STEM Spring Project Conclusion

I have officially spent ten hours learning to spin a basketball on my finger. I have to say it felt very accomplishing. It took a lot of fifteen minute practice sessions twice a day for almost twenty days. Once I realize it was simply a procedural memory learned through practice I noticed that a little bit everyday would be most effective. This project is rewarding in the fact that it shows all it takes is a little bit of hard work everyday to accomplish my goals. There were some bumps along the way of course. My index finger started to blister and rub raw. This is when I had to change my sessions to once in the morning and once at night. Separating the time between sessions would reduce the wear and tear on my index finger. In addition, my finger nail is lopsided as the friction from the ball essentially acted as a nail file on one side of my finger nail. I would also start the project sooner if I could do it differently in the future.  The feeling of being able to accomplish a goal is more beneficial in the long run than dweling on the small set backs. Plus now I can say I can spin a basketball on my finger! Attached is a 12 second video proof of my accomplishment. It was initially 42 second, but the size was too large to insert into the post. Enjoy!

spring project video

Spring Project

As a Stem Exploration and Engagement Scholar it is my goal to become skilled in exploring new topics. Our spring project requires us to take time to learn something random. I have chosen to learn how to spin a basketball on my finger. I chose this because it is a nifty trick. I also like to play basketball in my free time, so this will let me impress my friends. I have also always wanted to learn the skill, but never felt an urgency because of other priorities. I am glad this project pushes me to complete the task. By the end of the project, I would like to spin basketball on my finger for at least a minute and thirty seconds.  This goal is attainable within the ten hour time frame and limited materials. It is my goal through this project to gain patience and learn the satisfaction that comes with completing a task. Even though learning to spin a basketball may seem silly, the personal gain is much more drastic. I am looking forward to this project, and I hope my hard work pays off!

Diversity and Inclusion

I attended a talk on diversity and inclusion. Prior to attending, I was curious about the presentation, but I did not have the desire to participate. The actual presentation focused on minorization, privilege, and awareness of inclusion. The talk was very open and judgement-free. Many people participated without fear of friction among the group. I felt welcome in this environment. The presenter set the tone for the group by stating disclaimers on the communication between the class. For example, she mentioned that the topics that were learned in the presentation could be taken outside the classroom, but the specific people and events of that educational experience could not. This put me at ease to know that participation in the presentation would not ensue gossip afterwards. The class seemed to agree because the group was very active in the presentation. It was important that the tone of the presentation be open and honest because it is difficult to talk about diversity and inclusion otherwise. My feelings about the presentation change to wanting to participate and glad that I attended. I learned to think of the world through someone else’s eyes. I can see that I have many privileges, and it is important for me to take advantage of the privileges to help the minoritized party. The part of the presentation that made me think the most about my status was the color of band-aids. I had never thought about the color of the band-aid being an issue, but I can now see that the nude market is very biased towards the privileged majority. Luckily, America attempting to fix the issue one small step at a time, especially in the make-up industry. I am glad I live in a time where I can experience efforts made to improve upon the problem of seclusion and minorization. I would like to participate in the movement, and I hope attending the talk was only the beginning of my journey in college to help others.

The presentation showed me to be more aware of my peers. Everyone is unique and has some privilege and some disadvantage. The problem is people learning to accept those unique qualities. In STEM, diversity has become an overwhelming factor for hiring. Diversity in STEM is important because the wide range of ideas make for better testing and teamwork. The previous majority of STEM employees was white, male. In fact, I attended a brunch to talk with chemical engineers on their 50 year reunion, and one engineer said she was the only girl in the entire lecture. She made the interesting point that the lecturer had to hold back some of his words because there was now a girl in his class. This compared to current lectures in STEM fields is like night and day. The efforts made to include diversity in the workplace have clearly paid off. Notably, Society of Women Engineers is the largest engineering organization on campus. The work is not complete yet as there are many other gaps to fill for inclusion, but the giant strides in diversity have shown to be one step closer to an accepting and efficient world. 

Student Wellness Center

Lindsay Isom, aka me, standing in front of the Wellness Center.

Pamphlet that shows the many programs the Student Wellness Center has to offer.

