End of Year Review

Reflecting on my first year at Ohio State, I can say it has taught me to appreciate myself and how far I have come. After two full semesters, I’ve learned to grow as a person, by becoming more determined and organized. Learning to balance my school work and my social life as well. I began taking the initiative of things I want for myself and my future and hope to continue evolving that side of me in the following years. I learned a good amount from all my classes as they were all different and required different studying methods. One special instance I will remember from one of my classes was that we listened to various presentations, and many of them reflected on changes that Ohio State Students have come together to get done and leave a mark on campus. It put into perspective my capabilities and what I could accomplish with the right work ethic and determination. It pushed me to want to seek clubs and organizations that interest me and could see myself taking a leadership role in. On the other hand, as I learned to navigate my college life I learned to not solely submerse myself in work, but to also make the best out of my years at OSU. Yes, it’s hard, but nothing we desire comes easy and it doesn’t mean you have to block everything out and not go out and have fun. Going into my second semester I began noticing I didn’t reserve enough time for myself and when I began rewarding myself after getting things done earlier, I felt less stressed and happier. I have always been quite mature and want to do things correctly, but I learned that there are times where I can let that inner child in me that seeks fun and excitement come out. I tended to hold back and not do things that I wanted to do. After my first semester, I began making those changes and learned to let loose a bit, while still making sure my grades and schoolwork were my top priority. I have made so many beautiful memories and met so many wonderful people, it’s hard to choose one. I’d have to say that going to the Columbus Zoo Lights with my ENR Class was by far my favorite. I had so much fun hanging out and taking pictures with my roommates. Walking around and seeing the animals and drinking free hot chocolate made me feel like I genuinely found a home away from home at OSU. I look forward to seeing continuous growth and a much bigger involvement within my OSU community. While using my freshmen year as an experience to work more on areas I need to improve on as a student. As well as making new friends and growing stronger bonds with those close to me. Before starting college I wasn’t sure exactly what I was getting myself into, but over the course, I’ve been able to get a better view of what I want for myself and how I can achieve it. I don’t regret my decision of going to college as it has shaped the person I’m becoming. I want to continue taking on obstacles and am excited about the opportunities that await.

The Thinker

The Enneagram Personality test classified me as the thinker. A person who is curious, independent and observant. Someone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the world through a love for knowledge and new experiences. I agree with the test because I believe to be someone who loves to be independent and observant of my surroundings to learn as much as I can. I love to travel and explore the world, seeking new knowledge about what’s beyond my life. Curiosity plays a big role in my life because it gives me the motive to continue searching and learning. When I read the description, I was impressed with the accuracy. Looking at my results it puts into perspective things I would like to improve about myself. Even though I enjoy learning new things, I consider myself a shy and reserved person. I tend to not be outspoken at first and depending on the situation I am not the one that initiates things. To improve my development, I want to build up more confidence in myself and have the courage to show others what I can offer. By becoming more determined and willing to take on new opportunities will expand my personality and help prepare me for the future. I can use this knowledge to remind myself that I can do many things for myself at Ohio State. I want to use this information to form part of activities on campus and other clubs and organizations. By letting myself make mistakes, I will de able to demonstrate that I can be more caring and determined. Not only will I be able to take advantage of what the campus has to offer, but it will help me navigate experiences near home as well.

Columbus To-Do-List Part 2

By the end of my first semester, I was able to explore a few more places that Columbus has to offer. To get the most out of these experiences I went with a good group of friends. I wanted to try more sweets in the area and chose to go to Whit’s Frozen Custard. I enjoyed their frozen custard very much, I never had something similar to it. I ordered a regular vanilla scoop and it was so good. I would highly recommend, it’s a cute store and the ambiance is quite comforting and relaxing. It’s also different than your usual ice cream so if you want to try something different, but delicious frozen custard is a must. Trying to explore entertainment in Columbus I went to the Columbus Zoo lights with my friends and I would say is probably my favorite experience thus far. It was beautiful seeing all the colorful lights, the music, and the performances. I always heard the Columbus zoo was a must but didn’t expect at all what I saw. I highly recommend anyone visiting or near the area to stop by, not only for the Christmas season, but they have a variety of animals outside and in the aquarium year-round. Walking around you see many people, families with children amazed and taking pictures. Drinking hot chocolate while walking around made the experience even better. Overall it was a good time and I recommend their spicy chicken sandwich. To follow up on seeing more entertainment I was intrigued by exploring some places, not on the to-do-lists. I went to both Polaris Fashion Place and Easton Mall and they were both very distinct and pretty. I enjoyed the difference in the types of the mall they are. Polaris was an indoor mall while Easton was more of an open outdoor mall, yet both had a good variety of stores. They also had nice places to sit down and relax as well as you had options of food to eat. I learned from my experiences that there is so much more to see about Columbus and many more places I should visit to get the most out of my time here. It is also not too expensive and you can get around using buses and uber/lyft. For someone interested in doing something similar I would recommend searching places up that intrigue you the most and trying places that are closer to you. It makes it easier to maneuver and get to these new places. I also highly recommend going with a friend or a good group as you can enjoy it even more. I am left wanting to continue exploring more and trying other types of things like authentic food or natural parks located near me.

