G.O.A.L.S.

The University Honors & Scholars Center at The Ohio State University serves high-ability, motivated undergraduate students. While embracing diversity in both ideas and people, the Center fosters purposeful learning communities that enhance students’ academic and social experiences. The Center facilitates impactful, rigorous, and unique opportunities that further student success and involvement in our G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement.

Honors Contract G.O.A.L.S.

Now, during my second time reflecting on the Honors G.O.A.L.S. of global awareness, original inquiry, academic enrichment, leadership development, and service engagement, I look back to my first reflection as a freshman in October 2016 and see that my focus on balance and these goals has endured, while I have experienced and accomplished so many exciting things during my first two years as an undergrad, and continue to dream about where I will grow in the future.

In broadening my global awareness, I have taken courses such as archaeology, anthropology, and linguistics which have exposed me to diverse cultures in an academic setting, and have learned from friends and acquaintances including foreign exchange and international students from different cultural backgrounds. I would love to participate in a study abroad or other travel to Germany, and have looked into the options that I mentioned in my frist reflection, which might work with my major, as well as talking to friends who have studied abroad, specifically in Germany.

In engaging with original inquiry, I have had the opportunity to do 10 weeks of full time research modeling the stress hormone cortisol in hair over the summer of 2017, supported by a Summer Research Fellowship grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry (OUR&CI). I got to engage with the entire research process independently, collaborate interdisciplinarily, and present my research 3 times: at the Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) capstone conference, at the Fall Undergraduate Research Poster Forum, and at the Denman Undergraduate Research Poster Forum. I plan to continue to work towards this goal by engaging in research, internships, and advanced coursework in the focus of my major specialization. I am currently beginning to engage in human computer interaction research with the Interactive Data Systems group, and will be working as a Data Science Intern at CAS over the summer of 2018. While so much of my focus has been on connecting with research, which has helped me to figure out where I want to apply data analytics to and continues to allow me to ask new and original questions, I also still look forward to my senior capstone, and have engaged with the art I mentioned in my last reflection, through playing cello at my church, Jacob’s Porch, developing my photography skills and business, and engaging with dance through the Second-year Transformational Experience Program (STEP) professional development co-curricular opportunities.

My preparedness for academic enrichment by focusing on the Big Data and Analytics Association (BDAA) for extracurricular involvement and commitment to allowing sufficient time, focus, and balance to pursue my major of Data Analytics paid off, as I have been a leader on the BDAA Executive Board since January of 2017 as a liaison, event coordinator, and currently internal relations director, was accepted into my major in March of 2017, and have been working on my major and specialization coursework since. I have engaged with analytics projects and opportunities, and have refined my focus in applying analytics. I am intrigued by how users interact with technology and excited by the power of data science to predict and power the future, with a particular interest in using data science to solve problems in user experience and human computer interaction. I have selected my general education courses in overlapping areas to focus and develop critical skills in areas that I can practice curiosity and creativity outside of the direct applications of problems in data science. I have had the ability to take 2 general education courses in anthropology and linguistics each, out of the 7 general education courses I have taken so far at Ohio State.

I have focused my leadership development, as I aimed to in my last reflection, and am involved in Jacob’s Porch and BDAA. At Jacob’s Porch, I have had the opportunity to be on the student board, lead small groups in art and photography at our semesterly retreat, contribute through collaboration in writing and music for worship, and lead small groups at our annual high school retreat. My involvement with my church relates to my personal values of faith and community, as well as the concepts of humility, vulnerability, and dignity which I have embraced and reflected on with the Porch community. At BDAA, besides the leadership positions I mentioned earlier, I’ve put on a mixer for freshman in Data Analytics, helped planned the DataFest hackathon, put in a mixer for the entire Data Analytics major, planned on the mentorship team for HackOHI/O, ran a supply chain analytics case competition, put on our semesterly sponsor appreciation night, connected the liaisons that I manage to the resources they need, and planned the day of logistics for the Women In Analytics conference in Columbus. My involvement with my major organization relates to my career goal of learning data science and strengthening my related technical and soft skills.

