As my sophomore year comes to a close, I have been reflecting on my goals and experiences I have had. This year, I took a cultural anthropology class and added an Anthropology minor to my degree plan. Taking anthropology classes helps me become more globally aware and exposes me to different cultures, thoughts, and ideas. By minoring in anthropology, I will continue to develop awareness of the world around me. I will learn how to work well with people of all different backgrounds, and I will gain a deeper appreciation for different cultures.
In addition to adding an anthropology minor, I also began working in a research lab this year. Working in the Cripe Lab at Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been a great opportunity to learn more about the research process. This summer, I will work full time in the lab on a project that investigates the effects of virotherapy on solid tumors. During this time, I will have the opportunity to create experimental designs and carry them out. From these experiments, I will learn how to obtain and interpret data to draw conclusions for other people to use. I plan on working in this lab for the rest of my undergraduate career and continuing to develop my research skills.
This year I took rigorous science courses as I work towards my degree in Molecular Genetics. While very challenging, these classes help prepare me for success in future classes and post graduation. I am considering either medical or graduate school after college, so a difficult curriculum will help prepare me for the rigor of those programs. I also added an anthropology minor. This minor will give me a better understanding of the world around me and help deepen my appreciation for all peoples, ideas, and cultures. In addition to my work in the classroom, I also become a certified pharmacy technician this year. Working as a pharmacy technician allows me to apply the knowledge I gain in class to the real world.
Outside of the classroom, I serve as a BuckeyeThon general body member. BuckeyeThon is a great way for me to share my passion of ending pediatric cancer with my campus community. Being a general body member gives me the opportunity to develop my leadership skills. As the Team Captain Operations Coordinator, I work with all of BuckeyeThon’s team captains and send out all communication to them. In this role, I have the chance to help make the Team Captain program stronger and raise more money to end pediatric cancer. I also get to engage with campus, which strengthens my public speaking skills and my confidence in my leadership abilities.
In addition to BuckeyeThon, I serve my campus and community by volunteering at The James Cancer Hospital. As a volunteer in the art gallery, I interact with patients, families, and visitors. Volunteering at The James helps me to learn the best ways to support patients and their families going through cancer treatment. It also gives me the chance to give back to Ohio State, which is something I believe is very important. I plan on volunteering this summer and next school year at The James.