This semester, I conducted a second interview with my ACES mentee Molly. Molly is a first year majoring in Environment, Development, Economy, and Sustainability (EDES) and is greatly enjoying her time here at Ohio State. To further inquire about Molly’s second semester, I asked her the following questions:

1. 1. Are you enjoying your major? Why or why not?
   2. Which class on your current schedule do you think will be the most challenging and why?
   3. How do you manage your time between your involvement and your academics?
   4. Have you enjoyed the ACES living-learning community in Smith-Steeb? Why or why not?
   5. What recommendations do you have for improving the ACES program?

Although Molly is still trying to figure out exactly what she wants to do career-wise, she says she really likes the things she is learning through her major. Looking forward to next semester, Molly is in the process of deciding whether she wants to keep EDES as her major or if she wants to change that to her minor and pursue a Business major instead. Because Molly does not necessarily wish to attend grad school, she thinks the Business major route may be better suited for her career goals. Some day Molly wishes to work with a non-profit organization that works with the government to help the environment and improve sustainability. Molly’s most challenging class this semester is her Economics class, which is required for her major. On the other hand, her favorite class is her photography class which she took simply because she is very interested in photography and enjoys taking pictures on her own time. I think it is important for students to take time out of their busy schedule to do at least one class they thoroughly enjoy. Although Molly keeps a busy schedule with a job and her extracurriculars, she manages her time by getting as much class work done in between classes as she can. Molly works in the Nisonger center on medical campus. She also participates in the Ace! program through the Nisonger center which helps students with developmental disabilities organize and complete their school work. In fact, I also participate in this program, so I am able to spend time with Molly during the events. Hopefully we will both continue with this program in future semesters so that we can keep in touch after I am no longer her ACES mentor. Molly also is involved with Weird Music, a student organization that emphasizes self expression and acceptance through music. By the stories she tells me and the types of music she shows me, I can tell that Weird Music is a really cool event and that Molly really likes it. I hope she continues with this organization in future semesters. Additionally, Molly also is on the Executive Board for the Best Food Forward student organization which provides bulk-bought produce to students living on or off campus. This is very helpful to students as it provides an affordable option for buying healthy foods. I plan on utilizing this resource myself when I live off-campus next year. Molly even has become involved with modeling and was picked up by an acting agency recently. Molly has definitely enjoyed living in the Smith-Steeb ACES living-learning community, and has made many friends in her residence hall. She enjoys living on south campus mostly because of the many nearby food options like the Union Market and Sloopy’s diner. She hopes to live on south campus again next year. Although Molly thoroughly enjoys the ACES program and its Mentorship Program, she does have some suggestions for its improvement. She wishes to see a greater involvement in the “Education” aspect of ACES since that is something she expected when coming into the program. I think numerous ACES Scholars, many being Education majors, agree with Molly on this suggestion. Molly also suggested more involved Community Meetings, as she likes when we’re not just talked at, but rather are engaging with other ACES scholars. I agree with her and like when we are able to engage with other ACES, as I feel as though we do not get enough chances to mingle with everyone in the scholars program. Overall, Molly is having a great time at OSU and in ACES. I am excited to see where the rest of her college career takes her and hope I can continue to stand as a mentor and friend to her.

This semester, I was more than excited to venture out and explore the great city of Columbus with my two mentees Kylie and Molly. Speaking from experience, as a freshman it can be hard to know where to go or what to do when coming to college in a new city. It was rewarding to show my mentees new, fun places around Ohio State that they could continue to go to and enjoy in their future years here at Ohio State. While planning my Explore Columbus trips, I knew that I wanted to take each of my mentees to a destination they were excited about and do so at different times so I could truly get to know them better one-on-one. I found it very beneficial to take them out separately because they both have very different personalities which had truly shown through once I spoke with them.                                           

After suggesting to Kylie that we could go eat at Condado’s, she was extremely excited to go to “that place with the amazing cheese dip”. She had heard of the restaurant and its great Mexican cuisine (especially the queso)and had always wanted to go. I remember being a freshman last year with the same exact prenotions and curiosities regarding the restaurant and was thankful I could be the first one to take her there. After solidifying when we would go out to dinner, Kylie and I arranged to meet up and take the Cota bus together down to the Short North. On the way there, I showed Kylie how to use the bus system so she could do so on her own for her future endeavours. When we arrived at Condado’s, we promptly ordered queso and I showed her how she could create her own tacos, which she enjoyed doing. While enjoying our time and our food, I learned a lot about Kylie’s background, hopes for her future, and her family. She turned out to be the biggest Disney World fan I had ever met.  After we paid for our meal and began heading back to our respective residence halls, I was glad to have shared great food and great conversation with Kylie.

For my other Explore Columbus, I went with Molly and fellow ACES scholar Emma and her mentee to North Market down in the Short North. Last year my mentee took me here for my first time and I loved it, so I decided to continue the tradition and take my mentee there as well. We all met up and hopped on the Cota to venture down together. On the way there I sat with Molly and we caught up about our semesters then continued to state our excitement for North Market and all the food we would be eating. Molly had heard of the restaurant there that sells delicious chicken and could not wait for that to be her lunch. While wandering around at North Market, I was able to learn about Molly’s likes and dislikes, her academic and musical interests, and her thoughts on her first semester at OSU. I was excited to hear that she really loves her new life here, and came to realize that we shared a lot in common. Molly, Emma, her mentee and I all had a great time walking around to the different vendors, chatting, and eating great food that did not come from a dining hall. Overall, the trip made for a great afternoon. Upon leaving, we all agreed that we’d go back to North Market as soon as we could.

