Sophomore Year in Review

My sophomore year of college was characterized by a lot of growth. Because COVID restrictions were mostly uplifted, I had the opportunity to meet so many new people and attend classes in person. I took courses such as Organic Chemistry I/II, Physics I/II, Microbiology, Physical Anthropology, and much more. One class that I really loved, however, was MEDCOLL 2000 (Intro to Medicine). This class was increasingly helpful in describing the expectations for medical school as well as different tips/advice to get in. The lectures were led by doctors, directors on the board of applications for OSU’s College of Medicine, medical students, etc. I have so much more knowledge and confidence with the application process and I’m excited to apply these skills.

During junior year, I hope to start shadowing physicians to get an idea of what speciality I might be interested in for the future. I also hope to continue with my volunteering opportunities and become more independent in research.

Career

In addition to taking difficult classes to prepare for medical school, I’ve been involved with many organizations which have allowed me to build a sense of community on campus. For example, I’m a member of Buckeyes Against Cancer, which has allowed me to advocate for fundraising events for places such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital and support patients undergoing cancer treatment. Another organization I’m involved with is the Sikh Student Association—an organization for my religion. After joining my religious organization, I decided to found a seva committee within it. “Seva” means “selfless service” in Sikhism. I created this committee for the purpose of incorporating more volunteer opportunities to give back to the Columbus community, and allowing myself to strengthen my faith and morals two hours away from home.

Furthermore, I obtained the role of Social Media/Outreach Officer in the club Buckeyes for Save a Child’s Heart for the upcoming year. The principal purpose of this club is to promote Save a Child’s Heart—an international non-profit organization that provides care for children suffering from heart disease across the world. With this position, I’ll be able to contribute to the cause by educating others on and off social media platforms. I am also a member of the First-Generation Pre-Medical Student Association which has allowed me to connect to other first-generation college students. I’ve met many different kinds of professionals (professors, doctors, scientists, etc.) through this club which will help me pave my path for my career as I learn from their experiences and advice.

Artifacts

Within high school, I took many AP courses. Although these classes were highly demanding and rigorous, I am extremely glad I was involved with them because of how they helped me form my study skills and prepare for college. I was taught to think critically and evaluate everything with an open mindset. This is exactly why this award is important to me; it represents all the time and effort I put in to reach my goals and it motivates me to do the same in college.

About Me

Hello! My name is Sylvia Ghotra and I’m from Macedonia, Ohio. I will be a 3rd-year microbiology major in the Biological Sciences Scholars Program in the Autumn 2022 semester. I’m determined to major in microbiology in hopes of attending medical school in the future so I may pursue a career in which I’ll be able to help others with their health and exert a positive influence over their lives. Moreover, I intend to go to medical school to expand my knowledge of life in general. I’m intrigued by the human body and all of the meticulous aspects that go into its existence and function. Medical school will allow me to constantly learn new things by facing challenges that provoke critical thinking and apply the lessons that I will acquire in life.

I am involved in organizations on campus such as the Sikh Student Association, Buckeyes for Save a Child’s Heart, First-Generation Pre-Medical Student Association, and Buckeyes Against Cancer. In the Sikh Student Association, I decided to create the Seva Committee during my freshman year. “Seva” means “selfless service” in Sikhism. I created this committee for the purpose of incorporating more volunteer opportunities to give back to the Columbus community, and allowing myself to strengthen my faith/morals away from home. In Buckeyes for Save a Child’s Heart, I have served as the Social Media/Outreach Officer and will be upholding the Secretary position in the upcoming school year. Furthermore, I’m involved in volunteer opportunities with Crisis Textline and research in the Dr. Mora’s and Dr. Rojas’  lab with the affects of aging on lung cell function/repair. By participating in these activities, my goals and way of thinking have evolved tremendously through the acquisition of various skills.

Freshman Year in Review

My first semester of college has been filled with a lot of growth. This not only includes in my grades but myself as a whole as well. I’ve learned how to adapt in a completely foreign environment and how to make the best of it; especially in the middle of a pandemic. One skill I have adopted is time management. It has been fairly hard to keep up with classes and stay motivated during these times when students have limited chances to go out but over time, I have mastered setting goals and sticking to them. Some other skills I’ve acquired include teamwork and communication. These have evolved from interactive classes which included “breakout rooms” on Zoom. Within these groups, I learned how to cooperate, analyze, and perform critical thinking with other students to solve problems. Overall, I’m extremely grateful for having the chance to be able to live on campus and adjust to my first year of being an adult although very little events were in-person.

After completing the second semester of my freshman year, I can say that I have grown significantly in various aspects. Although the majority of my classes were online due to COVID-19, I have still acquired many useful skills. For example, through my chemistry and biology courses, I have gotten a few chances to go to labs and perform experiments which have furthered my interest in my career path. Through my anthropology and sociology courses, I have learned about the different ways in which the world functions and just how much diversity is present. By taking these complex courses, I’ve learned how to challenge myself, manage my time better, and transition from high school to college and adulthood. Moving forward from freshman year, I plan on becoming even more involved on campus. For example, I am hoping to participate in research starting the first semester of sophomore year. Research will help me amplify my critical thinking skills, develop relationships, and prepare for medical school by allowing me to familiarize myself with lab work. Moreover, it’ll give me experience in collaborating with a team as well as working independently. Taking everything into account, I am very happy with who I’ve become after this year as I feel more motivated to reach my goals!

G.O.A.L.S.

  • Global Awareness:  This category involves diversity and how college students can impact the world. I am engaged in this category because I’m a part of the Sikh Student Association (SSA) which is a religious organization here at OSU. I chose to be a part of this club to keep in touch with my culture and identity, and find a sense of community while being two hours away from home.
  • Original Inquiry:  This category is all about research and gaining experience in the field which will expand one’s credibility, and help develop effective critical thinking and problem-solving mindsets. I hope to be involved with this kind of work in the future by performing research and taking advanced coursework to help me prepare for medical school and beyond.
  • Academic Enrichment:  The point of this category is to promote taking on challenging coursework. I plan on applying this category to my life by choosing coursework that is designed to enhance problem-solving and thinking. Moreover, if I choose to have a lighter course-load, I am going to pair it with research and/or other extracurricular activities.
  • Leadership Development:  The point of this category is to emphasize how important it is to gain leadership experience and how it may help one later in life. I plan on applying this to my life by participating more in my organizations/clubs and acquiring a role on the executive board. This experience will help me because it will allow me to be creative and learn what it feels like to be in control which is something I will need because I am aspiring to be a doctor.
  • Service Engagement:  This category is important in that it promotes participation in community events. In the next semester, I hope to be more involved in service acts as they help to build relationships, experience, and many other advantageous skills.