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G.O.A.L.S.

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Environmental Issues

 

Ocean Plastic

The over consumption and production of plastic is becoming more relevant in society’s battle to conserve and protect our planet. I found a lot of research showing the implications of micro plastic and how it is making its way to the ocean and ultimately into the food we consume. I was led to this issue after seeing Adidas’ announcement that they would be partnering with Parley to make a shoe from ocean plastic. Not only does Adidas’ effort stop the use of virgin plastic, it additionally has raised awareness among an entire population for this grave issue. Their announcement also comes at a perfect time considering their traditional Adidas’ Originals are getting tons of attention on the fashion forefront. Seeing their product announcement, I looked more into the effects all of this plastic is having across our waters. According to a study conducted in 2015, eight million tons of plastic ends up in the ocean each year. This pollution is harming marine life who get tangled in or ingest fragments. Furthermore microplastics are found in the digestive tracts of planktivorous fish. In areas where people are highly dependent on seafood, it becomes a public health concern. Becoming more engaged in this issue could be difficult considering location. Most of the littering comes from coastal areas and that where researchers are seeing the biggest impact. That being said, I can still make it a priority to use my own reusable bags for groceries and shopping. In addition to that, I can make sure I also carry a reusable water bottle with me. A challenge with this topic is trying to broaden my efforts to bring about change.

Food Labeling

My second issue explores the deceptions of food labeling in our everyday marketplaces. Business are using marketing tools on their labels to promote “no artificial flavors”, “natural”, “organic”, or “cage free” products whereas the word natural on a food product is virtually meaningless. Many consumers fall to these marketing ploys every day and they end up overspending at the grocery store. There is no doubt that it is important to seek healthier alternatives to processed foods but we need to be cognizant of how much better off we are versus what we are paying. They also use non-gmo labeling to promote their goods when the FDA has safety standards for foods which are genetically engineered. Consumers are free to make their own choices in the grocery store but they shouldn’t persuaded to think that certain products are bad just so corporations can rip money from their wallets. Genetic engineering start ups are in the process of bringing a burger to market that tastes exactly like beef but is made completely in the lab. To combat this issue, we can look to the FDA to put more explicit regulations on food labeling that forces producers to be transparent. As a personally responsible citizen I can look past the labels on products and instead focus on the ingredients and the price per ounce for the good. A lot of this issue is creating awareness and educating people on how to shop for groceries in a sustainable way.

Waste

The third issue confronts waste on campus. Even though it is a small community, reducing waste on campus would be a feasible and impactful project to tackle. Ohio State has invested in a lot of resources into compostable food packaging, however, we don’t have the means to compost any of it. In order to make this sustainable packaging worthwhile, I believe we need to take the next steps toward actually composting. The biggest issue with this project would be cost and time. However if we started a project and kept in ongoing throughout it could gain momentum and become a norm on campus. For funding, we could apply for grants while also going to the university for funding. Additionally, we could target specific food courts to start out with such as the RPAC. Such a project could lead to even greater initiatives to reduce our waste while also setting an example for schools and colleges. Being such a large university, I think we have a greater responsibility to be conscious of the amount of waste we produce. In addition to on campus waste efforts, I could make it a priority to reduce my waste production. I think if students on campus were given the opportunity to compost their coffee cups, smoothie cups and food containers, they would. Simple signage could be implemented to inform students. This is the topic I will choose to tackle as it seems the most doable and impactful.

 

 

 

 

Oct 18

I have chosen the coffee and tea to do list. I chose this list because I love coffee and it would give me a reason to get out an explore the different coffee shops around Columbus while also being able to complete my homework for the week.  I have always preferred coffee as opposed to tea so I am also going to use this as an opportunity to go try out some different teas. For my first experience, I took the COTA bus up to Mission Coffee. To be honest, it was kind of nerve-wracking walking in and seeing all of the coffee fanatics stare you down! I ordered a cold brew Ethiopian Guji blend which was a very different flavor than I am accustomed to. I expected it to be sweeter than it was. When it gets colder, I want to try their hot brews. There is a great social vibe at Mission but personally, I would not consider it a prime studying location. If you don’t mind higher energy study locations, it would be a great place to study. They play great music out of a large amp and the clanking of dishes and grinding of coffee beans fills the small shop. I definitely plan on returning with a friend to try some different drinks and socialize. Overall, it was nice venture to a new location rather than my usual library, crimson cup coffee study routine. For my next adventure I plan to make my way to Kafe Kerouac which hosts comedy shows and poetry nights.

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Nov 12

On Saturday the 12th, I visited the Short North Coffee house with my two friends Jacalyn and Lucy! I found the workers to be very friendly and it seems like a great place to go for breakfast and coffee. After ordering a iced Caramel Chai, we enjoying the friendly atmosphere. My chai tasted good, although you could tell it was loaded with sugar. Short North Coffee House has a lot of potential to be a really cool atmosphere with the artwork it has on the walls. While some of the walls are filled, others are plain white with no artwork. This definitely gives the space a less cozy vibe but I still plan on going back at some point! I had a great time exploring various shops with Jacalyn and Lucy. We also went in American Apparel and the hippie hut.

