Global Awareness: With my time at The Ohio State University, I have developed my global awareness through my course work and with peer interaction. Specifically, in my History of Ohio course, I have studied the Native American’s struggle in the iniquitous development of our state and the influx of immigrants in our growth. I plan to continue my global awareness education by engaging in future anthropology courses. My growing appreciation for diversity, however, mainly results from my interactions and genuine friendships that I have formed with students on campus. As a member of the Varsity Swim Team, I compete alongside and form great bonds of trust with countless international swimmers. To illustrate, my relay team last year consisted of myself and three strong young women from England, New Zealand, and China. When we train and race, our differences and backgrounds become invisible as our identity as The Ohio State Swim Team arises.
Original Inquiry: My research project in my honors introductory biology course has exposed me to creative inquiry. Presented with the focus of fungal endospores, my partner and I developed and completed a research project that was applicable to our interest in medicine. This project revealed to me that making your passion a part of your studies is imperative to personal satisfaction and high performance. I plan to continue to work towards this realization by choosing advanced coursework that I can become fully engaged in. With numerous biological electives remaining, I hope to find a specific area of study to concentrate on and apply that topic to future research endeavors and shadowing opportunities.
Academic Enrichment: My honors contract is an example of a comprehensive and diversified curriculum of study. With challenging general education requirements, I have explored numerous areas of study that, in high school, I was oblivious to. For example, in my comparative studies course, I have been able to critically reflect upon my beliefs, and in my chosen history courses, I have been enlightened by unique happenings of the past. Although my selected GE courses address other subject areas, they all reflect my passion for science, biology, medicine, and The Ohio State University. With my experiences thus far in elective courses for my major, I have been amazed by how all of the sciences work together. Biochemical processes dictate cell behavior and resulting anatomical functions which all can be controlled and altered by medicine. In my future aspiration as a physician assistant, I will be utilizing all of these aspects of science when diagnosing and treating illness. I long to provide unparalleled, genuine care to my future patients, and my commitment to academic excellence at The Ohio State University will ensure it.
Leadership Development: On Ohio State’s campus, I have found my leadership role within my team and the athletic department. This past semester, I was invited to the Lead Like a Buckeye Program, led by Coach Urban Meyer. In these monthly sessions, I have analyzed my actions and added imperative skills to become an effective leader of character. By learning to build bonds of trust with consistency, competence, and connection, my relationships with teammates and coaches, classmates and professors, and family have gained authenticity and stability. With these newfound skills, I am pursuing a position with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to share my ideas and accurately communicate the aspirations of my peers and the athletic department. Additionally, if I attain this position, I can attempt to fulfill my personal goal of beginning events at the university that bring appreciation to women in athletics and inspire younger female athletes to pursue their athletic aspirations.
Service Engagement: Since freshman year, I have completed the majority of my volunteer work at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Over four semesters, I have held volunteer roles in the surgical intensive care unit, surgical preparation and recovery, and as an ambassador. I have received the utmost fulfillment during my ambassador shifts where I serve as an escort for patients and visitors to their intended destinations in the Medical Center. Every person that I meet has a different story to tell, and I’m so blessed to have been able to open my heart to all perspectives of life, whether its hearing about someone’s past or their journey of battling a disease. Also, I love volunteering with Special Olympic events that are held at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion on campus. Interacting with children and adults with intellectual disabilities heightens their feelings of inclusion and strengthens our unity as the human race. Lastly, twice a year, the women’s swim team prepares and serves a warm meal to those staying at the Ronald McDonald House. I plan to continue this engagement of serving the less-fortunate by joining my church in their Food for the Homeless Ministries.