It was a bit intimidating to visit a non-academic resource. In the past, I mainly relied on my parents and friends for advice on my wellness outside of schoolwork. After checking out the wellness center, I realized it was helpful to have this resource because I no longer have my support system surrounding me at all times. I had heard about the wellness center, but I did not know it included so many programs and services. They range from prevention services and relationship education to wellness and nutrition coaching. There were services that I would not have thought to incorporate, but are very important for a healthier life. It was also important to me that all their information was online, including the hours they are open. They are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and I just walked in and talked to the person at the front desk. There was no line and many different flyers, cards, and pamphlets on the desk. The people working were very friendly, and it was not as awkward as I had anticipated. I was given the pamphlet shown above and explained all the different programs I could use for support. It was reassuring to know I have a place to go for advice in my daily life. I was also fortunate enough to run into my friend Brian, who works there. He taught me about his job as a financial coach. Generally, he teaches students about financial responsibilities with credit cards and loans. He said he informs students on financial responsibility either by appointment or through presentations. He was actually about to give a presentation after I finished talking to him. It was awesome to see a familiar face at the resource.

Another coincidence occurred outside the RPAC. Two ladies at a booth asked if I like donuts, so of course I said yes. They had me and my friend play pin the STI on the symptoms. They had written descriptions of the symptoms of several common STIs. Our job was to match the correct STI to the symptom. After our task was complete, we received a free pumpkin donut. As we ate our donuts, they recommended to check out the wellness center. This was a cool coincidence considering I had just come from there. I found it rewarding that the wellness center branches outside of the office to bring light to student wellness for many students passing by the booth. Student wellness is an important factor to a student’s success, so I was glad to see so many positive facets of the wellness center. After visiting, I was interested to see how one could schedule and appointment. I researched the student wellness center and was pleasantly surprised. The website was very user friendly and it included videos on what the coaching offered and when it is necessary to get help. This is beneficial for students like me who are unsure when it is time to receive guidance or are intimidated by the thought of getting professional help. The videos allow us to examine the situation in the comfort of our dorm and decide the next steps from there. I do not have any recommendations or additions for the wellness center because I was pleasantly surprised at all the different wellness factors they considered.

Radiation Detection and Measurement: Innovations Seminar

Initial slide to begin the presentation by David K. Wehe a professor at the University of Michigan

 

I attended a seminar titled “Radiation Detection & Measurement: Innovations”, presented by David K. Wehe. The presentation was directed towards graduate students in the field of nuclear science or nuclear engineering. However, I am an undergraduate majoring in chemical engineering. I felt slightly out of place in this environment, especially since I was one of three women in the room. Despite this, I became quite intrigued with the topic. Wehe was an excellent teacher in the fact that I could follow along with the lecture. He started by comparing Ohio State and Michigan (the states), then the schools, then the engineering program, and finally the nuclear engineering program. I obviously understood this beginning portion, so I was easily drawn into the information that followed. As he presented the more difficult information, he included visuals and related subject matter to practical applications. An example of this was the discussion on nuclear research and development in biotechnology. Wehe talked about transmission radiology, digital radiography, and direct converters. He explained the relevance of the tools through giving examples of radiology used in x-rays, MRIs, and Hadron Therapy. I was particularly fascinate in these topics because I have had several x-rays and MRIs. I was able to relate to the content and excited to learn how those tools worked. I found out that x-rays shoot current through the subject and measure the remaining current on the other side. I also learned that MRIs are useful in determining the anatomy of the body, but radiation is important in determining the physiology. Wehe connected each subject to the most exciting current and future advancements. Hadron Therapy was the new advancement in the biotechnology portion. Hadrons deposit their energy at the end of their path, so they can destroy most of the tumor at that location. Whereas, the current method with x-rays deposit their energy along the path, so they essentially “barbecue” the tumor. In fact, Ohio State is getting Hadron Therapy in 2021. It is rewarding to hear Ohio State is investing in education that changes the future of technology. I was delighted that Wehe included this information relevant to Ohio State, despite the fact that he is a professor at University of Michigan.

He also included many more advancements due to radiology and nuclear engineering. He sorted the advancements by the customers of such technologies. The three main customers were biotechnology (as stated above), homeland security, and oil logging. I learned very many interesting facts at this seminar, and I hope I can use some of this background knowledge in my major. Wehe did mention that nuclear engineers worked closely with chemical engineers when designing solar panels. Chemical engineers develop the solar panels that change photons to electrons, and nuclear engineers harness this process for radiation detectors and other technologies. When he mentioned this, I considered changing my particular studies within chemical engineering to solar energies instead of consumer products. This made it beneficial to attend the seminar because it broadened my view in my major. I now consider myself more open-minded to different studies within chemical engineering.

