As part of the second-year experience in the IA Scholars program, all members are required to complete a second-year project. I decided to complete research on rape culture in different countries, specifically their points of origin and how they differ from rape culture in the US. I specifically focused on South Korea, South Africa, the Netherlands, and Nicaragua, as well as the United States.

This project is important to me for several reasons. Firstly, it helped me figure out my major and minor. It confirmed I had an interest in international topics as well as women’s rights. Thus, it guided me down the path toward an International Studies major and a WGSS minor. Secondly, my research and resulting thirty page paper was the result of a lot of “elbow grease”. It took hours of research, several late nights, and a lot of writing and rewriting. The project symbolizes what my work ethic can bring about. Lastly, when I presented it to the first-year IA scholars and showed it to my fellow second-years, I was able to raise awareness about the persistence of rape culture and how we as an international society can bring about change.

Below, I have attached my final research paper.

Scholars Paper-19pxg8l

This fall, I joined Partnering Up for Pets, a student organization that works to provide volunteers for the Franklin County Dog Shelter. Students usually carpool together and spend an hour or two assisting staff with tasks, for example ensuring all dogs are walked at least once a day. While there, I am required to wear a badge to signal I am a volunteer who is allowed to handle the dogs.

The badge is significant for two reasons. Firstly, it signifies my continuing commitment to volunteering. I have extensive experience with community service, including eight years managing and assisting with various programs at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Upper Arlington, Ohio; a year at Tridia Hospice in Columbus, Ohio; and participation in 4 Paws 4 Ability during the fall of 2016.

It is also signifies my continuing involvement at Ohio State. I have already spent three semesters in the International Affairs Scholars Program, and have (and will) studied abroad through courses at Ohio State. I plan to use my experience with PUP to help me open doors into more ways to get involved, such as using it on resumes for other organizations or internships or asking other club members about other student organizations with similar community service opportunities in which I could become involved.

In mid-August, I interviewed with NetJets about an internship with their Sales and Marketing Team. It was an incredible opportunity in which I learned several key aspects about the interview process, which can contribute to my success later in life.

Despite having two part-time jobs and extensive volunteer experience in the past, I had never had a formal interview in an official office setting before. Nor had I been asked extensive questions like I had in the NetJets interview. It was an incredibly helpful experience that taught me how to conduct myself in a formal interview and what types of questions I may be asked, which can help me prepare for future interviews. It was also an amazing opportunity to determine which aspects of my resume were more “interesting” to employers; as a result, I know what I need to promote both on my resume and in interviews and what sorts of experiences are more beneficial when looking for employment.

I consider my interview with NetJets to be one of my biggest successes. Not only was I offered the internship (though I sadly had to turn it down), it was extremely informative and a valuable experience! I plan to both apply what I have learned about the interview process to future job openings and to investigate future opportunities with NetJets.

My family holds a special place in my heart. I would not be the strong, intelligent, independent woman I am without their support, love, and the values and beliefs passed down to me. I am constantly reminded by their impact on my life by the ring I wear every day on my right hand. It was given to be by my grandmother, though it originally belonged to my great-grandmother.

My grandmother is my role model. She completed a Ph.D. She was one of two women in her high school class to get a job; she worked as an addiction counselor before becoming a guidance counselor and then working her way up to vice principal and then principal of a middle school. She was also a single, working mom after divorcing my grandpa when my mom was six. When she finally did retire, she fought and survived breast cancer.

My grandmother helped shape who I am. She taught me to value my education and to work hard. She showed me how to persevere and never give up. And she instilled in me the importance of family. I doubt I would be at OSU or the person I am today. Each day I wear the ring of my grandmother and her mother before that, I remember how she and my family have led me to OSU and push me to succeed. They, especially my grandmother, are the reason I have done well this year.

My first artifact is my Capstone project. During my senior year of high school, I was required to complete a Capstone project in which I had to write a paper and make some sort of product to demonstrate my learning, all with the guidance of a mentor. I chose to pursue the topic of Canine Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and spent my first semester heavily researching it. During my second semester, I wrote my paper concerning whether Canine PTSD exists and if it is similar to that of PTSD in humans, and I made both a treatment plan and a website aimed at animal professionals and dog owners. I used Wix.com to create my website, a treatment plan guideline created by a professional therapist for my treatment plan, and wrote my two thousand word paper with mentor guidance. I completed the project in May of 2016, followed by a presentation to sophomores and juniors during which I also received a grade.

My Capstone project was an obvious choice. Despite it being from my high school experience and not of that at Ohio State, I do not think that that fact should diminish its importance. It represents what sort of person entered Ohio State University. Therefore, it lets me know where I stand currently, and as I add artifacts in the future, I can use my project as a baseline. It is also extremely significant to me. At this point in my college career, I am completely lost in terms of a major, a future career, whether I want to do grad school, etc. At the beginning of this project, when I was told I could do any topic I wanted, I was completely clueless. I spent hours a day considering what I wanted to spend my senior year studying. I remember the moment Canine PTSD entered my mind. Canine PTSD. I love dogs and I have a passion for promoting the underdog. I feel now I am at a similar situation. I can do anything I want, but have no idea what I want to do. Yet because of the similarities between my Capstone project and making decisions about my future here at OSU, I know I will discover what I am passionate about. Were it not for the experience, I feel I would be more stressed out, angry, and concerned. The project told me that I will run into difficult decisions in my life, and it’s okay if I don’t have an immediate answer.

In terms of what the project taught me, I think that the project was extremely preparatory for college and even for a future career. My writing skills were significantly improved. I learned how to perfect an academic voice and strongly argue a thesis. I also improved by research skills because while I was required to use mainly scholarly sources, my school’s provided databases—while plentiful—did have the sort of information I was looking for. I had to learn how to search for my information by myself and determine what was helpful, what was peer reviewed, and/or what could be used as a counter-argument. I learned that I actually enjoyed writing research papers. I like digging through information to prove my point and learn about various aspects of a subject. I entered the project with just a general comprehension of Canine PTSD, but I was able to walk away with a much greater understanding. It became a subject of passion, and I still believe it to be a very important issue. I also learned an important lesson about procrastination. I had basically the whole school year to complete my project and a few months for my paper, so I definitely procrastinated on my project at times. It caused me to feel a time crunch at the end, so I have definitely realized the importance of not procrastinating, and I plan to use that knowledge in future projects or work.

It was not a particular challenging project overall, but I originally wanted my product to be a study on which treatments are most effective on dogs with Canine PTSD. I would use a dog with the disease and try treating it, and see if it was effective. However, I could not find a dog anywhere nearby that I could use. Shelters, dog owners, vets, no one had one I could use, so I had to change courses. I adapted my product accordingly. Because of this challenge, I learned how to be flexible. It is all right if plans change or an obstacle prevents progress. I have always tended to form a plan and stick to the plan, and I hated when something changed. Needing to change my product was a good lesson for me.

I am grateful for the experience my Capstone project provided for me. I hope to have similar ones going forward during my four year journey at Ohio State. Both the paper and my products are attached below.

http://sarahdrobny.wixsite.com/canineptsd

drobnysarah-capstoneresearchpaper