Earth Month Challenge Part 1

I was drawn to the area of food and water, because I have noticed that I consume a lot of food and drinks that come in disposable packaging that cannot be recycled.  I also take long showers, I plan on timing my showers during earth month, and working towards bathing more efficiently. To cut down on the amount of food wrappers that I throw away on a monthly basis, I will buy food in bulk, and put a small amount in reusable containers, instead of buying single serve snacks. Whole Foods will be a helpful resource, because they offer a wide variety of foods in bulk, as well as eco-friendly containers. I drink a lot of coffee, often from paper cups that cannot be recycled, during this month I will always have a reusable coffee cup in my backpack. The coffee shops on campus as well as Starbucks on High, will allow me to use a reusable coffee cup, and Starbucks will even give me a discount when I use my own cup. This will help me reduce my impact, because I will be sending less waste to the landfill. Every morning I eat a prepackaged granola bar, and then throw the wrapper in the trash, during earth month I will make my own granola bars, using recipes from allrecipes.com. This site is great because it offers a wide variety of  recipes, and I will be able to look through all those that sound appealing, and then determine which ones could be made most efficiently. I use plastic silverware often, because it is convenient, but during earth month I will purchase metal silverware and use that instead. I will reduce my food waste during earth month through purchasing only the food I need for each week, instead of buying too much, and having to throw some of it away. I will always bring one of my reusable shopping bags with me when I go grocery shopping or go to Target, so I do not have an excess of plastic bags. I will purchase foods that are locally grown, so that I am eating foods that are in season, and were not transported from across the country or across the world. I will use www.cuesa.org to determine which fruits are in season in my area, this will help me support local agriculture, and I will be getting more nutrients, because the produce will be fresher. I will go to Lucky’s Market to get local produce, because they are dedicated to supporting local agriculture.  I will reduce the amount of frozen meals I eat, by making my own meals instead, this will be reduce the amount of packaging that I send to the landfill. I will reduce my water usage by turning off the faucet when I brush my teeth, instead of letting the water run for the entire time I am brushing, I will al I will eat more fruits and vegetables, and less meat because more waste is created through producing meat, than produce. I will use healthland.time.com to find ways to eat in a more sustainable way. I will stop throwing away coffee filters everyday by switching to a reusable coffee filter. I will ask my mom to stop sending me food from home, because she often sends me foods that I could buy here, and thus I would be reducing emissions caused by transportation. I will use the website www.globalstewards.org throughout this month because this website is full of simple ways to be greener, that are inexpensive.

Columbus To-Do List part 1 Spring 2016

I chose to do my Columbus To-Do list project on Metro Parks, Trails, and Nature Preserves. The first location that I visited was the Franklin Park Conservatory, I visited on March 4th, with my mother, because there was an exhibit featuring orchids at the conservatory. My mother’s favorite plant is the orchid, and we had been planning on visiting the unique plant exhibit since winter break. The majority of the orchids were housed in the conservatory’s central green house, the palm court. In the palm court there  were a wide array of colors and sizes of orchids, however all of the orchids had the same trademark flower shape. Franklin Park always arranges there exhibits beautifully, the orchids were in hanging baskets, framing a small gazebo, and used as accents in the permanent beds. The use of orchids in a variety of manners highlighted their beauty and poise. My mother and I also walked through the biomes that are housed at the conservatory, my favorite biome has always been the rainforest biome. Upon entering the rainforest, guests are greeted by a Koi pond surrounded by tropical plants. In the center of the room stands a tall blown glass structure, created by Dale Chihuly. The sculpture looks like a flame shooting up from the center of the room, and the reds, and oranges of  the piece, enhance the tropical colors of the plants. The rainforest biome is currently the temporary home for a wide variety of butterflies from all over the world. The butterflies were emerging from their chrysalises while we were visiting the conservatory, and colors of both the butterflies and their chrysalises were breathtaking. The butterflies will make the biome even more gorgeous

