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Explore Columbus

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When I first moved to Columbus, it was overwhelming to grasp the vastness of such a modern and diverse city. I first visited Downtown Columbus through the First Year Leadership Collaborative prior to starting school. We volunteered at COSI for the day and walked around part of Scioto Peninsula Park. The next weekend, I joined a group of friends that I had made at said leadership collaborative to visit the food truck rally. First we had to hop on the COTA and ride to a stop near the park. After arriving, we walked all along the Olentangy river and tasted a variety of foods. Next year we are all planning on meeting up to visit the food truck rally again!

 

 

 

A few weeks ago, my mom visited and we made our way through The Short North. Walking up and down the street, we visited shops ranging from dog necessities to a candle making lab. It was exciting to see all of the shops and support local business. Of course we had to get tacos at Condado’s and stop for ice cream Jeni’s!

 

 

Columbus is a modern city, flaunting its cultural diversity and passion for local goods. The city, at large, is ever evolving with endless places to learn, whether that be in the arts or through the cultural immersion found in diverse foods. I recommend visiting Jeni’s, COSI, The Columbus Museum of Art, and the Short North District. Each of these places are unique, providing a wide variety of experiences for every traveler! In the spring, I hope to map out a day of Columbus exploring, allowing time to find the hidden jems of Columbus and indulge on the beautiful city I now call home.

Semester Reflection

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Before joining the Biological Scholars program, it was hard to find my niche here at Ohio State. In a school with over 45,000 undergraduates, it’s easy to feel lost, but scholars allowed me to find close friends and be surrounded by a group of people who are also passionate about biology. Throughout this semester, I’ve grown exponentially. I went into college with a very rigid plan for my future: Biology, Pre-med. That was the only thing I allowed myself to deem acceptable for my future. However, Biological Scholars helped me to identify my strengths and led me to the decision of changing my major to Early Childhood Education. Additionally, my first semester in the Biological Scholars program broadened my horizons in the teaching and understanding of natural sciences. Not only did I learn how to study the realm of science, but also how to enjoy it.

As a whole, my first semester here at Ohio State was a big culture shock. Not only did I have to learn how to dictate my time, eat a proper amount daily, and workout at least 4 days a week, I learned the importance of hard work. In high school I worked incredibly hard, but with 8 hours of class everyday and after school activities, it was very hard to study the proper amount. However, this past semester, I have had the time to properly learn my material and study it to the fullest extent. Additionally, I learned how to find true friends and the importance of letting things go. Through all of the things I learned this semester, I have evolved as an individual into a more productive and overall better version of myself.

 

Scholar’s Event

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I have attended both of the study sessions that have been held this year. I really enjoy going to these events because I am able to meet people in my classes and study with them, bouncing ideas off of one another. Additionally, I gained the knowledge that I work best when studying with other individuals, which will help me to improve my studying skills in the future.

G.O.A.L.S.

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G- Global Awareness

The understanding and appreciation of diversity, and the uniqueness of individuals. In hopes to understand more about the cultures I will encounter in the public school system as an educator, I plan to participate in the FEEP program and to volunteer to help inner city students. These two opportunities will allow me to empathize with my future students and understand what they are going through.

 

O- Original Inquiry

Engaging in research in order to further understand a specific topic and how research is conducted. I have found a number of researchers on campus who study the development and learning disabilities in young children, and how that affects their education. I would like to study these things in order to understand the biological side of learning disabilities.

 

A- Academic Enrichment

As an honors and scholars student, it is important to take rigorous courses and perform above the average, displaying that academics play a huge rule in the future. For example, I took a few AP science courses in high school. However, I decided to retake them here in college in order to push myself to dive deeper in the topics and perform even better. Thus far, I have tremendously improved my knowledge of Chemistry.

 

L- Leadership Development

Through the development and application of leadership, honors and scholars students will be able to identify their role, learn how to lead, and discover a variety of leadership opportunities. In the past 3 months, I have gotten the chance to work on my leadership skills in two major settings. I attended the Leadership Collaborative before school started, where I learned the qualities that make a good leader and how to lead in everyday life. Additionally, I applied to be a site leader for the Community Commitment event at the beginning of the year. During that experience, I helped lead my peers in a day of service and to reflect on the importance of service, not just to the people being served, but also to the individual serving.

 

S- Service Engagement

In order to develop an understanding of prevalent social issues and the community, honors and scholars students engage in service, bettering the world surrounding them. I hope to find a specific organization that I can continually volunteer with.

Tangible Representation of My Goals

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As a future educator, my professional goals revolve around the success and interests of my students. I believe that by inspiring the youth to follow their dreams and helping them find their passions, my job as an educator will both fulfilling and essential. For the past three summers, I have taught Sunday School at my church. Before leaving for college, I had each of my students dress up as what they wanted to be. Some of them said the wanted to be firemen or doctors, and others wanted to be artists or parents. I reminded them that they are capable of following their dreams and to hold those dreams tight, not letting anyone convince them to give up on those dreams. This is precisely the type of impact I hope to make in the future as an educator: making a difference in the lives of individuals and inspiring them to find their passions.

About Me

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Hello! My name is Hayley Combs. I am an Early Childhood Education major. Since I have been able to speak, I have been interested in teaching. When my brothers were old enough to start learning, I would hold school sessions in my room, where I taught them how to read, identify shapes and colors, and do basic math. I believe that the best teachers incorporate creativity into every aspect of the classroom, indulging on the fluidity of children and their endless desire to dream. Additionally, it is of utmost importance to me as a future educator to understand each child on an individual level and acknowledge their goals. Ultimately, I chose this career path because I want to impact the world on a microscopic level, knowing that by doing so the world will inevitably be impacted on a macroscopic level.

A few of my goals include: studying abroad, dedicating time to volunteer work, getting my bachelors degree and attending graduate school, finding a career I’m passionate about, and traveling to all seven continents.

5 THINGS THAT MAKE ME UNIQUE

  1. I traveled to Germany to visit a friend last summer and hiked through the Alps
  2. I have a planner that is bigger than my notebooks and I use it on a daily basis
  3. I nanny over the summer and incorporate science into my job, creating a new experiment for each week
  4. I ran a half marathon last October and placed second in my division
  5. I enjoy baking in my free time