I can remember my anticipation and nerves surrounding the prospect of going off to college this previous summer. I was the first child in my family to go away to college, and although only two hours separated me from home, I felt as if I was moving to a new country- away from my family, friends, and sense of security. I had changed schools numerous times in grade and middle school, yet this adjustment was one unlike all the previous ones I had made. I felt entirely overwhelmed on the huge campus and with thousands of new peers. I did not know my roommate, nor did I know many people at OSU. The first two weeks of the semester were miserable, and the homesickness was overwhelming. I had not found my niche, nor my group of friends and I felt as if all my peers were making the transition seamlessly.
However, on September 4th, coincidentally my birthday, I received an email stating that I had made the Club Dance Team, and I would consider this the transitional point in my semester. Within this group of girls I found a sense of belonging and friendship that I had not found with my roommate or my floormates. My perspective of OSU changed completely due to the positivity and support I received from these girls. I would consider my teammates to be my closest friends, as I can confide in them, ask for homework assistance, or if I need any advice on collegiate matters they always have answers.
Now that the semester is coming to a close, I cannot believe how fast the time has passed. I found a new sense of home here in Columbus, and I have pangs of sadness at the idea of being away from campus for winter break. I have grown significantly as a person in these recent weeks, determining the best relationships to foster, negating the people and objects that hinder my progress to my goals, and developing myself as a respectable student. I have enjoyed my classes (besides Chemistry- that class has been horrible) and have reaffirmed my goal to continue on my pre-med track. I am excited for the future prospects and experiences that await me at Ohio State, and I know in my heart that I was truly meant to be a Buckeye.

Justin Rogers: “I never knew what is was to be lost about where I was in life. After a year here, I’ve realized that being lost isn’t such a scary thing after all. From ambiguity comes enlightenment, and I can’t wait to see where I land on the other side.”

Individuality is the crucial characterization that provides breath to life’s vitality. Each person is comprised of unique traits that separate and define him or her from every other individual. These facets are often regarded to as a strength or a weakness. In a hypercritical environment it is often the traits that are deemed inadequate that receive scrutiny and attention. However, in recognizing and acknowledging one’s strengths one is better able to improve and advance not only in the work place, but as well as in academics and socially.
It was determined by the StrengthsQuest assessment that my top five strengths are developer, discipline, learner, positivity, and achiever. These qualities are housed under the categories of executing, relationship building, and strategic thinking. Such characteristics are embedded and intertwine with the future career I plan to pursue. I currently aspire to attend medical school, and then continue to a position as a neurosurgeon. This path is strenuous, time consuming, and difficult. Yet I believe that as a learner my admiration for education will aid me in my current and future studies, while my discipline coupled with positivity will provide me with a goad and zeal to continue on the daunting trail without deviation from the path. While academic prowess is a crucial characteristic of a physician, there is a social component that is seldom considered as a key factor of the best doctors. In dealing with ailing individuals, and concerned families, a doctor must be empathetic and able to easily relate to the patient and his or her loved ones. As a developer I am able to easily communicate with others, and form intimate relationships. Due to this, I have been graced with incredible family relations and friendships that I hope to maintain and expand upon in college, and beyond. I am satisfied with my strengths and plan to utilize them to my advantage presently and into the future not only academically, but socially and in my chosen profession.

There is much to do surrounding the prospect of going off to college, and moving away from home- often for the first time. Prior to arriving at OSU, it had not quite set in that I would be leaving my close knit group of friends and family to move to a school with 60,000 students. I began my OSU experience as a member of the OWL program. Between the deluge of repetitive ice- breakers and a blur of faces and names, the two days before move in day passed rather slowly, and the anticipation to meet my other dorm residents grew. However, the excitement of move in day quickly faded as the day involved more pushing of carts than meeting other dorm inhabitants. This past week of treks to classes and encountering the multitude of students on campus was overwhelming to say the least. I had feared going to the wrong buildings and getting lost on campus. Both fears had come to fruition within the first couple of days, between blunders on the COTA and walking to the wrong buildings. The adjustment from high school to college is significant, and will be a continual process. It will require a lot of patience and a willingness to try new activities, not to forget about better management of time.
However, the possibilities are abounding here at OSU, and I am eager to see what I can get myself involved in. I am excited to come to know my peers better, and fall in love with the campus and school. In regards to the first organization I became a member of, the Humanities Scholars Program, I am looking forward to becoming better friends with my other “Manatees”, and the discussions and exploration of interests in the humanities that unite us all- be it in trips, survey course, shows, etc.

[Artifacts are the items you consider to be representative of your academic interests and achievements. For each entry, include both an artifact and a detailed annotation.  An annotation is a reflective description of the artifact that attempts to communicate its significance.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]