For the ENR Columbus To-Do List, I choose to visit several parks with my friends. We took pictures together and enjoyed the various parks at night. It was quite fun riding around and visiting all of the parks. This was definitely something I will never forget, and would have never done if not for ENR.
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing my peer mentor Helena. The position of peer mentor, a title established by the ENR program, is to help transition us into college life and be a lifeline in any troubling situations. By interviewing Helena, I was able to gain insight into how to succeed in college, the ENR program, and how to get involved on campus.
Guarded by the statute of former dean William Oxley Thompson, the iconic Thompson Library sits at the center of campus. In the reading room of this historic library, students like Helena spend their time meticulously studying for exams. Despite the appeal of studying with friends, Helena explained that the lack of distractions and overall quiet helps her focus. There’s a time and place for everything. Hanging out with friends has its own moments, while studying is a time for yourself.
While battling against a rigorous schedule, debating a change in major, and searching for a career, Helena somehow still finds time to get involved on campus. She finds that getting involved allows her to meet new people, a task most freshman initially struggle with. More specifically, when she participates with philanthropic groups such as ENR, a new purpose is found. Throughout the course of the interview, Helena repeatedly stressed how important helping others is to her. Programs like ENR and many others allow her to fulfil this need. ENR itself has impacted Helena greatly.
ENR opens our eyes to the beauty of nature and the importance of saving the planet for the next generation. Even the little things make a difference. Helena found that she could take the bus more often, intelligently recycle (damn recycling laws), and make small changes to her lifestyle that help preserve the beauty that is our planet. An important part of preserving the Earth, is understanding it. This is where Helena’s future degree in chemistry comes into play.
The life of a chemistry major is by no means easy. Finding a rewarding career can be stressful. Ideally we could all live in the hills and work on medicine, but that’s not always the case. Helena found a suitable backup plan as a genetic counselor. As a genetic counselor, she would be able to work with molecular genetics and advise parents on the their upcoming children. If that route does not work out, a third plan arose: Hospice. Supporting those during their last moments had always appealed to Helena. She despised the idea of someone passing alone, and being by someone’s side at the end of it further emphasized her caring nature.
I got to ask Helena a lot of questions during the interview and I received exceptional answers for all of them, but one specifically stuck out. Upon being asked “What is one of the most important things you have learned thus far at Ohio State?” Helena paused to consider her response. Instead of rattling off some random answer about the best ice cream shop or the easiest professor, Helena explained her key to success at Ohio State. Being open and squishing fears helped to open up relationships. She has learned not to worry about what others think about her. Finally, she explain her idea of a flexible schedule, a schedule that works for you. This interested me because it revealed that college is about you. Being involved is up to you. Making friends is up to you. Getting good grades is up to you. The level of independence needed to succeed was far more than I had originally expected, and Helena revealed that it was going to take more self-motivation that I had ever imagined. She had clearly found a schedule that works for her.
Initially, this interview seemed like another feeble attempt by ENR to smokescreen the illegitimacy of the class by assigning yet another pointless task. Upon further inspection and participation, I found I was wrong. The interview was not merely another set of icebreakers intended to make freshmen feel comfortable by sharing a “fun fact”. I gained real insight into the necessary independence required to be successful in college. Although there are still struggles applying the ideas gathered from the interview with Helena, the foundation for success is there. Finally, I would like to express my thanks to Helena for providing truthful answers and being the first peer leader to actually help me not only adjust to college life, but control my college life.
[The Home Page will show a running blog of your recent posts, which are categorized and show on that category’s page. Please delete this post or edit with your own information.]
[ “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 information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]
Ever since I got to Columbus I’ve wanted to visit the local parks. Through ENR, I was able to accomplish this goal. I chose the Nature and Outdoor Recreation list this semester. I am most looking forward to the Aubaun rock climbing wall. I hope to gain a sense of understanding about what it takes to run a park by seeing all of the amazing parks Columbus has to offer.
Recently I got to visit a trail in my own backyard. The Olentangy River trail is located directly behind Morrill tower. I walked this trail with a few friends. Along said walk, we happened across some local wildlife: a skunk. This would have been an unusual occurrence, but since we decided to walk at night, it came as less of a surprise. The decision to walk the trail at night stemmed from the fact that its cooler at night. Also, less people go on the trail at night, making it more enjoyable.
I’m really looking forward to attending these parks. Near my hometown, there was a local Metropark area that I frequently visited. This local park is my only basis for comparison, which is why I am ecstatic about the chance to visit other parks.
[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.]