G.O.A.L.S. 2nd Year

Having global awareness is an important part in being a well-rounded person. In my first year reflection, I wanted to pursue this awareness through study abroad. Although it is still a possibility, the likelihood of my participation in these programs is falling. However, I still continue to meet people and make friends who have experiences in culturally diverse places or are directly from those places. They have and continue to give me insight into other people and places that I currently do not have the means to visit myself. I plan to continue to involve myself in student organizations in the future (particularly those that involve my knowledge in a foreign language – German).

Considering academic and “original inquiry,” I have actually been more successful than my other goals. I currently am involved in academic research in the physics department. I am still continuing my search for variety and summer opportunities to inform me of what I may want to pursue as a career after I graduate. I would like to get maybe two or three different positions to give me a more broad idea of physics and astronomy research endeavors, and what I would like to contribute to advancing. I currently do attend and continue to attend talks provided by the Astronomy and Astrophysics Department through the student-led Astronomical Society and their continuing lecture series with guest speakers from NASA and other universities.

My Honors Contract involves a lot of heavy Honors Courses, primarily in my major (Honors Quantum Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism and high level astronomy courses), so as to challenge me and best prepare me for a career in the field. Now, most of the classes in my curriculum are major requirements, and those (along with a GE class for Persuasive Writing) are what are going to be the most beneficial to give me relevant skills in the areas I wish the pursue. My other GE choices are for my own personal interests; they are classes on topics that I am interested in learning, but have little to no bearing on my future careers.

In my first year goals, I wanted to become a tutor or teaching assistant for some academic class. I succeeded in this (and plan to continue pursuing these jobs in the future) by gaining an Instructional Assistant position to help lead and teach students in an introductory astronomy course. It has helped me take on responsibility in others’ education and challenged my own understanding of the topics I help teach. I also had the goal to get a leadership position in my favorite extracurricular (the Buckeye Mudder Club). I also succeeded here, and am now a member of its executive board as the Community Outreach Chair. I now help lead a group of around 80 students in our club activities. If time allows in the future, I still plan to maybe help lead other organizations I am involved in.

As the Community Outreach Chair in the Buckeye Mudder Club, I currently lead a group of about ten friends once a month or every other month to volunteer at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank to help provide food and necessities to the poor and disenfranchised people of Ohio. It is a humbling and enriching experience interacting with these kind people, and I am more than happy to do it and contribute to helping a society that has provided me with many opportunities. I will continue to do this, and hopefully add more opportunities through this position for myself and others to help out in other ways.

 

Survey Discussion Question #4

It is amazing the sudden change that transitioning from High School to University has on a person. In twelve years of public schooling, you really craft a lot of relationships and ideas about the world around you. You know that after it is over everything will change. Life will be different, whether you directly join the workforce or decided to attend a university or college. But, you never really think about it. As a young schoolkid, you tend to be invested in the “here and now.” You are invested in your academics or sports, but also your friends and family and the people around you. And then, when you graduate, they are gone.

Certainly for me, the sudden absence of people I knew and could trust was pretty overwhelming. I was kind of dumped (of my own will, of course) into a completely new environment full of thousands of peers – an overwhelming number of people I do not know. I sort of struggled in establishing myself in a crazy place, and still am struggling. People commonly told me that I should not take on too much early on in college. They never particularly told me why, and I never asked. Now, I understand. In such a huge place, you do not want to worry yourself too much with academics, when you need to also build a foundation of people to support you and whom you can trust early on. Unfortunately, I did make the mistake of taking challenging academics, so I am fighting two fronts.

I do think it will all turn out alright. Time heals many wounds and can fill a lot of voids. People can adapt incredibly quick to new situations and environments, and I think I as a person will become better when the college journey continues.

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 information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

It is important as an individual to become aware and accepting of other cultures and ideas from around the world. To work towards this global awareness, I plan to educate myself inside and outside of class about other countries and peoples. I also hope to study abroad for a summer term in another nation.

Generally, critically thinking people question often. To stimulate inquiry, I will attend presentations by guests and faculty held on campus. I will go beyond and learn more than what my curriculum asks of me as a minimum. I also would like to obtain a research opportunity in the future and work with faculty on interesting and beneficial projects. Lastly, I am thinking of doing an undergraduate research thesis for stimulation and knowledge.

In terms of academic enrichment, I plan to utilize the Academic Plan and my Honors Contract to plan my four to five years of education. I am hoping to take advanced courses in physics and astronomy (I am most excited for holography) in accordance with my double major and personal interests. My classes will build skills on critical thinking, persuasive writing, and other forms of communication. I will use research and internship opportunities to build my character and likelihood of acceptance to a graduate school program.

A well-rounded student also has leadership qualities. To build these characteristics, I plan to pursue leadership positions in my student organizations (currently planning to pursue an position in the Buckeye Mudder Club). In accordance to the other areas of the G.O.A.L.S., I do still plan on pursuing research and internship opportunities to build maturity and the ability to handle increasing amounts of responsibility. Depending on how the future pans out, I am also considering becoming an undergraduate teaching assistant or tutor, which will build many traits, such as trustworthiness and communication.

To not only be a good student, but a good and kind member of society, it is important to participate in service opportunities for the disenfranchised people of our nation. I can start by participating in service opportunities put on by student organizations, such as the previously mentioned Buckeye Mudder Club. I will participate in events put on by the university, such as Buckeyethon.

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 information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. 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 is a reflective description of the artifact that attempts to communicate its significance.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

About Me

[Your “About Me” is an introduction and should provide insight into who you are as a person and a learner.  This should include a picture of you that is appropriate in a professional/academic context. This information should be continually updated.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio.  Delete these instructions and add your own post.]