First Year GoaLs

The GOALS are one of the aspects of being an Honors student which truly resonate with me, and I hope to be able to implement as many as possible throughout my academic career. This year, the two objectives I want to focus on are Global Awareness and Leadership Development.

In order to cultivate my Global Awareness, I decided to become part of the International House Learning Community, also known as iHouse. This has been such an enriching opportunity for my first year in college. I met many close friends thanks to the experience, and together we have learned so much. Some examples of activities we’ve done include numerous cultural discussions, a lesson on the pronunciation of Chinese names, a day-trip to Hocking Hills, and a global dance class where we learned traditional dances and had the opportunity to teach each other about dances that we knew. Getting to know the cultures of the other members has been very rewarding as well, as it has opened my perspective on the many different customs and ways of life which exist. I’ve also had the opportunity to share about my own culture, whether that of my family or of my experience as an exchange student in Belgium. This international aspect of my life is something that I hope to continue to be a part of and grow from in the coming years.

As for my other focus, I am always trying to grow as a leader. This year, I have had the opportunity to really thrive in Leadership Development by planning programs for my residence hall as the hall council president. I’ve learned along with my team of executive and general body members all about professionalism, time management, effective communication, running efficient meetings, outlining a budget, and advertising and evaluating said programs. In less than a semester so far, I already feel as though I have grown exponentially as a leader. I am excited for what next semester will bring in this role, as well as for my role in the Honors Community Council, as leadership development is such an important aspect of transitioning into adult life.

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.]

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 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.]

Always Question…

One of the most significant encounters that I’ve had at OSU came at the hands of ENCompass, a student organization that connects patients at various medical clinics with health resources that fit specified needs. For one of the first meetings, a woman came in to present and help the other volunteers and I start thinking of questions to ask in different situations. To do this, she described four challenging experiences that she’s had with pregnant mothers, each crazier and more difficult than the one before. As a group, we learned about how tough some people have it in life: teen pregnancies, little family support, racism, abusive relationships, academic failure, divorce, unexpected twins as a middle-aged woman, green card marriages, depression…all things she had encountered among the people, things that would make anyone’s life more difficult.

Suddenly, the woman revealed that she was simply telling us about her life. Each of the situations described represented her own story at four separate points in time. So many of the challenging things that could happen to a person and leave them at such a low point had happened to her, and yet there she was, confidently sharing her story. Happily married for 11 years, mother of many, practicing law, and advocating for pregnant mothers throughout Columbus, especially those who are underserved or minorities, this woman was an inspiration.

Meeting this lady helped me to learn that you really cannot make any assumptions about people because you never know where they may be coming from or what they have experienced. I would never have guessed the diverse and challenging background this woman had based on the way she presented and held herself. This also made me realize that no matter where in life someone may be or how bad their situation may be, the right person, resources, and support could completely turn that person’s life around.

About Me

Hello! My name is Kayla Hudson and I am majoring in Medical Laboratory Science at The Ohio State University. My goal is to go to medical school in order to become a doctor and to be able to work with underserved populations, hopefully through Doctors Without Borders. I am interested in studying medicine, epidemiology, and environmental science and sustainability. I also love learning about other cultures and languages (I was an high school exchange student in Belgium!). Most of all though, I love learning and making the most out out life’s adventures.

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

As a first year student at The Ohio State University, I am involved in quite a few things around campus. I am the learning community representative for iHouse (International House), president of the Morrill Tower Activities Board and the Activities Chair of the French Club. I help to plan events with the Honors Community Council, take part in cultural and diversity discussions with MUNDO, volunteer with ENCompass at the Noor Muslim Clinic, write letters to local elementary school students with PenPals, and volunteer at free health clinics with RAM (Remote Area Medical). I also help out with various other service events with AMWA (American Medical Women’s Association), EIM (Exercise is Medicine), WISE (Women in Surgery), and FTC (Face the Children). In my free time, I love traveling, reading, trying new foods, rock climbing, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.

My involvement has taught me a lot about time management, communication with diverse groups of people, and flow. Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi describes flow as

“being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous on, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”

I have learned to live in the moment and to the make the most of every experience.

With this ePortfolio, I hope to share about the experiences which have helped to cultivate my professional, academic, and social development. In the words of Roy T. Bennett,

“Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience.”