were made to be.

My G.O.A.L.S. are met through my involvement with these two organizations. I am academically enriched and challenged through teaching others at the Homework Help Center, my leadership skills and capacity are growing and continually being stretched as a lead Sisterhood and mentor kids both at Sisterhood and the Homework Help Center. I am also being gifted and educated on the social justice issues prevalent at both sites and those issues impacts on a global scale. I am so excited and expectant for who I will be after this year – as I already have developed as a servant leader.