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Sustainable Design

I chose to watch the Ted talk about making better vaccines, because I plan on going into medicine, and the Ted Talk entitled, “Using Nature’s Genius in Architecture,” because my father is an Architect. The talk about vaccines discussed the creation of a new type of vaccine that is a solid, instead of a liquid, a new form that does not need a needle and syringe. With this new technology, a patch containing the vaccine can be placed on the skin, and deliver the vaccine to the patient pain free. The patch also does not have to be worn for long, just moments after the patch has been placed on the skin the antigen has entered the body, and the patch can be removed.  Currently vaccines are widely used in the liquid form, and once synthesized the vaccines require constant cooling which uses a lot of energy, and makes getting vaccines to remote areas, difficult, and sometimes even impossible. A solid vaccine would allow more individuals to have access to preventative medicine, and reduce the amount of energy needed to transport vaccines to where they are needed. Modeling structures after nature creates a loop in which the waste from one process is used to power another. One of our biggest problems is waste disposal, and if we looked for ways to repurpose waste, instead of places to put it we could drastically reduce global warming.  For example, using the compounds that are evaporated out of sea water, in order to make fresh water, as building materials, instead of pumping this waste back into the oceans, which increases the salinity of the water. Increased salinity creates an environment that some species cannot live in, and thus it can cause species to become endangered or extinct. Using a loop type structure instead, means that the compounds removed from the water can be used create new buildings, which means the compounds are not put back in the ocean. Sustainable design is necessary in all fields, so that the planet we call home can be sustained, and become healthier.

Helena’s Service Reflection

This semester I participated in a variety of service based here at The Ohio State University, from Community Commitment, to invasive species removal, and I enjoyed the time I spent giving back to OSU and Columbus. I chose to do Community Commitment the first weekend of classes, I wanted to give back to Columbus, the city that will be my home for the next four years. I also participated in a the ENR Scholars river clean up on our first day, I feel that this was both educational, and made the Olentangy healthier. I chose work with the tailgate recycling program on my own, because I wanted to help prevent recyclable waste from going to the landfill. The next service opportunity was apple picking, I liked being outside while completing this activity, and I also felt that apple picking was a good use of my time, because the fruits of our labors went to the Mid-Ohio Food bank. My final service project with ENR was invasive species removal, I enjoyed this activity because the progress being made was clearly visible and a local environment was improved because of my afternoon. My final hour of service for the semester was encouraging students to register for Buckeyethon. That brings my total for service hours to 16 for the semester.

Though these service hours I addressed environmental issues, helped in an area that was short staffed, and aided in recruiting people to Buckeyethon so that more money will be raised for children at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. I can continue to address the environmental issues I worked with by remaining an active ENR scholar, and I can help Buckeyethon raise more money for Nationwide by providing my team with fundraising opportunities. My experiences aligned with my expectations for the service completed with ENR, Buckeyethon, and the tailgate recycling, because the activities were clearly described before the event. However, for Community Commitment I excepted to be working outside with my hands, and I was slightly disappointed when I spent my day inside preforming mundane activities. From my activities I learned that a small amount of work can make a big difference in the planet and my community. Through participating in environmental service I helped an environment be more like nature intended it to be, and through volunteering at the library I allowed the librarians to have more time to aid patrons.

I would participate in these types of service opportunities again, because I feel that I have positively impacted others. If I were to do Community Commitment again I would choose a different activity, however, if being at the library was the only option I would still be willing to serve. The next time I serve I am going to work on seeing the change that I have made, instead of focusing on all the things that are yet to be accomplished. The most difficult aspect of service is doing activities that do not seem to improve anything, because the change is not immediately visible. The most satisfying aspect of service is knowing that change has occurred because of my actions. Through the service I have completed this semester I learned that I feel the happiest when I give back in way that causes long lasting change.

Columbus To-Do List: Coffee and Tea

 

On the eleventh of September I had spent the afternoon in German Village with my aunt Liz. My aunt picked me up right after my final class of the week, and we headed to German Village for lunch. Over the next four hours I learned so much about my aunt, from how she got the job she has today, to her favorite type of coffee. I did not realize how little I knew about a person I spend time with so often. During my time I also learned about German Village and its history, and I had a chance to see the art that my grandmother is selling in a small shop there.  The original residents of German Village were hard working immigrants who lived in well built small homes on the south side of Columbus. These homes and the brick paved streets they stand on have been preserved, and their beauty is still visible today. Liz and I spent part of our afternoon wondering through the streets of German Village, and window shopping. We ended our day with iced mochas from Stauf’s Coffee Roasters. These were exceptional mochas, with the perfect coffee to milk to chocolate ratio, my aunt took one sip, and said it was the best mocha she had ever had. We will definitely return to Stauf’s again.

