Year In Review

I think it’s safe to say that this past year has been extremely challenging for all of us, but I think it’s also been quite interesting and useful in ways as well. As someone pursuing a career in education, I found this past year to be very eye-opening in the ways that education can look and feel in different settings. I had the opportunity to shadow a teacher from Walnut Hills in Cincinnati, OH and it was so fascinating and beneficial to my future teaching, to see how he interacted with his students via Zoom and made sure to make space for students’ needs during this time. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to interact with any of the students myself due to COVID restriction and privacy/protection of the students as well, but I still gained great insight and my experience so far has made me even more excited and passionate about working in education in the future.

I also made the decision to remain at home this year, in Cincinnati, rather than return to campus. I did move back in initially, but after two weeks of doing nothing but sit in my room and do homework, I decided that moving home to more space and more options was the best choice for me at the time. It was difficult being away from campus and the friends who stayed in Columbus, but after it’s all been said and done, I’m still glad I made this decision. I was able to continue working and spend more time with my family, while also still being able to focus on my classes from the comforts of home. That being said, I am very excited to return to Columbus in August and become immersed in the culture again.

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.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. 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.

  • Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc.
  • Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students 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. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
  • Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
  • Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
  • Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]

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

Hello!

I am an undergraduate student at Ohio State University; I come a small town in Cincinnati, OH called Madeira and attended Madeira High School. I am the oldest child in my family, and therefore am accustomed to assuming a lot of responsibility, not only for myself, but for others as well. I hope to graduate with my bachelor’s degree in the standard four years, and then obtain a job preferably back in Cincinnati. As far as this ePortfolio goes, I hope that it showcases who I am and what my best attributes are to future employers and acquaintances.

I’ve always known that I would attend college because I greatly enjoy a sense of security and stability, which a degree from a reputable university can help me achieve. After originally planning to become a nurse, I have since changed my major to Secondary English Education, with the hopes of teaching literature to high schoolers in the coming years. I am involved in the 4 Paws for Ability organization, which raises and trains future service dogs for children. I am also a member of the Muscle Movement Foundation, which raises funds to help pay for transportation items for individuals with muscular dystrophy. These two organizations are important to me because they both revolve around helping people in need, and this is something that I greatly value. Being the oldest child of a large family means that I am a very caring, supportive person, and I love to do anything that will help out others who need a little extra assistance. I am also largely independent, which means that having a college degree and financial security will allow me to remain independent and not have to rely on anyone else for financial help.

As I’ve previously mentioned, I plan to graduate from Ohio State University and obtain a job teaching high school english, preferably somewhere in Cincinnati, so I can remain close to my family. I made the decision to change my major, and career path, to education because I’ve always enjoyed helping others study or better understand a concept, and I’ve always had a special affinity for English literature. I decided that not only would I do well as a teacher, but I feel that I will also greatly enjoy it, thus cementing my decision to change my course. During my time in high school there were several teachers that I grew close to; it made my entire experience better knowing that there were people within the school that I could go to with any problem, if the occasion should arise. I hope to have a similar impact on my own future students when I become a teacher; I want to be a helping hand and a confidante for kids who feel alone, or who just want an extra set of listening ears.

The community I identify with is fellow college students who are trying to achieve their goals just as I am. I have learned a lot about what I value from the people around me; my peers have shown me that I greatly value honesty, integrity, determination, and kindness. It’s my belief that these are of the most important qualities a person can have, and as an upholder of said qualities, I work hard to make sure that my friends and peers know they can always rely on me in a time of need.