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Global Awareness

| edmondson.71

I have dual-citizenship with New Zealand which has really helped me stay globally aware for my whole life. I have also been fortunate enough to travel to 11 countries and 45 states. I have participated in model United Nations for the last six years. It involves learning about different nations: government, international relations, conflicts, and foreign policy initiatives. I joined the Collegiate Council on World Affairs (CCWA) which focuses on foreign policy and international topics. I have several majors and minors and I have used my general education requirements to further broaden my education. For example, I took an honors climate change class that focused on the global impacts and initiatives prompted by climate change.

I really hope to study abroad while I am attending Ohio State and I plan to continue traveling once I graduate. I also think working abroad would be interesting. Some of my communication and social psychology classes focus on interactions at a global scale and how different cultures impact these interactions. I plan to continue participating in model United Nations and CCWA.

Original Inquiry

| edmondson.71

I am currently working as a research assistant for Dr. Hamilton in the School of Environment and Natural Resources. I am also participating in the Second-Year Transformational Experience Program (STEP), which promotes original inquiry. My freshman year I was hired for an experimental dance performance at the Gunning House presented by the Beeler Gallery. In my Dance Film class freshman year, I created several original films and even submitted one to an international film festival.

I am required to take a few research methods classes for my majors which will focus the research process and how I can implement research within my majors. I am planning on participating in the Washington Academic Internship Program which serves as the research methods course for the Public Affairs major. I would like to continue dancing and creating films in new and original ways that challenge my creativity. I also want to continue serving as a research assistant and hope to present at a research conference and/or be published in an undergraduate research journal. I may also utilize my current research position to develop an undergraduate thesis.

Academic Enrichment

| edmondson.71

I have taken several honors and upper level courses since I have been a student at Ohio State. I have managed to maintain grades of A/A-, reach a 3.9 GPA, take 18 credit hours every semester, and summer classes at both Ohio State and UNC. I am pursuing two majors (Public Affairs and Strategic Communication) and two minors (Dance and Political Science) and I have been taking electives in psychology. I have held an internship or job related to my majors every semester I have been at Ohio State and I have been hired as a research assistant in the School of Environment and Natural Resources.

I hope to maintain my current academic success and continue taking honors and upper level courses. I will also take courses in a variety of areas that interest me. I want to continue my current research position and find other internship and research opportunities to enrich my college experience. I also hope to participate in the Washington Academic Internship Program and study abroad. I plan to maintain relationships with professors I have really enjoyed and regularly check in with my advisors.

Leadership Development

| edmondson.71

In high school, I held leadership positions in dance and band for several years. Since attending Ohio State, I have continued to pursue leadership. In my freshman year, I was elected into two leadership positions for the Collegiate Council on World Affairs (CCWA), Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary. I am also participating in the Second-Year Transformational Experience Program (STEP), so I am in the process of creating, and leading, my own project. My internship/fellowship experience at the Franklin County Auditor’s office and my research assistant experience also provided opportunities to hone my leadership skills. I think my experience with the NAACP was the most formative leadership experience and it gave me an opportunity to become a leader in a community organization. I have also been hired to perform in a few dance performances at the Beeler Gallery.

I plan to continue holding leadership positions in CCWA. I also hope to become an influential member to the research team I am assisting. I want to continue seeking out internships that not only progress my career, but also benefit the community. I will create and execute a STEP project that will develop leadership skills. I also hope to continue participating in areas that are not directly related to my majors, such as dance.

Service Engagement

| edmondson.71

I have served my community in several different ways. I earned my Girl Scout Gold Award in 2018, which required the completion of at least 80 hours toward a community service project I developed by myself. I tutored children at a local elementary school with my high school’s National Honors Society chapter during my last two years of high school. Since attending Ohio State I have continued to serve the community. I joined the John Glenn Civic Leadership Community which includes a service aspect. I was chosen to serve as a Chief of Staff for the Ohio State Model United Nations Conference that is held for local high school students. For this position I volunteered my time to organize and run a successful conference for high school model United Nations delegates. I volunteered for my local NAACP chapter in the summer of 2020. I also serve as a mentor for freshman and incoming students in the Collegiate Council on World Affairs (CCWA) and the John Glenn College.

I think the main way I will try to serve the community in the near future is to avoid contracting COVID-19. The pandemic is harming so many people that the best way to serve the community right now is to wear a mask, social distance, and not contract COVID-19. I also plan to continue protesting, advocating, researching, donating, and volunteering for causes and organizations that I believe are beneficial to society and create a more equal society. I will also continue to mentor new students in CCWA and the John Glenn College.

