Global Awareness: My global awareness has been expanded through my Spanish minor, Public Policy Analysis major, and my time working as a Senate Page in the Ohio Statehouse. In my Spanish classes, I have been able to learn about other cultures and the various Spanish speaking countries in our world. The teachers I have had for my Spanish classes have taught me about their experiences abroad and how it varies from American culture. In my Public Policy Analysis major, I have been exposed to various political opinions and perspectives on how government should work. I have had discussions with classmates and faculty about our current society and how different countries have solved the same problems the United States faces. In my time working in a state senator’s office at the Ohio Statehouse, I have been exposed to various perspectives from constituents in the senator’s district and across our entire state. I will continue these opportunities throughout my time at Ohio State, and hope to be able to engage in cultural events in the future. As a member of USG, I learn a lot about the various organizations on campus and the events they put on for all students.
Original Inquiry: While I have not had the opportunity to do formal, original research, I have done research on many policy issues both in American politics and in issues related to higher education. As a Social and Behavioral Sciences Senator, I have done research on higher education policy issues in order to write resolutions that could be presented in the Undergraduate General Assembly and to OSU faculty members in meetings. In addition, I have done research on policy issues that face Ohioans in my position with the office of state senator Kenny Yuko. I plan to explore my options in writing an undergraduate thesis, and continue my work in researching issues that are related directly to my curriculum at Ohio State.
Academic Enrichment: My Honors Contract demonstrates a commitment to my academics by displaying that I have taken rigorous courses for my general education program and done my best to take a variety of subjects within my majors and my minor. I chose to major in Political Science and Public Affairs because I wanted to ensure that I had a solid foundation for a future career in the public sector, but also because these classes interest me the most. I have always had a passion for policy, and learning more about how our government (and other governments) operates. Within my general education classes, I strove to pick subjects that were personally interesting to me but also allowed me to build connections with professors. I believe this shows my commitment to excellence because it shows that I am not afraid to take higher level courses in subjects that I am unfamiliar with. These classes have taught me good reading and writing skills, as well as analytical skills, all of which will be helpful during law school (and in my future career). My education at Ohio State will allow my strengths to grow, and allow me to explore subjects that I personally find interesting, but do not want to make a career out of.
Leadership Development: I am currently involved with Undergraduate Student Government, the John Glenn Civic Leadership Community, and the Collegiate Council on World Affairs. All three of these activities encourage me to understand the world around me, and be persistent in finding ways to improve it. I currently serve as a Deputy Director in the Academic Affairs Committee in USG, and also serve as a Social and Behavioral Sciences Senator in the Undergraduate General Assembly. These roles really encourage me to communicate with fellow classmates and develop solutions to the problems they face through USG’s connections at Ohio State. I have been viewed as a leader on campus, and a leader within the respective organizations by people of all ages. All of these roles match my career interests of serving others in the public sector, as they teach me to stay informed on current issues and how to properly express my opinions to other people. Being able to analyze critical issues and find ways to solve them is a good skill set to have as an attorney, which is my ultimate career goal. Finally, these leadership positions have allowed me to make higher education a more inclusive place, and an improved transition for students to the 21st century work force.
Service Engagement: In my time at Ohio State, I have been involved with the John Glenn Civic Leadership community which promotes activism and volunteerism here on campus and in the Columbus community. I have participated in small service activities in a local school in Columbus and a local food pantry just outside of campus with this organization. In the future, I hope to gain a volunteer opportunity at a local library or at a local children’s hospital. Engaging with local community members is a large portion of my academic curriculum, so I hope that I can apply my learned skills in future volunteer opportunities.