Freshman year was about finding where I belong. I tried many things and found what I really liked and where I wanted to make a difference. I started the school year moving in a few days early as part of the Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars program. I only knew a few people at The Ohio State University so this was a big change in my life. I quickly met new friends within my scholars program, my classes, and extracurricular activities. I first joined club gymnastics and enjoyed meeting people that have an interest in gymnastics like me. Unfortunately, my schedule and classes got in the way of gymnastics and I wasn’t able attend as many practices as I would have liked. One of my most memorable experiences from my first few weeks of being at OSU was when I tried out for and made the rowing team as a coxswain. At first I was super excited to be a part of this team. It was really great to be in a sport like this when I never really thought I would be. After about a month, I realized that I did not enjoy being a coxswain so I stopped rowing once I realized that it was not right for me.
Throughout freshman year, especially the first few weeks, I made many changes. I realized how different college classes are than high school. I had to learn how to really study for my classes. I had to learn how to use metacognition in my classes such as how to use better strategies for learning and higher level thinking which made me a better student overall. I know I want to be a pediatric doctor so I had decided on a pre-med track, but didn’t know the major I wanted have to get there. I changed my major from Health Sciences, to Biology, to Health Promotion, Nutrition, and Exercise Science. I added minors in Psychology and Integrative Approaches to Health and Wellness. At the start of second semester, I started two jobs, a Learn To Swim Instructor and an Adapted Recreational Sports Instructor (teaching sports to people with developmental disabilities). I joined the Leadership, Education, and Development Series (L.E.A.D.S.) program. I applied for and got accepted into the Leadership Council for Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars program for my second year at OSU. All of these have really changed who I am as a leader. While it took many changes, I found my place at OSU and I found my passion. I found the major and minors to support my interest and passion of health and wellness. I found extracurricular activities and two jobs that I really enjoy and are all stepping stones to my future goal of being a pediatric doctor.