ENR Alumni Interview

I had the pleasure of interviewing Allison Rickman, a fourth-year biology major at Ohio State. Her passion is in Genetic Counseling, where she researches any underlying risks in genetics and advises individuals and families that are at risk of developing disorders due to inherited medical conditions. Focusing on advising such families on the tests and exams that can be taken to inform them of the risks of diseases in their genetics. Throughout her years at OSU she has gained work experience as a Genetic counselor assistant between her second and third year and is currently a student research assistant on campus who helps with research and clinical projects. The Environmental and Natural Resource Scholars program was her third choice at the beginning of her college career, yet she describes her experience as an ENR Scholar as one of the most valuable to her. The program pushed her out of her comfort zone as it required her to meet new people within her program and helped her improve her social skills. She was able to experience new things as a student, she learned about different activities outside school, the environment, and how to expand herself and her leadership skills. She formed part of the ENR Scholars Leadership Council and is currently the President of the Genetic Counseling Club as OSU where she contacts guest speakers, arranges meetings and delegates to other board members. It’s a program where undergrad students interested in genetic counseling can learn more about what that profession entails and gain experience and leadership skills from peers and mentors. I learned that it is always a good idea to plan ahead and get work done earlier so that you aren’t leaving work last minute and stressing out. She advised me to learn how to balance my education and social life as both are important to my mental health. As well as building a resume and going to job fairs to practice my communication skills even if you don’t get a position is always good because it will help me gain experience of selling myself and prepare me for the professional world. Most importantly she suggested I should always be myself in any situation as it shows people what you are capable of and how you can naturally fit into working environments without having to present myself as the perfect candidate. Instead, going into interviews with a confident mindset because they must have seen something in me or my resume that qualifies me for the job. Speaking with her helped me see how I can shape my future years as a college student. Starting with building essential skills, connections with people, scheduling classes that I need and also fitting in ones that I’m interested in and will give me a break from other courses. She advised me that it’s also never too early to begin doing things that interest me like internships because even if I don’t get the position at least I will have began doing research and putting myself out there. As a freshman and experiencing the first semester I can for sure see myself taking her advice into account because they make sense and seem like the best way to survive college.

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Artifacts

[Artifacts are the items you consider to be representative of your academic interests and achievements. For each entry, include both an artifact and a detailed annotation.  An annotation includes both a description of the artifact and a reflection on why it is important to you, what you learned, and what it means for your next steps.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

About Me

Hi! My name is Ashley Guerra-Valenzuela. I was born in a small town called Joplin Missouri, but I grew up in Cleveland Ohio. My family consists of three younger brothers, mom, and dad. I attended Bard High School Early College Cleveland and graduated with my High School diploma and an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts with Bard College. I was part of my school’s co-ed soccer team and I was also one of the founders for the first Hispanic Student Union at school. Becoming a Buckeye has been one of the most memorable moments in my life because I became the first in my family to attend college.


I come from a very united family, that loves to try new things and spend most of our time together. As a child, I lived in Guatemala for approximately two years and at that time attended pre-k and kindergarten. At that stage in my life, I discovered things that till this day still impact me and became a major influence in my life. Having the opportunity of going to school allowed me to be fully bilingual, knowing English and Spanish and I love that about myself. I think knowing more than one language is a pretty awesome skill. Till this day I still remember the society and lifestyle that many families have to deal with daily. It is a constant reminder of life outside. It has become the root of my passion for growth and being able to help others that unfortunately don’t have the resources and opportunities that others have.

 

 

I am currently a freshmen in colleg majoring in Health and Wellness in Healthcare on a pre-med track. Hopefully, being able to pick up a minor eventually. I intend on pursuing a career as a pediatrician, I enjoy working with kids and have a passion for the realm of medicine. I love traveling to new places and learning about different cultures. I plan on doing multiple studies abroad programs to fulfill my desires for exploration, learning, and volunteering. I’m passionate about education and want to share my knowledge with others, especially those who don’t have such opportunities. I applied to clubs on campus that will allow me to make new connections and navigate me towards my future goals. And only hope to be able to form great connections inside and outside of college.

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 guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

I’ve chosen the Ice cream and desserts as my list for the semester. I love sweets and exploring places Columbus has to offer that involve desserts is the way to go. I hope to be able to see the differences in how these places all present their food. How colorful and heart-warming can they make someone feel when stopping to get a quick treat and how people interact there. I think exploring places like restaurants and small shops helps you find places where you can hang and study in peace, when you’re looking for a place away from school. To start I decided to head to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams as I’ve been told its one of the best places to get ice cream in Columbus. The shop was very inviting and colorful. I was greeted and helped right away. You are given the choice to try the flavors and instead of giving you plastic sample spoon, they are metal one’s. I thought this was nice as it shows they care about our Earth and making a change. One of my favorite things is that towards the back there’s a sitting area where you can so it and enjoy your ice cream. It’s cute and modern and its a great place to hang with friends or do work. On the walls there are inspirational quotes that ties in the place and made me want to come back for more. I learned there are places that can make you feel happy and relaxed that aren’t far away from you, all you have to do is search and explore them. I would definitely come back and bring friends along with me. It’s a great place in the short north, that allows you to also see the art works around there.It’s not just an experience inside the shop but its location is pretty and you are one of many people exploring the area.