My time at Ohio State has done so much to developed my global awareness both inside and outside of the classroom. I have taken a wide range of both history and comparative studies courses centered around the intersection of race, gender, and class and how they affect interactions between individuals. I have also pursued a Spanish minor which has allowed me to not only learn a whole other language, but to also learn about a variety of cultures with extremely different roots than those of my own culture. In the future, I plan to study aboard on a service learning trip to Costa Rica. I will not only be doing volunteer work, but also interacting with local citizens and learning firsthand about the culture, city, and country. In the future I also plan to travel, there are so many amazing people and places out there, and I hope to one day see some of them. Having taken so many classes concerning cultural differences, I have no doubt that I will be able to respectfully learn about other places in the world and take something enriching and enlightening away from my experiences.
I have never considered myself an outwardly creative person, however through my upper level course work and my involvement in laboratories as well as student organization which require a large amount of problem solving, I have come to find myself possessing a valuable understanding of the creative process. Specifically, my understanding of the research and scientific processes has really grown through my involvement in laboratory courses. Each lab that I have taken has been unique, and has taught me something different about the creative process. Whether it be general chemistry labs that focus on confirming something known, or biology labs which focus on what we can learn from observation, or organic chemistry labs which include a lot of problem solving and deeper understanding of mechanisms, I have learned so much from each lab. I have also started to become involved in a research lab which focuses on observing small changes in fruit flies and applying that knowledge to human cancer cells and preventing the formation of human tumors. This involvement in particular has really helped me understand why the small studies and details of research are important and how they can result in a massive change in how we see the world.
I am extremely happy with the level of diversity within my course of study at Ohio State. I have taken a wide variety of classes, including extremely scientific courses for my Microbiology major, international culture and language classes for my Spanish minor, and a significant number of courses focused on gender studies and comparative studies. I have chosen to pursue a variety of courses because I believe that it is important to have a wide base of knowledge with which to approach the world. I have pursued a Spanish minor because I love the being able to communicate with more people and have a broader understanding of the world and its differences. I have chosen to pursue general education courses which allow me to be a more informed citizen in terms of how our innate characteristics or minority statuses determine how we see the world and how the world sees each of us. These course have also helped me become more aware of how I interact with others, and how to ensure that I keep an open and inclusive mind when interacting with anyone. I am continually working to be the best version of myself that I can be, and that has carried over in to my education and ensuring that I am well rounded and informed on a global scale.
I have found myself extremely involved in activities outside of the classroom. Most of my involvement has been through organizations centered around Residence Life. I have been both Vice President and President of the Board of activities of my Residence hall. I have also been a senator for the Residence Hall Advisory Council as well as a member of the Buckeye Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary. I have worked the front desk of my residence hall this past year, and next year I will be starting my job as a Resident Assistant. All of this involvement in Residence Life has been because I want to make sure that everyone has a welcoming and enriching home here at Ohio State. I also really value being an active member of my community, as well as being able to make that community the best version that it can be, and I hope to continue my involvement in my community, wherever that community is, in the future.
Most of my service involvement has been through my involvement in residence life as well. I have taken part in a variety of service night events such as making blankets for Project Linus, sending holiday cards to service members, or making care packages for women’s and children’s centers around the Columbus area. Over next winter break I plan to go on a trip to Costa Rica in order to do volunteer work and help improve the lives of a those less fortunate than myself. In the future, after earning my dental degree, I hope to be able to do some service dental work abroad. There are so many people in under developed countries that lack proper health care, and I plan to combine both my Spanish skills and my future dental skills to help as many people as possible. Coming from the United States, I have been provided with so many amazing things, such as good health care, and I feel as though it is my obligation to do what I can to spread humanitarian care to others.
