G.O.A.L.S.

The University Honors & Scholars Center at The Ohio State University serves high-ability, motivated undergraduate students. While embracing diversity in both ideas and people, the Center fosters purposeful learning communities that enhance students’ academic and social experiences. The Center facilitates impactful, rigorous, and unique opportunities that further student success and involvement in our G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement.

The Goals of an OSU Student

Global Awareness

As a International Studies major, learning about new perspectives in the world is heavily integrated into my coursework. Throughout the school year, I have been applying for different study abroad programs. I am going to Germany for the summer of 2017 and look forward to learning about their election process, as I will be there just before the election for the Chancellor.

In addition to studying German, my Korean studies have also added a new layer of diversity just to my class schedule. My professors are all from Korea, and having their perspectives readily available has sparked an interest in me to continue to study both Korean and German, and quite possibly another language should my course schedule allow.

Original Inquiry

There was one class in articular that pushed me to think creatively in order to get the most out of the class: Cultural Diplomacy. The final for this class was to create a public diplomacy outline from the perspective of any politically significant person or organization, domestic or international, and make a mock-plan for them to implement to get their desired results. The project required all angles of the plan be examined, to look for holes in effectiveness, and it was required to give examples of plausible events that may ruin the plan proposed. This class was probably the most significant experience for a class in my major that I have otherwise yet to encounter.

Academic  Enrichment

Through my courses at OSU, I have continued to challenge myself. I try to make sure that my course load is both stimulating and manageable, and I have succeeded thus far. I try to choose my classes based on keeping them oriented toward my goals to work in diplomacy and cultural exchange, but also trying the other facets of the International Studies major.

Leadership Development

The strongest my leadership skills have developed this year was due to an assignment in class, where a group of us had to film and edit a 5 minute video. I took this chance to try to put some of the tools I have learned to make this group project run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. I used my organizational and communication skills to put together a filming schedule that fit everyone, and provided room for mistakes. Though there was still some issue with sticking to the schedule because of unavoidable problems, the project was completed with enough time to spare.

In general, I try to collect as many facts and variables about a problem, then try to come up with as many solutions as possible until there are at least a couple worth trying. I rely heavily on the participation and trust of those I try to lead, and will usually tell them if they aren’t pulling their weight rather than picking up the slack for them.

Service Engagement

I continued to participate in 4 Paws for Ability this year, though not as actively as last year. My continued involvement helped me to understand the issues with the service animal industry, and the public’s disregard for certain aspects of service animals responsibilities and rights. I was glad to be able to learn more about this issue so that I could try to advocate when there is a misunderstanding or people don’t fully understand the consequences of their actions on service animals and those who desperately need service animals.