Norway Education Abroad Pre-departure assignment

 

I chose to enroll in the Norway experience because I have found a passion in directly learning about cultures different than my own. One idea that truly resonates with me is being hands-on in my learning experiences. As Dr. Morrison-Beedy writes in one of her posts:  “You have heard these words in the classroom and discussed them, but now it’s time to put them into action. Your ability to effectively interact with people of different cultures, integrating respect and responsiveness, will take you far in this experience and those that follow” (1). We have been lectured on topics such as culture competency, unbiased versus biased behavior in healthcare, and so on. For me personally, I can study and read all about these topics, but it requires visceral experiences to fully learn, understand, and then incorporate into my practice these ideas we are taught on paper. I am excited and prepared to have these experiences in my repertoire to care for future patients in the best manner possible.  I strive to become a well-rounded practitioner in not only my skill set, but also my overall understanding of unique human cultures and behaviors.

Image retrieved from: Winters, M-F. (2014). Cultural Competence – Part 4: You Have To Do The Work. The Inclusion Solution. Accessed 7 May 2019. http://www.theinclusionsolution.me/cultural-competence-part-4-you-have-to-do-the-work/

I believe my past experiences abroad will help me mentally, physically, and emotionally prepare for this trip. Having been outside of the United States a few times, I can personally attest to many of the advice points Dr. Morrison-Beedy describes. I also have an extremely go-with-the-flow attitude in matters I know I cannot control. I understand that it is very easy to get upset about delays, changes in plans, etc., but if there is nothing you can do to solve the problem, why waste brain power on it? Travel (and life) can be simplified by keeping calm and collected, realizing that there are many different ways to find the experience you are looking for. In addition, do not discount the numerous avenues in which you can learn from experiences. Every interaction or situation may not be the most enjoyable, but understanding and recognizing the information you can learn from can make any situation/experience meaningful.

Top of the Duomo in Florence- My first time out of the U.S. during a study abroad in high school to various cities in Italy (2013)

John Lennon Wall in Prague, Czech Republic- my second study abroad trip (2016)

I am looking forward to immersing myself in Norway!

(1) Morrison-Beedy, D. (2019, February 4). The top 10 things to pack (in your brain) for global education experiences. Retrieved from https://u.osu.edu/osuglobaltransformations/

Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

  • Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc.
  • Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
  • Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
  • Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
  • Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Artifacts

[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 includes both a description of the artifact and a reflection on why it is important to you, what you learned, and what it means for your next steps.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

About Me

[Your “About Me” is a brief biographical statement that might include your intended major, your academic interests, your goals, as well as the things that make you unique.  Definitely include a picture! Also, remember that you can always update this post at any point. For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]