Iced Mocha

Stauf’s Coffee Roasters- German Village

A month later, on October 11, I went to One Line Coffee with Miss Mallory Wiles, I can be seen here with Mallory’s iced coffee, however my drink of choice was a cappuccino, seen on the right. Unlike other coffee shops I had been to in the past, One Line Coffee cared a lot about my coffee experience, and the barista wanted to make sure that I chose the right drink. I was very happy with my decision, because my coffee not only tasted amazing, but it was also a piece of art. This was only the second time that I had ever had coffee that doubled as a work of art, and I think I will visit One Line Coffee often over the course of the next four years. The atmosphere also made the coffee shop appealing, from the location in the Short North, to the exposed brick and wood floors, One Line is the perfect place to study, or meet up with friends.

 

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The third cafe I visited was Impero Coffee Roasters, this was the best tasting coffee that I had over the course of completing this to do list. I ordered a flat white, my favorite drink at Starbucks, however, Impero’s was far superior. A flat white is made by pouring the micro-foam from whipped whole milk over ristretto shots of espresso, it is my favorite caffeinated beverage because the richness of the espresso is enhanced by the fat in the milk. I prefer flat whites to lattes because the proportion of coffee to milk is higher. The flavors of the coffee and the milk are excellently combined to create an entirely new taste that is both bold and delicate. The coffee at Impero was far superior, but the atmosphere was not as welcoming when compared to the other cafes I visited. Impero had a very modern interior with limited seating, not ideal for meeting up with friends to catch up. Impero is set up to be more of a grab and go coffee shop, where as the other cafes I visited were meant to be an experience. I was also not impressed with the latte art at Impero, seen below. Leaves were the subject of choice every time I ordered a latte type beverage while completing my to do list, however, the art at Impero was not as formal as the art from other cafes.

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My next coffee beverage was a cappuccino from Fox in the Snow Cafe, it was unfortunately my least favorite drink. The coffee was a little too bitter for my taste, but the ratio of coffee to milk was perfect. I enjoyed the full bodied taste of the coffee, however, it was a little too strong for my liking. I would still like to return to Fox in the Snow, because their breakfast offerings seem interesting, and they had a large variety of caffeinated beverages. As a coffee lover I am always willing to give a cafe a second chance, and I hope that I will be pleasantly surprised when I return the next time. Another reason I will return to Fox in the Snow is that the atmosphere is lively and inviting. The cafe would be perfect for everything from a date to an afternoon of studying. Part of the cafe can be seen in the photo below, the design is very modern, and the contrast between the white walls and the industrial furniture makes everything seem new.

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I finished my to do list at Kafe Kerouac. While there I enjoyed a mocha, the caffinated beverage that started my coffee adoration, and I was reminded of the reasons why this heavenly beverage was my favorite for several years. The combination of milk, coffee, and chocolate was delightful, and it was the perfect drink to warm me up on such a frigid day. I also enjoyed the laid back atmosphere of the cafe, this made the me feel welcomed and comfortable. Kafe Kerouac is not only a cafe, but is also a used bookstore with an eclectic collection of books. Although I enjoyed the atmosphere, and a used my time there to get some studying done, I would have enjoyed my mocha more if it had been slightly less sweet. Unfortunately the amount of chocolate used to make this mocha hid the coffee flavor, and this made me miss the mocha I had at my first stop of the to do list. I think I will likely still return to Kafe Kerouac in the future, because I enjoyed the experience of being there so much. As I said in my post about Fox in the Snow Cafe, I am always willing to give a cafe a second chance.

 

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Kaitlyn Nicole Santinoceto

My wonderful mentor, Kaitlyn Santinoceto, is currently an Animal Sciences Major, and  her class rank is 2. Kaitlyn and I talk often about personal matters, and this interview gave me a chance to learn more about her academic life.

For the Academics topic, Kaitlyn shared with me that her most challenging major class was Animal Science 2100. This class was centered around production animals; Kaitlyn was a minority in this class, because she had no prior knowledge on this subject, while many of her peers had extensive background knowledge on production animals. Unlike many of her classmates, Kaitlyn did not grow up on a farm, and she was not a part of 4H. She made it through this class by dedicating extensive time to her work on this subject, and finding friends in this class, who helped her fill in the gaps in her knowledge, and she still works with them often.

