Author: guthery.3

Somphomore Year

Reflection on the G.O.A.L.S.

Global Awareness: Honors students will examine what it means to be global citizens and will cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and everyone’s unique differences. Students will examine the world’s complex, interdependent systems, as well as their own cultural backgrounds.

What have you done so far to develop your Global Awareness? How do you plan to continue to work toward this goal? (For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc.)

First, one of my majors is French; hence, I am constantly learning about not only the French, but also about the cultures around the world that make up the Francophone world. Second, I will be studying abroad this summer at Paul Valéry University in Montpellier, France. Lastly, I also plan to join the French Club at Ohio State next year.

Original Inquiry: Honors students will understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community.

What experiences have you had so far that have helped you to understand the research or creative process? How do you plan to continue to work toward this goal? (For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.)

During my Freshman year, I took an British Literature class in which we had to write at 12-15-page research paper at the end of the term. I had never done something like this before, but going through the research process step-by-step showed me how exciting and rewarding original inquiry can be. I have also been able to and will continue to take advanced and varied advanced coursework. Finally, I am currently considering writing a thesis in the behavioral economics discipline. I will be sure to consult my advisor for more information about how one should start this process.

Academic Enrichment: Honors students will pursue academic excellence both in and out of the classroom. Students will use the Honors Contract to construct purposeful and intellectually stimulating programs of study.

How does your Honors Contract demonstrate a commitment to the goal of Academic Enrichment? How does your planned curriculum relate to your future aspirations? (Consider, for example, the following questions: Why did you choose the major(s) (and minor(s), if any) you chose? Why did you select the GE courses you have chosen? How do your selections demonstrate a commitment to excellence?)

As for my majors and minors, I chose French because it is something about which I am truly passionate, I chose economics because it is a subject that I find both interesting and viable as a future career, and I chose to complete a math minor as most of the courses in the minor are required by graduate programs in economics. As for my GE courses, I selected them based on interest and whether they would widen my academic knowledge base. I think these decisions serve as evidence to my commitment to having a well-rounded, challenging education. None of these choices have been made because they are the easy way out.

Leadership Development: Honors students will build on their educational experiences to become leaders in society and the world. Students will pursue co-curricular activities that allow the students to cultivate leadership skills and competencies.

With which activities are you involved? How does your involvement contribute to your development as a leader? How does your involvement relate to your personal and/or career goals?

I am very involved on campus. I am the Director of Finance for the Residence Halls Advisory Council, a Logistics Subcommittee Member of TEDxOhioStateUniversity, a Presidential Host, and a member of the Honors Collegium. In each of these organizations, I am always trying to take on more responsibility, especially when it pertains to taking ownership for a project. Most of these involvements are career-development/career-exploration based in nature. As someone who is not sure what they are going to do after undergrad, I have found my extracurricular activities to be a good source of experience.

Service Engagement: Honors students will build on their educational experiences to serve society and the world. Students will pursue service-oriented activities that are socially beneficial to the community and that contribute to the students’ own learning and development.

List the service-oriented activities with which you have been involved (both ongoing and short-term commitments). How do you plan to continue to engage with the community?

I recently participated in a Buck-I-SERV trip to the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC. I am also a member of Romophos Sophomore Honorary, an organization that is grounded in service. In the future, I plan on going on another Buck-I-SERV trip and possibly leading one should I feel so inclined to do so.

Informational Interview

Ross Guthery

Ms. Elliott

EXP 1100.01H

7 December 2016

Informational Interview

Name of Interviewee: Sonya Afanasyeva

Occupation: French Department Advisor

Questions posed to the Interviewee:

The advisor was not comfortable with me recording our conversation, so these answers below are from memories of what we discussed.

In your opinion, what is the biggest concern for students in this major?