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Nov 23

Today I went to One Line Coffee and Impero Coffee. At one line, I got a hot mocha and loved it! The barista was very friendly and I really enjoyed the vibe inside. The roast had a great flavor; definitely a step up from my daily coffee on campus. So far, one line is my favorite location. The space itself was very warm and inviting with good music. I would really like to go back and try the honey latte. After going to One Line, I went to Impero Coffee and my brother ordered an iced mocha. The coffee tasted burnt and I did not enjoy it as much. The shop itself was cozy and it would be fun to hang out with friends. I was under the impression that they had food there however, I didn’t see anything. Overall I had a great experience at both of these shops and I would definitely recommend them to a friend and plan on inviting friends to go.

 

One Line

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Impero Coffee

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Nov 25

For my fifth and final trip, Randall and I headed over to Cup O Joe by Target! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the vibes. Cup O Joe is open later than the other shops making it a fun place to hang with friends on the weekends or even a solid place to do homework. Randall ordered a white hot chocolate which he somewhat enjoyed. It mostly tasted like a melted white chocolate bar with a couple drips of milk.  Very sweet. I ordered a butter-beer latte per recommendation of the barista. (Harry Potter themed:) Obviously it doesn’t compare to the actual butter-beer that I have had from Harry Potter world but it was still tasty. It had butterscotch and caramel and other forms of sugar! Yum! They had a lot of interesting drinks so I am hoping to go back and try others. I did find it strange that they didn’t have actual mugs as well as the to-go cups. However, they try to get people to reuse their sleeves by making it a punch card and once you get a certain number of punches, you get a free drink. The shop itself had a fire place and some plants to create a warm ambiance. Additonally, they played music and it was lively but not overwhelming.  I would definitely come back here to do homework or hang out.

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Overall, I really enjoyed my adventures to all of these shops. If I had to pick my favorite shop, I would go with One Line. The mocha I had their was perfectly roasted and not too sweet but also had a rich flavor. The shop itself was really cute and the barista was very pleasant. The one downside to One-Line is that it is the farthest from me. In the future, I still want to visit the juice bars and tea shops which I did not get a chance to experience. For people doing this list in the future, I would recommend making a schedule for yourself right when you get the assignment so that you aren’t rushing in the end. In general, visiting all sorts of shops around Columbus has taught me how important it is to support local businesses. Local businesses are the heart of communities. There will always be plenty of people who will go to Starbucks on high street but not everyone makes their way to the short north to visit the shops. I brought my brother with me for one of my trips to Impero and One-Line because I wanted him to see that their is so much more explore than people realize.  I love the idea behind this whole assignment because it forced me to go explore even if it was a little out of the way.

Career

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In my career exploration path, I am currently more focused on what I want to major over exactly what career I want to have. I feel that most of my interests lie in an area where a specific job outlook is uncertain. Recently I have explored majors in business, public health and now I am looking closely at geography. The major of geography seems to tie my interests together, however when discussing with my mom, she wants me to pick something that is a good investment for the job I will get. The geography major that specializes in environment and society. This major focuses on understanding the relationships between social and environmental processes such as land use. I found out that it is easy to double major or minor in this area of study allowing me to pair it with a minor in business or something that will provide me with specified skills to get a job. When I looked at the public health major, I liked that it is one of the smaller colleges at OSU and the major is applicable towards any career path. It aligns with my interests in how outside variables can contribute to issues in our society. My strengths involving problem solving and being analytical could apply to a career in determining how to solve the issues that are facing our society. I took the actual RIASEC test in my exploration survey and got the code Enterprising, Conventional and Social. In addition, I can relate to the investigative category. The O Net career site suggested jobs such as Agent for Artists, Performers and Athletes, Financial Manager, Personal Financial Advisor, and Medical and Health Services Manager. These careers don’t necessarily align with my current plans but I don’t have much of a plan now anyways. Rather, I am open to exploring any field. All three traits from my personality code have a strong correlation to careers in the field of business. This area of study has been towards at the top of my list. The reason I am hesitant about majoring in business is because I know I could major in something else and still get a minor in business or still work in a business setting if I have the experience and skill set required. The career options that the website suggested seem very specific. However, when I do think about specific careers that would align with my strengths, disregarding interests, a job such as a financial advisor would be suitable. I am good at handling money, strong in math and I like working with people. However, I do have in interest in traveling to different places and learning about new cultures. I also am interested in protection of lands and climate change. This is where a major like geography becomes relevant. In this upcoming semester, I am planning on taking courses that expose me to these different areas and allow me to further discover what I am passionate about learning about. My parents have told me to get a job where I can make enough money to do the things I want to do rather than having a job that you completely love no matter what the salary is. With that, there are pressures from them, including the fact that they are the ones investing in my education, to make myself marketable. Just like we were told in class, I am aware that my career path will change many times so I am finding it difficult to make a set plan. I know my interests will change as they already do so frequently.

