G.O.A.L.S.

The University Honors & Scholars Center at The Ohio State University serves high-ability, motivated undergraduate students. While embracing diversity in both ideas and people, the Center fosters purposeful learning communities that enhance students’ academic and social experiences. The Center facilitates impactful, rigorous, and unique opportunities that further student success and involvement in our G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement.

G.O.A.L.S.

To work toward the goal of Global Awareness, I will consider studying abroad, continuing to study foreign languages, and getting involved with culturally diverse groups and organizations on campus.  I currently have yet to delve deep enough into the study abroad programs to have any idea of where I would like to travel to, but I have indeed been studying foreign languages.  I plan to minor in both Latin and Arabic, both of which will expose me to new and different people and experiences.  In addition, many of the Political Science courses I will be taking for my major fall under international studies, which will help educate me about the policies, economics, and interactions within and between other countries.  Furthermore, I have attended various club meetings for culturally diverse student organizations such as the Muslim Students’ Association, Organization of Arab Students, Asian Student Association, and Black Students Association.

To achieve the goal of Original Inquiry, a large component of it would be research.  I will in the the coming months (as early as Summer 2016) ideally have an internship or job that would involve me conducting research and making discoveries outside of the classroom.  With a broad double major and double minor, I have many options open for potential research opportunities.  With Psychology I plan to do work in a social psychology lab either spring semester of my sophomore year or autumn semester of my freshman year.  I am also open to research or participation in a campaign for my Political Science studies, and potentially a study involving bilingual or multilingual students compared to unilingual students (related to my Latin and Arabic minors).  I have a great breadth of research open to me at The Ohio State University, and I plan to take full advantage of those opportunities when the time comes.

To achieve the goal of Academic Enrichment, I will organize my Academic Plan (and later my Honors Contract) to be able to include a vast array of courses.  My course load will be rigorous and reasonable, as my goal is to retain my position in the Honors program here.  In addition I will be sure to take interesting and stimulating classes outside of my majors, such as table tennis, linguistics, or dance.  An additional consideration I have made is joining a scholarly fraternity to surround myself will others who will push me to be my best and help me when I fall down.  If an honors version of a course is offered, I will not hesitate to sign myself up for that version or wait until the honors version rolls around to take the class.

To achieve the goal of Leadership Development, I want to get involved wit clubs that encourage leading other students.  I have already begun to take steps in this direction, by being a floor representative on Bradley-Patterson Hall Council, and by being involved in Undergraduate Student Government (USG).  I have been a large contributor to meeting the various wants and needs of my fellow 4th floor Bradley residents, which so far has involved a huge revamping of our study room, various requested events for the hall, and helping get the word out about what the residents of Bradley 4 are doing outside our residence hall.  In USG I have joined the Sustainability committee, and am very excited to be beginning a handful of impactful projects to benefit our university.  In addition, I have recently had the honor of being named “Resident of the Month” for the month of October for my contributions to my floor and my leadership in my residence hall community.

To achieve the goal of Service Engagement, I will push myself to be involved with volunteering organizations that I support.  On Sundays Muslim Students Association works with a nearby church to pack lunches for the homeless.  USG is always pushing its members to be involved in volunteering opportunities.  I also have just applied for mentoring program in which I will meet with a high school freshman from a nearby Columbus school once a month for the next 4 years.  I hope this mentoring opportunity works out, it seems like a very valuable and powerful experience to be simultaneously growing alongside someone and be able to form a strong connection where I will also be able to help and give some advice.