          The biggest concern for students about declaring the French Major is the employment outlook after graduation. Many students think that, as French is a subject in the humanities, it will be hard for them to find a job using their language skills they learned throughout their time here at Ohio State. However, I believe this to be a misconception. The French language has many applications in anything from business to government work. That does not go to say that students will find a job if they only major in French. It is important for them to have other experiences either in an extracurricular activity or in an internship.

In your opinion, what is one of the best things about this major?

          Due to our department’s relatively small size, students have a great opportunity to build relationships with faculty in the department. These relationships can go a long way when it comes to applying for internships and graduate school as these faculty members are a wonderful source for recommendation letters. In fact, each student who declares a French major is paired with a faculty member that serves as an advisor in areas with which an academic advisor might not be as familiar. These topics may include opportunities post-graduation and extracurricular activities.

What kinds of research are students in this major doing?

          Research in the French department focuses more on scholarship than it does on research in the typical sense. Some students write literary critiques. Others analyze how a part of francophone culture has changed or how francophone culture differs in one aspect when compared to another culture like that of America for instance. We also have a lot of students who double major, and there is a possibility that you can overlap your interests in French with your interests in the other major.

What kinds of extracurricular experiences are available for students in the department?

          There are many study abroad opportunities for our students to take advantage of. They are all over the world: France, Africa, Canada, and many others. Many students also take advantage of the various scholarship opportunities offered by our department, the Office of International Affairs, and outside groups to fund these experiences as they can be rather expensive. On campus, the is an official French Club. They have meetings several times a month that involve anything from conversation groups to a trip to a local French restaurant.

What sorts of graduate programs do graduates of this major enter?

          Of course, some of our undergraduate French majors go to graduate school to earn their PhD in French. We have many others though who go to business, law, and even medical school assuming the correct prerequisites are met. The nature of the French degree allows students to enter many different fields.

Synthesis Questions:

How did you find this interviewee, and why did you choose to interview this person?

          I found this interviewee on the French department’s website under the “people” tab. I chose to interview Ms. Afanasyeva as I figured she would be a wonderful resource for information given her position as an Academic Coordinator. She was a huge help!

How has this interview influenced your major and/or career exploration?

          This interview has confirmed my interest in the French major. In fact, I have since declared the major. I am planning on meeting with the International Studies department to discuss their World Economy and Business Major (this is the other major I am interested in). The International Studies major and the French major are a good pair in that they are both globally focused and would teach me marketable transferable skills that could be applied to many career fields.

Did you learn anything unexpected from the interview? If so, what? If not, which ideas did the interview reinforce?

          I was surprised by the amount of research opportunities available to French majors. She made it seem as though any student wanting to do research would be able to do so.

What do you feel you still need to learn about this major/career before being able to make a confident decision?

          I don’t think I need to learn any more about the major. She was very helpful and full of information. I feel comfortable declaring the major (something I have already done).

Which major exploration tools/activities/resources that you utilized this semester were most helpful to you and why?

          I felt the mandatory advising appointment was most helpful in narrowing down my search while at the same time making me aware of options I had not previously considered. It was great to get one-on-one advice from the advisor that was specific to my personal academic situation. A lot of the Exploration material is understandably general, so the appointment was a nice supplement to the college lectures and overview quizzes.

About Me

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Ross Guthery is a first-year student from Dublin, Ohio, who is currently enrolled in the Honors University Exploration Program but is tentatively double majoring in Economics and French. He plans on attending graduate school after his time at Ohio State. His early involvement in campus programs such as R-LEAD and OWL have allowed Ross to continue improving his leadership skills, something about which he is very passionate. Having recently travelled out of the country for the first time, Ross has a strong interest in studying abroad. He hopes that an international view of the topics he studies will only deepen his knowledge and give him a stronger foundation upon which to make future decisions throughout his career. When not in class, Ross can be caught playing golf or tennis, snapping photos of Ohio State’s beautiful campus, or checking out Columbus’s newest restaurant. If you have any questions about academics or otherwise, Ross would be more than happy to answer them!