Artifacts

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Last week, I got to interview my mentor, Helena Gastier! Helena is a 2nd year currently majoring in Chemistry but contemplating switching to molecular genetics. When I asked Helena about her most challenging class thus far, to no surprise she answered Chemistry 1620. I am currently in chemistry 1210 so it was nice to hear how she dealt with the stress and how she managed the intense workload. Her advice was to review material from previous chapters while doing work for the current chapter. This process can be difficult and it revolves around time management. She specifically talked about getting help when you don’t understand concepts because it will save you time, even though you could have figured it out on your own eventually. I need to be more active in going to the Math and States Learning Center to get help in calculus. It will save me lots of time instead of spending alot of time working through problems until I understand the concept. In terms of extracurricular activities, Helena is involved in the buckeyethon as serves as ENR’s team captain as well as serving as VP of her church organization.  She has really enjoyed the volunteer work she has done through the ENR scholars program including the invasive species work. She encourages us to be involved and active in our activities because you can learn more than you would have expected to. I noticed this in my personal experience when I went to the Waterman farm apple picking service opportunity. I really enjoyed learning about the processes used for the farm as well as the programs that educate inner-city children in the Columbus area and the Hope Garden for cancer patients. This sparked interest in possible career goals. Additionally, Environmental and Natural Resources scholars has taught Helena to be more conscientious of the trace she leaves on this earth. The smallest things such as walking instead of taking the bus, or using reusable food and drink containers do add up. Even though we all share a similar passion, Helena has found it interesting to hear perspectives on important issues from people within the program. She urges us to reach out and talk to the others in the program outside of the usual circle. Regarding future plans, she sees herself as a physician’s assistant in the field of dermatology. However, she is considering switching her major to molecular genetics. Considering I am still undecided, this was reassuring to know that even those who have decided their major are still somewhat unsure of their plans. Helena shared how difficult it can be to learn time management and daily schedule planning as a first year and discussed the importance of a to-do list. Even though not everything can be accomplished in one day, it helps to organize your tasks rather than them cluttering your brain. The biggest take away that Helena had from her first year was to do what works best for her and not worry about the actions of others. All people are susceptible to conformity in this high pressure society that we live in; therefore, it is critical that we reflect on what makes us individuals and remember that the path we lead is our own. Worrying about how others will perceive you will not contribute to your success at Ohio State. It is important to know yourself. For example, if you are falling behind in a class, you might need to spend that Saturday afternoon catching up instead of hanging out with friends. This can be difficult when you are constantly surrounded by friends who want to socialize. Knowing when you personally need to put in extra time and disciplining yourself to do so will contribute to your success. Lastly, Helena encouraged us to reach out to new people and new opportunities. At a big university, it is easy to feel like a small fish in the Ocean. However, the only way you can grow as an individual is by stepping outside your comfort zone and reigning in new experiences. Personally, I have been finding it difficult to make time outside of schoolwork and I hope to use these tips to become more efficient in my school work to make more time for other activities.

 

 

 

About Me

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Alyssa Gilliland is a first year student from Cincinnati, Ohio. Although she is currently undecided, Alyssa is exploring options in the field of business, environmental and animal science. Her career interests are centered around project management and strategic planning. In her four years at Loveland High School, Alyssa was primarily involved in Loveland Show Choirs and Student Council. Alyssa was elected into student council as Secretary of the Class of 2016 for both her junior and senior years of high school. In addition to these positions, she was elected by her peers to be President of the Student Council Organization. In this position, she was responsible for communicating with administration and various stakeholders, leading monthly meetings, and overseeing and facilitating school dances and charity events. As a part of National Honor Society, Alyssa was able to take part in various service opportunities such as Cincinnati parks clean up, Cool School tutoring for children on individualized education plans, and volunteering at the Loveland Healthcare Center. In her senior year, Alyssa conducted a capstone research project at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with two of her peers. Her team successfully mutated the enzyme endo-beta-galactosidase. This experience allowed Alyssa to grow as a learner, a team member and a leader in a professional setting. Alyssa gained interest in environmental causes after her visits to Puerto Rico and St. John. Seeing and being immersed in the pristine environment sparked a passion to help protect and maintain earth that we inhabit. She hopes to combine her career interests in the field of business and her passion for sustainability to create a more efficient and eco-friendly economy and society. At Ohio State, she hopes to take steps to lessen the amount of waste produced on the campus. This can be accomplished through the addition of compost and terracycle. Although these are complex goals, they can be achieved with the right resources and planning.