NAACP Communications Internship

| edmondson.71

In the summer of 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, I virtually interned for my local NAACP branch in Hillsborough, North Carolina. I redesigned their website, created a social media presence for the branch, and helped organize a two-part virtual town hall event to address racism, racial inequity, and police brutality in our community. I also became a crucial member of their communications committee.

Especially given the social climate of the United States and my hometown community, this opportunity really helped me develop as a person and communicator. I wanted to use my communication skills to help benefit a local organization that was promoting ideas that I agree with, which is why I chose to work with the NAACP. It was challenging to work with the NAACP because all of the board members were volunteers with other full-time jobs, so I was often left to determine how to update things on the website on my own. This provided me with an opportunity to become a more independent worker and not seek out instructions from supervisors for every task.

Unfortunately, our two-part virtual town hall was hacked by white supremacists and ultimately we had to cancel the event. This experience really altered my perspective. It made me realize how important it is to protect citizens, especially when they are being vulnerable and discussing their personal lives. We promised an inclusive and safe space for all participants, and unfortunately we did not succeed. However, after further research following the event, I am more prepared to implement security measures in virtual meetings to ensure safe environments are maintained.

Franklin County Auditor Communications Internship/Fellowship

| edmondson.71

In October of my freshman year at Ohio State, I was hired as a communications intern for Franklin County Auditor, Michael Stinziano. In December, I was promoted to a paid communications fellow position for the remainder of my freshman year. I wrote press releases and constituent correspondence, handled the social media accounts, contacted local businesses and organizations to organize events, and reformatted training presentations.

This was my first legitimate communications position and it really contributed to my growth as a communicator. I had to transfer my skills from the classroom to create real-world government communications. My supervisors gave me detailed feedback that helped me develop my skills with each project. I was also given flexibility to be creative and develop new and engaging media to reach a broader audience. This position was one of the highlights of my freshman year and I can see how much my time there benefited my communication skills.

John Glenn Civic Leadership Community

| edmondson.71

I was a member of the John Glenn Civic Leadership Community for my first year. The community really helped me get to know the John Glenn College and the students and faculty in it. At the beginning of the semester we took a tour of John Glenn’s childhood home and learned more about the namesake of our college. We also heard from several faculty guest speakers who gave lectures on different policy topics, such as food and space. I also had a community of about 20 others who were interested in public policy and it was great to start college with this community. Participating in the community definitely made me feel more connected to the Glenn College and deepen my interest in public affairs. Unfortunately the spring trip to Washington DC had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.

About Me

| edmondson.71

I am a second year honors student at The Ohio State University pursuing a dual-degree in Public Management, Leadership and Policy and Strategic Communications with minors in Political Science and Dance.

I grew up in the small town of Hillsborough, North Carolina. Throughout high school, I danced at least twenty hours per week and participated in my school’s concert, jazz, and marching bands. I was the President of our Model United Nations club, earned my Girl Scout Gold Award in 2018, and graduated as valedictorian.

After moving to Columbus in August 2019, I have continued to dance and participate Model United Nations and pursue other interests. I am a member of the Collegiate Council on World Affairs, which is the parent organization for Ohio State’s Model UN team. I was a member of the John Glenn Civic Leadership Community my first year. By taking Dance Film and reporting for Lantern TV my first semester, I developed skills and an interest for filmmaking and editing. I worked as a Communications Intern and Fellow at the Franklin County Auditor’s during my first year at Ohio State. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, I was able to virtually intern for the Northern Orange NAACP in North Carolina. Currently I work as a student grader for the Glenn College and a research assistant for Dr. Matthew Hamilton in the School of Environment and Natural Resources.

I hope to study abroad and attend the John Glenn Washington Academic Internship Program, however, these plans will likely change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The changing circumstances of the world, while they may limit opportunities I had hoped to take advantage of, has opened up other opportunities. My two internships and living through the pandemic have helped me become more flexible and think creatively about how I can best use my talents and skills to help others and my community.

After I leave Ohio State, I hope to pursue a career in political campaign communications and eventually work as a press secretary for an elected official. I believe this career path uniquely combines my interest in government and public speaking and my love for helping and informing others.

Lantern TV

| edmondson.71

I was a videographer and editor for Lantern TV. I pitched, filmed, and edited four stories: the combined bachelors and masters program at the John Glenn College, the Glenn College Leadership Forum, the Ohio State vs. Michigan blood drive, and new narcan kits available at Wexner.

Although my experience at the Lantern ultimately led me to change my major from Journalism to Strategic Communications, I am still appreciative of the opportunity. With the Lantern I learned how to work a camera, edit videos, and interview people. Most importantly, I learned what information is included in news videos and what information should be left out. Even though I am no longer creating videos for the Lantern these skills have helped me in my other communications classes.