Linking Day!

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This photo represents one of the best days of my life. This picture was taken on Linking Day while walking down the Oval, as I was linked into the Sphinx Senior Honorary Society. Sphinx is the most prestigious organization at Ohio State, and I was blessed to be linked into the society by my own sister. This day changed my life, and being a part of the organization has already impacted my life in a positive way. I am currently the Secretary for Life of Sphinx and have already formed life-long friendships that will only continue to grow during my third and final year at Ohio State. I am still in awe that I am a part of this amazing organization and I cannot wait for what the next year has in store for me.

Newcomb Scholar

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This photo was taken at the CFAES Recognition Banquet. I received the Newcomb Scholar Award, which recognizes the top 5 students in each class based on GPA. This award means the world to me because I have worked so hard in college to maintain a high academic standing. I was the valedictorian of my high school class, so it was rewarding to be recognized for my continued efforts in college. I really enjoy my major and am passionate about sustainability, and I hope to continue to perform well at OSU.

The Magical City

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This photo was taken in Miami, Florida at the end of January. The Club Tennis team had the opportunity to play in a tournament in Miami and we ended up 5th overall out of 32 teams. These friends in the photo are not only my teammates but also some of my best friends. We bonded a lot while on this trip and we worked really well together as a team, which allowed us to get 5th place. I was able to experience a new city, explore new foods and cultures, and play the sport that I love, and so it was one of my most memorable weekends of the semester.

Sustainability

Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland Addresses Global Sustainability

This paper was written for my business sustainability class, which is the best class that I have taken in college. It directly relates to my major of EEDS, as I am seeking a career in business sustainability. For this class, our professor gave us an assignment which entailed us to listen to a talk given by Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland about global sustainability. It was very enlightening and reinforced my passion for what I am learning and seeking for my career.

Club Tennis takes Hilton Head

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This picture was taken in Hilton Head, SC. For the first weekend of October, the Scarlet Club Tennis team traveled to Hilton Head to compete in a national level tournament. We worked together as a team and ended up in 11th place out of 48 teams. We all grew closer over the trip and it was one of the best memories of the semester.

Year in Review

This year has definitely been one to remember for me. To start off, I feel like this year has been the most influential in my personal development and in my progression as a Buckeye. To start off, I was able to travel a lot and be competitive with the club tennis team, which has allowed me to continue playing the sport I love while creating some incredible friendships. I have also grown significantly as an ambassador and a leader, as this is my first year officially on the team. My confidence has grown and I now feel as though I can give others a great experience at Ohio State when they come to visit. I am now very comfortable answering questions and am also more knowledgeable about what my college has to offer. I have developed a greater appreciation for what I do and I thoroughly enjoy being an ambassador. In addition to my development in tennis and as an ambassador, I have also grown as a mentor for International Affairs. I truly value relationships and it has been refreshing to be able to have a mentee through this program. I reflect on what my first year was like and so it is interesting to hear my mentee’s perspective on her own life during her freshman year. I feel like those moments happened for me yesterday, and I still remember feeling overwhelmed by everything here and not knowing where my life was going. After this year, though, I can say that I am well-established and have a great idea of where I am and where I want to go with my life. I have delved into my passions and I now enjoy my involvements even more than I did last year. My resume has improved ten-fold, as I have increased my extra-curricular activities and have received an amazing job. I received a summer internship with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as an Environmental Health & Safety intern and I am still shocked that I was able to make it through the strenuous interview process and be blessed with such an amazing opportunity. I am establishing myself in the real world very soon, which is scary but also very exciting. In addition to my internship, I figured out this year that I will be graduating a year early, which is going to change my life in a positive way. I have the opportunity to go out into the world, create new experiences, and ultimately pursue my dreams. I have a plan for what I will do after I graduate, and hopefully I will be able to live it. Another important change in my life that occurred during this past year was getting linked into the Sphinx Senior Honorary at OSU. Even though I have just met my new class, I know that we are going to build lifelong relationships that will last forever. Having my sister link me into the society was an unforgettable moment that I will cherish forever and I am excited for what the next year will bring us at Ohio State and beyond. I am the happiest I have ever been in my life, and it is truly because of everything that I have worked for and all of the amazing opportunities that I have been blessed with. This year has been monumental in terms of achieving success and happiness for myself, and I cannot wait for what my third and final year has in store for me.

G.O.A.L.S.

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.]

Global Awareness- I think that my experiences with the International Affairs Scholars Program have given me tremendous knowledge about the world of which I was unaware previously. I have learned a lot not only about current affairs, but also about the UN Development Goals and how the world is tackling pressing issues such as hunger and poverty. My experience studying abroad in Australia has also influenced my global awareness, as it directly related to my major of environmental sustainability. I became more aware of how environmental sustainability is perceived and implemented in various parts of Australia, and I also gained a deeper understanding of what sustainability means in different contexts.

Original Inquiry- I have participated in extensive research with my business sustainability classes to evaluate the implementation of sustainability principles and social responsibility for different companies. I have really enjoyed the research process and analysis of sustainability within different companies because it has given me a career focus and helped me identify what I would like to do with my future. I think that businesses have a tremendous responsibility for improving their environmental footprint and implementing sustainability in environmental, social, and economic aspects, and my research with my classes has allowed me to be a part of this progress towards a more sustainable future.

Academic enrichment- My study abroad experience and my involvement with the ambassador team has extended by academic enrichment. Through my study abroad program, I was able to learn about real world issues and provide input into how these problems can be solved or improved upon. I was able to apply my knowledge and skills in real-life situations, which is important for my academic and career goals. My role as an ambassador has allowed me to advocate the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, expand upon my knowledge of other majors, clubs, activities, and interests, and allowed me to help prospective students find their fit.

Leadership development- My roles as a college ambassador, secretary of the club tennis team, and peer mentor for IA have allowed me to express my passion for leadership and take an important role in organizations that really interest me. I have gained confidence in myself and have been able to help others through these roles. I have learned a lot about myself and about my interests even more through my leadership roles, and I hope to continue to improve as a leader and make a positive impact.

Service Engagement- Through the club tennis team, we participate in fundraisers and service events as a team, so we are able to create a bonding experience while helping others in need. Service events are a major part of our club activities, and they enrich our club’s purpose.

 

Career

For my interest in business sustainability, I have shadowed Abercrombie & Fitch. The company is just beginning to finalize and implement its sustainability program. I was able to provide input on what initiatives should and should not be implemented in various departments of the company, such as IT and facilities management. In addition, I just received an amazing summer internship opportunity with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as an Environmental Health & Safety intern in Tarrytown, NY. I will be working there for 10 weeks and I am more than excited. I hope to continue working with the company after graduation and develop my experiences in Environmental Health & Safety or a related sustainability career, such as Corporate Social Responsibility.

CFAES Ambassador Retreat

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This picture was taken at the CFAES Ambassador Retreat in Hocking Hills, which took place August 29-30. On this retreat, all of the ambassadors gathered as a group to learn more about our roles as ambassadors as well as learn more about each other. We participated in several games and exercises which brought us closer together. I familiarized myself with people who I did not know very well, and by the end I was more excited than ever to work with my team and fulfill my duties as an ambassador.