All in all, it was was a great experience to be able to hang out with my mentees in unique settings. I feel as though the new environments allowed my mentees to relax and hold conversations that we had never had prior to Explore Columbus. It was interesting to be the one who is introducing new things to younger students as I feel like it was just yesterday when I was in their shoes new to Ohio State and new to Columbus.I believe it can truly be beneficial to take time out of students’ day to explore the world that surrounds them outside of the classroom. Often times, people may be so focused on school and the workload that comes with it that they may be blinded to the adventures and places that are out there for them. Going forward, I am excited to keep in touch with my mentees and help them with anything they might need or any questions they might have.

My first-year mentees for the ACES mentorship program are Molly Ridge and Kylie Volak. Molly is an Environment, Development, Economy and Sustainability (EDES) major, and Kylie is majoring in Biology on a pre-med track. I sat down with each of them to inquire about themselves and their time here at Ohio State. Specifically, I asked them:

1. How did you decide on your major?
2. Have you found a favorite study spot on campus?
3. Have you joined any student organizations?
4. What is your favorite part about ACES?
5. What do you plan on doing after graduation?
6. Do you have a backup plan?

It was interesting to hear the girls’ answers to these questions and learn more about their interests and personalities. Molly decided on her EDES major because environmental behavior has always seemed to pique her interest, and she is passionate about sustainability. She is hoping to incorporate a business minor to further broaden her job opportunities after her undergraduate career. In fact, a huge factor in choosing OSU for Molly was the fact that it offered this major, as most schools don’t focus on the sustainability aspect. Kylie chose to major in Biology as a sort of default option because she felt it was the best route to take for medical school. As for their favorite study spot, both girls said they tend to study either at Thompson or in their rooms. I suggested the idea of the library in Orton Hall to them because I discovered it my freshman year and it truly helped me so much. Because not too many people know about this option, it does not get as crowded around the time midterms or finals and is easier to find a study spot. My mentees seemed appreciative of this suggestion, and I hope they take it into consideration. My favorite part about each girl’s interview was learning what student organizations they have joined here at OSU. Molly is really involved in Best Food Forward which is a student org dedicated to increasing the accessibility of healthy produce for students through the act of buying in bulk. Molly plans on getting even more involved in this club by acquiring an executive position. This club aligns with her love of sustainability and helping the community. Kylie has joined some fun clubs that I have never heard of. She is in Bread Club and Casual Sports Club where she bakes and eats different types of bread and participates in casual pick-up games of sports like soccer, basketball, tag, etc., respectively. Being Molly’s mentor, I was excited to hear that her favorite part about ACES is the mentorship program. She said it’s a nice, informal way of getting to know things about campus, ACES, and other general information, which I full-heartedly agree with. Kylie’s favorite part about ACES is getting to know and become friends with other ACES members. After graduation, Molly is not entirely sure which path she wants to do career-wise but would like to do something regarding the implementation of policies to make sustainability accessible to communities. She’d like to be involved in working with businesses or consulting firms or even government programs in order to achieve her goals. Kylie plans on attending medical school after graduating in order to partake in optometry or medical research. If things take a turn, Molly’s backup plan is to either do something in the business world or become a teacher. Kylie’s backup plan is to pursue data analytics. Overall, it was nice to get to know both my mentees a little bit better by conducting their interviews, and I am glad I had the chance to converse with each of them. With the information they provided in mind, I will be able to be a better mentor for both Molly and Kylie.

Growing up, schoolwork and academics have always been a first priority of mine. Homework was always the first thing I did after school, I turned my projects in early, and I proofread my papers dozens of times. I used to consider myself a perfectionist when it came to school until I reached high school and came to the realization that wanting to do well in school and succeed academically is not just a perfectionist’s quirk, it is a reasonable drive for success. That’s why when the reality of having to apply to college finally set in, I went all in to focus on my grades, extracurriculars, and my overall well-roundedness as a student and an individual. I had never really been one of those people who has a top college in mind for years and knows exactly what they want after high school or where they could see herself graduating from. That’s why the college process was particularly difficult for me. I had no idea what I wanted, what type of campus I wanted, or what I wanted to major in. Finally, after doing plenty of research and thinking on my own time, I narrowed my choices down to three universities, Ohio State being my top choice. Knowing that this was a competitive school, I dedicated countless hours into my application and my studies to ensure I got in. Looking back, I can undoubtedly say that when I received my first acceptance letter to college-from The Ohio State University- I had never been prouder of myself. In that moment, I knew that putting my mind to something and working hard truly did pay off. Now, I’m the happiest I could be and am so thankful to be able to further my education here at Ohio State.

One of my favorite parts of being involved in the Advocates for Community and Education Scholars  (ACES) is the mentorship program. At the beginning of the semester, each first-year within ACES was assigned a mentor who had similar interests/connections. My mentor Madison has been a huge help in getting acclimated to my new life as a student at OSU. She is also planning to become an occupational therapist, so she was able to give me advice about which classes would be beneficial for me to take. She also has helped me explore Columbus! Being from Pittsburgh, one of the things I was most excited about when coming to Ohio State was the ability to see a new city. Madison took me to a unique market for lunch, showing me parts of my new community that I didn’t know existed. I’m glad I can have Madison as someone to count on as not only a helpful resource but a friend as well!

[Artifacts are the items you consider to be representative of your academic interests and achievements. For each entry, include both an artifact and a detailed annotation.  An annotation is a reflective description of the artifact that attempts to communicate its significance.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]