Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

Global Awareness: I am currently enhancing my appreciation for the French language and culture through the courses French 2101 and French 3101. The 2101 course is especially useful for broadening my understanding of the francophone world, as the class is oriented more around society and culture rather than grammar rules. With the help of STEP, I am exploring my options for studying abroad this coming Summer. I hope to use what I have learned in class to help me have an educational immersive experience soon.

Original Inquiry: So far, nothing I have done meets the standards of original inquiry. However, next semester I will most likely be enrolled in several major-related classes, and I hope these give me the foundation of knowledge needed to participate in research or critical thinking related to the field of psychology.

Academic Enrichment: I have decided to pursue a minor in French, because language proficiency, and being thoroughly acquainted with francophone culture is important to me. Through my studies of French, I feel as if I am closing in on a transformative experience. This semester, I am enrolled in a history of art course, which has so far me offered me the tools to appreciate art I observe outside of the classroom in a profoundly clearer light. I am also enrolled in a nutrition class, which has enabled me to consider my health in an academic perspective.

Leadership Development: Currently, I am employed as a server at a restaurant. This has been the best outlet for refining leadership skills I have had this semester. The single most important skill I have developed is effectively setting an example for others to follow. My commitment to service related tasks has caught the attention of coworkers, many of whom now look to me for guidance, or defer to me for spontaneous decisions. My leadership style is very much grounded in personal relationships. I believe the best way to motivate people is to start from a place of empathy.

Service Engagement: I am in the midst of a long term commitment to Crisis Text Line. I have pledged to volunteer 200 hours of my time to the platform. I am serving as a counselor to anonymous texters who want short term guidance through personal crises. Through Crisis Text Line, I have explanded my understanding of mental health, as well as (through anecdotal examples) the impact certain socioeconomic factors have on mental well-being.

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Artifacts

I chose my experience working with my classmate Katie on our French podcast as my artifact because it is a good representation of what I learned this semester. This podcast was an assignment in our Francophone Studies course, and its purpose was to showcase our conversation skills through a pair of interviews. We both had to recount a terrifying experience, followed by a series of questions from the other person. Our eight minute conversation was recorded at Katie’s house.
This podcast showcases how far I’ve come in speaking in French, my second language. I was asked to describe a time I was in fear, and I think that emotional impetus pushed my storytelling ability to a new level. The process of asking and answering questions gave me an opportunity for deep introspection, which also represents a new benchmark for me as a French speaker. I have plenty of experience talking about my past, but not in such a meaningful or emotional context. Sharing this challenge with another person added a personal dimension that had been lacking in my studies beforehand.
I believe that this project will inspire me to actively seek meaning in future academic experiences. What I mean by that is that I will not merely look to complete an assignment, but rather derive something more valuable or personally fulfilling if I can.

About Me

[Your “About Me” is a brief biographical statement that might include your intended major, your academic interests, your goals, as well as the things that make you unique.  Definitely include a picture! Also, remember that you can always update this post at any point. For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]