Prior to our interview, Kaitlyn had shared with me on several occasions that she was very involved outside of the classroom, and hearing how this involvement has benefitted her helped me to realize the importance of being a well rounded student. For Kaitlyn, the benefits of being involved range from getting her mind off of classwork, to meeting new people. Kaitlyn said that when her classes get stressful, it is nice to think about other things for a while, and she does this by immersing herself in activities other than academics. Her favorite aspect of being involved is meeting new people, and having the opportunity to network with them. The new people she meets often are people that she would have never met otherwise, and these people have become some of her closet friends. Kaitlyn’s experience has caused me to think more about the topics I am passionate about, and the ways in which I can use my interests to get involved.

To make the most of being an Environment and Natural Resources Scholar, Kaitlyn shared with me that the program is what you make of it. Being more involved has given her opportunities to get outside her comfort zone, and have new experiences. Kaitlyn has participated in many activities as a scholar, including hiking and workshops,  and she thinks that all the opportunities to spend time outside are rewarding, and worthwhile. Talking with her about Scholars made me realize that participating in more than the required amount of activities helps one get more out of the program.

After talking about ENR scholars we discussed careers, and Kaitlyn has two very different dream jobs: working in a zoo, and working with children with disabilities. She would like to work with exotic animals if she worked in a zoo, but she also could see herself working with disabled children, because she has a disabled brother, and works with an organization for disabled students on campus. Aiding people with disabilities makes her happy, and she has a lot of experience with this type of situation, so she knows that she would find her work interesting, and be excited about coming to work everyday. No matter what Kaitlyn decides to do she knows one thing for sure, she wants to share her scientific knowledge with people.

Our final topic of discussion was the Miscellaneous category, and I asked my mentor about the most important things she has learned at Ohio State thus far. Her advice was to make time for yourself, and stay focused, she especially emphasized the importance of balance, noting that it is important to remember that one does not need to study all the time. Yes, we are students, but Kaitlyn stated it is important to remember that we are first and foremost people, we need a break sometimes, and these breaks are important for our health, and good health helps us be well in all aspects of our lives. The piece of advice that she gave me that I need to keep in mind the most is remembering to take time to relax, for me it was difficult to relax before college, over my first year I will need to work hard to make sure I have ample time for relaxation to have a good balance.

I am glad I had the opportunity to learn more about Kaitlyn both as a student, and as a friend. Her advice will help me as I continue to adjust to Ohio State, and throughout my four years here.

 

Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

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

Helena Gastier
Campus: 1900 Cannon Drive, Columbus, OH 43210 -gastier.6@osu.edu -330-621-88791
Permanent: 942 Quinby Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691

EDUCATION

The Ohio State University                                                                                                                Columbus, OH
Bachelor of Arts                                                                                                                                             May 2019
Major: Chemistry
Minor: French
Scholars: Environmental Science

Wooster High School                                                                                                                             Wooster, OH
Graduated with Honors, GPA: 3.96                                                                                                         May 2015

RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE 

Flex Yoga                                                                                                                                                     Wooster, OH
Desk Clerk                                                                                                                                           June 2015- Present
• Handled class check-in and retail transactions
• Liable for keeping space clean, arranging retail products to encourage sales, and ensuring security of studio overnight
• Exposed to Mind Body Scheduler, inner workings of a small business

Lemonberry Frozen Yogurt                                                                                                                Wooster, OH
Customer Service Representative                                                                                        November 2014-Present
• Explained process to customers and responded efficiently to customer questions and concerns
• Handled daily store closing and security processes
• Trained new employees and established an understanding of company policies
• Collaborated with other employees to provide high quality customer service

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Environment and Natural Resources Scholars                                                                     Columbus, OH
Buckeyethon Team Captain                                                                                         October 2015- February 2016
• Learned skills for recruiting participants, and fundraising for a group
• Established first team for this Scholars program

First Presbyterian Church Wooster Session                                                                              Wooster, OH
Youth Elder                                                                                                                                      July 2014- May 2015
• Represented the opinions of the younger members of the congregation

CAMPUS ACTIVITY

Environment and Natural Resources Scholar                                                                       Columbus, OH
Active Member                                                                                                                           August 2015- May 2017
• Completed a minimum of 10 hours of service with an environmental focus per semester

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

Computer: Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint
Foreign Language: Conversational French