I serve my communities of Jacob’s Porch and the Data Analytics community at Ohio State through event coordination and leadership to bring opportunities to my peers, and participate in volunteering opportunities outside of these communities as available. As mentioned above, I have primarily served my communities through my positions as a leader, both officially and by leading by example. My favorite opportunities which I will engage with again in the future include the OSU Community Commitment volunteer day, and the high school retreat through Jacob’s Porch.

Academic Plan G.O.A.L.S.

Balance is incredibly important in living a life to be proud of. I am thrilled to be a part of a program which encourages this while forming well-rounded students through global awareness, original inquiry, academic enrichment, leadership development, and service engagement here at The Ohio State University. In reflecting on these G.O.A.L.S. I see both my passions and plans, and the areas I have to grow in.

There are many areas that will come together to increase my global awareness. I plan to take classes both on cultural anthropology and the global business of food, and while I am excited to explore these interesting topics which I have not gotten to engage with previously, the classes will broaden my understanding of the world, the people who live here, and the role food plays globally. Because of my passion for speaking German, I also intend to travel to Germany during my undergraduate career, whether that be through summer research with the German Academic Exchange Service and RISE Germany, or study abroad over May term.

Original inquiry, for me, will come in the form of research and my senior capstone project, as well as my own creative art. Because there are so many fields and industries to which data analytics can be applied, I would love to participate in research in multiple fields as the opportunities are available, to find out where I want to apply data analytics to. I also look forward to my senior capstone in data analytics, where I will surely be expanding upon this knowledge and experience in original inquiry. Additionally, I find it incredibly important to have some form of artistic outlet in one’s life, and in my past that has taken many different forms, all of which I am interested in rediscovering during my time here. I have an extensive knowledge of ballet technique, a gallery of conceptual and professional photos, a small collection of spoken word poetry, and a set of beloved cello solos, all of which I would love to rediscover and expand upon in their own ways.

Academic enrichment is something that I very pointedly researched before coming to OSU. My current plan for extracurricular involvement is to primarily focus on the Big Data and Analytics Association (BDAA), and supplement my involvement when possible with opportunities from the Buckeye Hackers and Association of Computing Machinery Women’s chapter. My choice of major is something I am committed to allowing sufficient time, focus, and balance to pursue successfully, especially as a current pre-Major. When I realized how cool statistics and computer science are- how powerful they are and how many problems they could solve together- I knew that’s what I wanted to do as a career. There is far more data than there are people who know what to do with it, and I believe that data analytics could be the most fulfilling and engaging way for me to make the world a better place.

In high school, I gathered lots of leadership experience as business club president, a German club officer, Physical Education leader, and at many leadership conferences. While leadership is a goal I want to pursue in college, I want to be more focused about where I put my efforts. For my future, that looks like an internship, worship planning, and the BDAA executive board. Because of all the options in how I can pursue data analytics, it will be beneficial for me to find an internship where I can practice data analytics in multiple capacities. As far as community organizations go, I love being a part of Jacob’s Porch, and plan to continue attending Worship Arts after Wednesday night Bible study to help plan Sunday worship. Ultimately, I hope to secure a leadership position on the BDAA executive board as a sophomore or junior so that I can help the future classes of data analysts and the major community.

For me, service engagement is something that I always keep my eyes open for, and take as it comes. Several examples of this are the God’s Work, Our Hands service days I have participated in through both Jacob’s Porch and my home church, the mission trips I was fortunate to participate in during high school, and the service project benefiting a local woman’s shelter I completed as a PE leader. Despite this approach, there are several instances of service opportunities which I expect to participate in during my time at OSU, including the Community Commitment event and the Jacob’s Porch high school retreat that happen during the school year.