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Year in Review
My Second Year: Fall ’17 – Spring ’18
This year has been one of the best of my life, and I can attribute it’s greatness almost entirely to my semester abroad.
In October of 2017, I began to get antsy. I love Ohio State, I always have, but the stress of sophomore year classes had started to get to me, and the new-to-college novelty I felt freshman year had begun to wear off. I wanted a change, so I decided to flee the country. Well, kind of. I decided to take action towards a goal I have had since I stepped into my first french class in 7th grade: to spend a semester studying the french language in France.
My decision to go abroad was incredibly last minute (like, two weeks before the program’s application deadline last minute), so getting all of my ducks in a row was no easy task. I kept expecting myself to give up or screw up, as sad as that sounds. I have always been one to excitedly take on a new project, but I haven’t always been the best at the follow-through. I thought eventually I wouldn’t be able to take one more meeting with financial aid, or my advisor, or the study abroad staff. I thought something had to go wrong. It had to. I would mess up or the study-abroad stars just wouldn’t align. But, thankfully, I surprised myself, and I just kept working at it. I found a friend who could drive me to Chicago so that I could get my Visa. I applied for scholarships until my costs were covered. I spent every day trekking around campus to get approximately 5,000 forms signed and sent off. I had a lofty goal, and I followed through. All the way through.
And now, low and behold, I am typing this from my home stay family’s balcony in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. The weather is cool and breezy, but the sun is warm on my skin. I am a 10 minute walk away from Place de La Bastille and a 20 minute walk away from Notre Dome. And I absolutely could not be happier.
This semester I have learned more about myself and the world than I ever thought possible. I have mastered french, rediscovered my old creative hobbies, met and befriended people from dozens of countries, stayed in so many sketchy/amazing hostels, eaten more baguettes than I could even begin to count, and fallen head over heals in love with Paris. This is the most cliche study-abroad thing I could say, but my entire perspective on the world has changed.
I know now that I want to pursue a career that allows me to continue using french, and I would love to live and work in Europe again one day. In this next year, my goals are to take action towards this goal through internships or volunteer opportunities, to continue traveling as much as I can, and to continue pursuing my passions outside of business.
In Columbus, it is so easy to get wrapped up in the world of Fisher, and to obsess over the path that is so strictly laid out for you there. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good path. It works and it works well. But before coming abroad, I had forgotten how much I love history, and cinema, and french, and reading constantly for fun, and sitting for hours in the park with my friends. This semester I have not taken a single business class, and honestly, I have loved it. Although I am certainly excited to continue pursuing business next semester, I am also excited to take the things I have so lovingly re-discovered in Paris back with me to Ohio.
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
Although I have had many amazing experiences at Ohio State, having the opportunity to vote in my first presidential election was probably the most meaningful. Although the election did not turn out the way I had hoped, the experience overall taught me many valuable lessons about my country, brought me closer to the people around me, and allowed me to grow as a person.
The I <3 Voting sticker I received (but instead of a heart it’s the state of Ohio) is an artifact that represents my first time voting well. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to vote in such a powerful swing state, especially as an out-of-state student here at OSU.
The sticker came from the polling place at the Union where I cast my vote. It represents the fact that I know I am able to have a real say in one of the most important decisions the United States makes. I have had a tangible impact on my country, and I am incredibly grateful for that.
About Me
Hello! My name is Charlotte Fore. I am a first year marketing major and french minor here at The Ohio State University. Outside of my classes I have also gotten involved in a plethora of extracurricular activities: the Business Scholars Program, the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, the Pathways for Women in Supply Chain Management scholarship program, and BuckeyeThon (the largest student run philanthropy in Ohio).
In my opinion, the best way to be successful in school is to stay busy. During my first semester at OSU, I rushed, received a bid, and pledged Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity. Within my pledge class, I held office as the Vice President of Community Service and now I serve as a part of the Community Service Committee and the Marketing Committee for the chapter. This organization has given me a ton of opportunities to make friends, grow professionally, and learn skills that I will carry through the rest of my life. BuckeyeThon has also given me an enormous amount of opportunities to grow as a person. I have always been extremely passionate about community service and non-profit work, and BuckeyeThon has given me the chance to pursue my passion in an incredible way. Furthermore, by serving on the marketing committee, I have also been able to gain real-world career experience that will translate well into whatever job I will hold in the future. In my free time, I love to play ukulele, dance, spend time with my friends, and read.
In the near future I plan to pursue leadership roles in the organizations I am a part of. After college, I hope to work doing digital marketing and/or brand management for a non-profit or social enterprise. By combining my passion for improving the world with my love and interest for marketing, I hope to use my communicative strengths to help others. I love Ohio State, and I know that my education here will help to prepare me in the best way possible for my future.
Go Bucks!
Charlotte Fore