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Florida Trip to work with A Rocha

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This summer I was fortunate enough to spend some time working with Dr. Sluka and the A Rocha organization in Florida. This organization does amazing work around the world to save our Earth through research, education and sustainablilty. While in Florida, I learned from and assisted Dr. Sluka in his work researching the effect of microplastics in his area. This picture was taken with Dr. Sluka, Brittany Ederer, my fellow interns and I. The masks we are all wearing were generously donated to A Rocha by a talented woman who made them by hand. She used scraps of fabric that would have otherwise been thrown away. It has quickly become my favorite mask and I love knowing it was sustainably and locally made.

http://www.arocha.org/en/projects/

 

Second Year Reflection

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My second year here at OSU has been nothing short of unpredictable. After finally being able to move back on campus and reconnect with my friends, peers and professors, I was faced with a new challenge: online school. Over the course of this year I spent hours watching my classes on a screen and I felt that there was no way for me to find a community in this new Zoom world. So, I began to push myself to get involved wherever I could. I began working at OSU’s COVID testing center, I was accepted into the Chimes Junior Honorary, I volunteered with the Red Cross as a part of H&S Semester of Service and I began to form small groups of students in my classes. We met over Zoom to study and work on assignments. All-in-all I believe this semester is proof of the resiliency of human beings and the necesity of connection–human and internet.

Abstract

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Hello! My name is Becky Cook and this is my ePortfolio. This website is a collection of some of my most memorable service experiences, some pieces of work I have completed and facts about me. I hope in viewing this website you get to know me a little better!

Dog Adoption

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I have always loved working with animals and it is so encouraging to me to see organizations like Canine Collective advocating for animals to be treated with love and respect. I almost immediately fell in love with the dog I was given to help, Precious. She reminded me that their are so many dogs in adoption centers that
deserve a loving home. Adopt, don’t shop!

Senior Capstone

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As part of a interdisciplinary humanities course, I was tasked with finding a controversial question that interested me, fully and unbiasedly researching both sides of the argument, and compiling it all into a polished research paper. This was the first time I had ever been given such an open-ended prompt. Choosing one out of the dozens of questions I wanted answered was one of the most difficult aspects. I settled on a topic that I was not only interested in, but that was outside the realm of what I generally liked to study. Should the US Allow for PAS on the Sole Basis of Mental Illness? – Becky Cook

About Me

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My name is Becky Cook, I am a Junior at The Ohio State University and a member of the Biological Sciences Scholars Program. I grew up in Hudson, Ohio and graduated from Hudson High School in 2019. I am double majoring in biology and biochemistry and plan on continuing my education through grad school. Since I was young, my dream has been to become a marine biologist.

I was raised in a household that valued education and pushed me to seek after a challenging and well-rounded education. As such, I have grown to consider my education a top priority, both in the classroom and in real world settings. Although I am planning a major in a scientific field I will continue to spend time studying the humanities. I believe that the critical thinking skills, cultural understanding and discussions about the human condition that the humanities classes cultivate is vital to receiving a complete education. As someone who has spent my life valuing education, I chose to be a part of the Biological Sciences Scholars program, in order to meet like-minded students and forge deeper connections with my educators.

In high school, I was involved in a wide-variety of activities. I am proud to have introduced a chapter of the United Nation’s Foundation GirlUp! Club to my school. As the president of GirlUp! I not only had a part in raising both money and awareness for the health and education of girls in developing country, but I also had the honor of empowering the girls in my community step up and become leaders with voices of their own. Over the course of my four-year high school career I accumulated over 150 service hours as a part of service-oriented clubs such as, Key Club, Hudson Community First, and HUDDLE Peer Mentoring. Serving mine and other’s communities has and always will have a important place in my life. I am extremely passionate about giving back and hope to spend my life in service of others. My first year at OSU I volunteered with many different, amazing organizations all of Columbus such as, Steps for Sarcoma, Canine Collective, and a bunny fostering organization! This past semester, spring of 2021, I was given the opportunity to work along side the Red Cross and H&S for a semester long service project dedicated to mental health advocacy.

 

Semester in Review

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Reflecting on the last twelve weeks of my life is a surreal feeling. Ever day here has taught me something new, from how to live with three strangers to studying for midterm exams to making sure I eat proper meals every day. This semester has done so much more than just further my academic career. As an introvert and a perfectionist it has always been hard for me to step away from that which I find familiar. In high school, on the first day of my senior capstone class, my teacher introduced me to a quote by Neale Donald Walsch: “life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” I chose OSU because I knew that it would push me out of my comfort zone and this semester, I have challenged myself to actively embrace that quality. More than anything, the last semester has only made me more excited for the next seven.

G.O.A.L.S.

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  • The “G” in the G.O.A.L.S. stands for global awareness. This pillar of the Honors and Scholars program urges students to actively pursue an appreciation for diversity and the differences between us that makes every individual unique. I was fortunate enough to be the president and co-founder of the GirlUp! Club chapter at my high school for two years. The mission of GirlUp! Club is to raise money and awareness for girls’ health and education in developing countries. One of the most valuable lessons I learned in this position was the power of educating myself and those around me. Through GirlUp! I was able to learn about different cultures and the plight of women around the world. I learned that information has the power to inspire.
  • The “O” symbolizes original inquiry. Honors & Scholars students understand the value of the research process. As such, they actively seek out engaging experiences not only in class, but also in independent experiences with top researchers here on campus and in across the globe.
  • The “A”  stands for academic enrichment. Honors & Scholars students are challenged to pursue academic excellence through not only a rigorous course curriculum, but also through experiences beyond classroom. I have always considered my education the most important facet of my life. Throughout high school I consistently challenged myself by taking honors and AP classes every semester.
  • The “L”  in G.O.A.L.S. represents leadership development. Honors & Scholars advocates for students to develop essential leadership skills that are useful both in the classroom and beyond the university, as a member of society.
  • The “S” refers to service engagement or the Honors & Scholars students commitment to service. I believe that service is essential to a well-rounded education. Through organizations in my community, such as Barlow Farm, organizations in my school, such as HUDDLE Mentoring, and my church, Redeemer Church. I have completed over 150 hours of community service.