About Me

Rebecca__050

I am Rebecca Finkes, a first year City and Regional Planning major at The Ohio State University. I joined architecture scholars because I am a devoted and enthusiastic learner, and wanted to be surrounded by others with that same ambition for similar interests. My other passions include music and service. Throughout high school, I participated in marching band and environmental club to help foster those passions. At The Ohio State University, I am involved in SERVitecture in which I can become involved in serving my new community. I am also taking advantage of my location in Columbus to attend many local concerts just off campus.
My main goal in college is to better myself both academically and personally. I am a very dedicated student, and strive for nothing but the best in classroom. I also plan to better myself with my involvement with SERVitecture, study abroad, scholars, and any other opportunities I can find. These many involvements will help me develop my work-ethic to someday become an incredible planner.

Year in Review

As I write this, the end of my first year of college is less than two weeks away. In the past nine months, I have transformed into a completely new person.

First off, my major is no longer architecture, but instead City and Regional Planning, with a minor in architecture. This decision is one I am extremely happy with, as I find myself filled with absolute passion for planning, which nine months ago I barely knew existed.

I have made a group of incredible best friends (shout out to Hav Fam), who I know will always have my back. I know I’ll never be alone, literally, because most of them sleep three feet away from me. They have given me the confidence to be exactly who I want to be.

I’ve become an avid traveler, and am constantly yearning for somewhere new to see. I made my way to Milwaukee for a service trip with Habitat for Humanity, Chicago for a scholars trip with my best friends, and I even crossed the big pond to visit London for a study abroad trip over Spring Break. Studying the architecture and planning of the places I visit has transformed the way I experience a new place.

I’ve developed a better sense of responsibility by juggling classes, jobs, and a social life all into a 24 hour day. This past semester, I worked at the front desk of Knowlton and Barnes and Noble. Although some days have been really stressful, the learning process is definitely worth it.

Overall, I think my experiences have made me a better person. From football games teaching me to be louder, to studio teaching me about time management, I barely recognize the shy girl I was in high school. At the beginning of this school year, I had no clue what an adventure I was in for. Now that I have a better idea of exactly what being a buckeye entails, I can’t wait for more to come.

IMG_2838

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc .
Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.   For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Artifacts

thumbnail_FullSizeRender

My artifact is my Oyster card from London. This was how we paid for any type of public transit throughout the city. So it’s a reminder of both an incredible experience, and a really big lesson the incredible experience taught me.

Early in the week, I lost this specific Oyster card. I realized right before we left for the Tube, so I kinda needed it. I had to go through the process of buying a new one, otherwise I would have been stuck walking (which I was getting enough of otherwise, let me tell you). I have always tended to be a bit scatterbrained when it comes to keeping track of things. This year, I’ve replaced my buck id once, and lost it about twenty times. Somebody even tracked me down on Facebook to return it one time. So, when I lost this thing I was not surprised, and neither was my roommate Vanessa. Honestly, I didn’t even really panic. I got a new Oyster card, and used it for the remainder of the trip, then somehow had two Oyster cards when I unpacked after I got back home.

If there is anything this trip taught me most, it was that things don’t always need to go according to a plan to work out.

This Oyster card reminds me of that. Sometimes you lose things, and sometimes your four year plan completely changes because you change your major. Improvising is a big part of life. This trip helped me learn that even though I want to be a planner when I grow up, planning isn’t all there is to life.