To review my first and second year at The Ohio State University, I will reflect on the G.O.A.L.S I wrote for myself in my freshman year so that I can see what efforts I have taken to fulfill those G.O.A.L.S. As G.O.A.L.S stands for Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement, it shows that to be a student who is pursuing a path of scholarship, becoming proficient in one aspect of education is not enough. As a learner, it is important to be well rounded. I believe that the notion of G.O.A.L.S will allow me to do so.
I have tried to pursue global awareness by taking courses that pertain to history and culture of different countries. I have taken a classic class where I got to explore the literature of Greece and Rome. Through this class, I was able to analyze the story telling methods of Greece and Rome, and was able to identify the characteristics the Greeks and the Romans found most valuable. By becoming globally aware, I feel like I can develop a sense of empathy and gain perspective, the two traits that I want to engrave in myself. I am from Nepal so learning about other countries makes me feel like we are not so different after all. Behind our differences, we all have the capacity to create and to love. Through global awareness, I feel like I will be one step towards becoming a global citizen, a trait that will aid me in my path to medicine.
In the summer of 2016, I participated in the summer research program at Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Campus. I learned a lot. My supervisor gave me a platform where I could freely make mistakes and learn from them. Because of this experience, I began to understand why research is so important. I learned that failures and success are part of inquiry, and most of the time, the failures revealed a lot more. My baby steps into exploration was guided by the people who are veteran scientists. They showed me that no matter how much you learn, there is still more to learn and that there are still so many things we do not know. Because of this enriching experience, I became part of a research laboratory during the academic year. I plan on continuing on the path of exploration as I not only want to help people with medicine, but I also want to contribute to the great arena that scientists are part of. I want to keep on fostering my inquisitive nature.
I am a curious person so I have a natural inclination to take courses that foster my curiosity and challenge me. I took a linguistic honors course called “Language in the Mind,” and it was one of the difficult courses that semester. The course work and the concept was something I was not used to. For example, I did not know mathematics could be used as a metaphor for the brain. After completing the course, I felt that I had learned a lot of things about the brain that I would have never learned. I also joined the Chemistry and Biochemistry club, an academic club that allows for people that are passionate about chemistry to gather and learn together. Through this club, I have been able to listen to talks by the people in our chemistry department, and I have learned a lot about the actual application of chemistry. At the moment, I am pursuing biochemistry as a major and History of Art as a minor. So by pursuing a minor along with my major, taking GEs that are challenging, being involved in an academic club, I have been actively pursuing academic enrichment. Through the challenging coursework in my undergraduate studies, I can better prepare myself for more challenging academics in medical school.
Leadership is a team effort. A leader is not someone who caries the team rather someone who facilitates team work. Through my involvement in various activities such as peer tutoring, being a member of a club’s executive board, I have learned what a leader is and what a leader must do. I want to be someone who is able to help people be the best they can be, so by being involved in leadership activities, I am learning how I can do so. As a pursuer of medicine, leadership is an important quality to harness. As a president of the club Global Minds, I have been able to create a platform with the help of my friends and peers where we can share our interest regarding the diversity in our world. I think bringing people together to accomplish a goal is an important characteristic to have, especially in the path of medicine.
I have volunteered in a memory care center through the club Buckeyes Against Alzheimer’s, and plan on continuing this experience in the future as well. I also volunteer at various places in Columbus through the biannual event Community Commitment, and I have helped out during the Science Olympiad state competition. I also went on a Buck-I-Serve trip to James River State Park where my group helped the park rangers clear and maintain the trails. I plan on engaging more in the community by finding places where I am able to offer my services, especially medical settings. During my undergraduate studies, I want to experience different types of voluntarism. I hope to have a regular volunteering activity at a nearby medical facility next semester. Since volunteering is the best way to see and help the comm