In the first weeks of my spring semester, I became a mentor in the program College Mentors for Kids. In this program, we have “little buddies” that visit the campus once a week. During their visits there are activities linked up with student organizations such as Inspire OSU, and the Irish Dancing Club, as well as companies that come in such as Lowe’s Hardware, and the Columbus Zoo. Through these weekly activities, the kids learn about different opportunities and are introduced to the college environment first hand.

My little buddy has allowed me to grow in many areas through being her mentor. Because her mentor left her in the middle of the year, she had a harder adjustment in having me as her new mentor. It has taken time and understanding for us both to become close, and there is still a long way to go. Through this I have learned more about what it will take for me to be a great teacher. Sometimes it’s important to discipline students to gain your respect, but it’s also important to relate and let them enjoy their time of being kids.

Throughout the spring semester of my freshman year, I have been observing and assisting in a 4th grade classroom in the Southwestern City School District. This experience has been my first true exposure to my aspiring career choice. I spend 12.9 hours in the classroom, 3 days a week, making it seem as if I’m already employed. My goal is to become a middle childhood education teacher with certification in grades 4th through 9th grade, and through my time in the classroom, I have learned more about who, what, and how I want to teach.

In my classroom, I have 23 unique, creative, and special students, that shine as wonderful individuals. They each have their talents and struggles, but through this experience I have learned how to address their needs to the best of my ability. I came from a middle class suburban school district, so being exposed to the different atmosphere of a city school really opened my eyes. I now understand the issues that face low-class youth, as well as how the school tries to provide for them. I also learned that sometimes there can be more pressing issues than school work for students, and that its important to recognize and be there for them in those times.

Reflecting on my time in the classroom has made me reevaluate what type of teacher I hope to become. I now know that I prefer grades 4 through 7, and I have switched my specializations from science and history, to science and math. I have learned new methods of teaching, but more about how I want to personally shape the classroom and students I will teach.

 

On March 5th, 2016 I attended the TEDx event at Ohio State. The event easily became one of my favorite things I have done at Ohio State, as in one day I learned more about life than I had ever known before.

The atmosphere of the event was incredible. As I walked into Mershon Auditorium’s balcony seating, I saw hundreds of people gathered under the same roof for the enriching experience. There were people of all different cultures, ages, and interests, but our differences in this place did not divide us, rather pulled us closer together. When the event commenced, the thunderous applause echoed up into the rafters; I knew it was going to be a special memory.

In a 3 hour span, I learned about how the Amish culture promotes teamwork in our independent society, how the Black Panther group’s purpose has been misunderstood, the events of Syria from a Syrian’s perspective, the application of superheroes to real life, and the benefit of pets for people. I heard an amazing poem about what it’s like to be a black woman, and watched beautiful ballet and contemporary dance pieces. During the intermissions, I was in awe by the music produced by the 5 of 5 string quintet.

When I walked out of Mershon, I felt like a cultured individual. Exposed to different perspectives and different forms of expression, this event opened my eyes to the different struggles and celebrations the people around me face. I hope to continue to attend these events in the future, as well as enjoy what the people around me can teach me on an everyday basis.

,Millennium Goals Presentation

In my International Affairs Scholars class we were assigned a group project focusing on the United Nations Millennium Goals. My group’s goal was to reduce HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases and we focused on the country of India. This project opened my eyes to the world around me, and how what I perceived about India wasn’t exactly true.

Going into the project, I expected India to be similar to Africa in terms of disease prevalence due to its enormous population; however, I was surprised to find out India isn’t doing too bad. Most of these serious diseases in the country are caused by the lack of medicine, information, and by being in an environment that is unsanitary and overpopulated. My group found that India is adapting and improving conditions, and I think that based on these improvements they are on the right track towards a better future. What really surprised me was that India’s most concerning disease was heart disease. Mostly caused by obesity, smoking, and genetic mutations, it’s currently the leading cause of death in the country.

On September 21st, I was selected to represent the College of Human Ecology and Education to meet the author of The Good Food Revolution, Will Allen. The book talked about his experience in creating urban farms in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Through this book I became motivated to find out how I could make a difference. In meeting Will Allen, I was able to see his passion for his work, and enjoyed discussion with him and other students.