 

Academic Resources: The Mathematics and Statistics Learning Center

In high school, I did not seek help in math very often. Our homework was often for completion, so I would try my best on a problem and get full points. The next day we would go over the troublesome problems. I did not have to seek help because the answers were always explained the next day. I have realized college requires some adjustments. Instead, I need to seek help to get the answers to a problem because they are no longer given to me. I am very thankful I stepped out of my comfort zone to go to peer tutoring because I no longer feel lost when doing homework. I will continue to go to the MSLC and branch out to other tutoring services because I now know it is way more efficient than figuring the problem out on my own. 

The MSLC has consistently been a positive experience for me. If I could not figure out a math problem, I used to spend hours on just the one problem in attempt to figure it out. After going to the MSLC, I realize that there is no point in wasting all that time. The MSLC provides a quick way for me to understand a problem and get an answer. My math homework routine has changed because of the MSLC. I now complete the homework at least a day before it is due, so I have time to go to peer tutoring for help on a problem. I am also a fan of how the peer tutoring is set up. I go in and work on my homework. I set up a pink card to show a tutor that I need help on a problem.

It is a nice place to work on homework and receive instant help. Fortunately, they are open many hours of the week, and have additional online resources for when they are closed. This is especially helpful for me because my lecturer’s office hours overlap with one of my other classes. Although I cannot go to his office hours, I do not feel like I am missing important information because the peer tutors can provide the same information, perhaps in a different light. It is to my advantage that I learn from many different people. Each tutor explains a problem differently, so I can understand the method that works best for me. They all spend time to sit down with each student and work through a problem. Some tutors work through the problem step by step on the chalk board, while others use paper and ask questions for the student to answer. Both are effective teaching methods. However, the most useful method for me depends on the particular problem. If I do not understand how one peer tutor explained the problem, I can always put the card back up and have another tutor explain it in a different manner. The MSLC has helped me learn the most efficient way possible, and I hope I can return the favor to other students. I would like to be a tutor at some point in college because it will not only help others but help me retain information I may need for my career.

 

Society of Women Engineers

 

In high school, I was the president and co-founder of a Women in Science and Engineering club. This club was very important to me because I wanted to bond with women who have similar interests. One of the many things we did in the club was connect with SWE members at Ohio State. My pen pal for my senior year was so helpful in guiding my decision for college. She made such a large impact on me that I want to do the same for someone else. This is how I knew I wanted to join SWE as soon as I came to Ohio State.

At first, I was not sure how I was going to find SWE. Luckily, I bumped into their table at the Student Involvement Fair. I decided to attend the ice cream social they were hosting. Interestingly enough, I sat down at the same table as my pen pal. She was so nice, and it was awesome to finally meet her in person. Since I made a connection so quickly with SWE, I felt like I was already apart of the club. I have gone to almost every major event SWE has held since. Each meeting I sat by someone new and made a friend. SWE has already proven to be very beneficial for social networking.

SWE also helped me network with recruiters for my dream job at P&G. This was my first real experience with networking. I now feel more comfortable and confident with the branding process. SWE provides additional benefits with the organization. They hold volunteering events that can count towards my STEM Scholars credit. They host fun bonding activities, like potting succulents and painting the jars. (Shown in picture above) They are a national organization, so joining the club at Ohio State will help me reach a professional goal.

It is amazing to have so many benefits within one club, but it can get overwhelming. Luckily, SWE does not hold me to attending every meeting. It is purely up to my choice on what event to participate. This reduces the stress of adding more plans to my busy schedule. This way I do not feel guilty for skipping a meeting to work on homework. Having the freedom of attendance is another reason I decided to stay in SWE. Ohio State has so many events and clubs that I initially did not know how to manage it all. Through trial and error, I decided the two main clubs I would stick with for this year are SWE and ChemE Car. Although finding the right clubs seemed challenging, I believe it was useful to have such a large amount of student organizations. Having so many options forced me to branch out of my comfort zone. This reminded me why I came to Ohio State in the first place. At least one of the endless opportunities will always fit my interests as I grow throughout the years I spend here. I will always have some place to find people with similar interests.

About Me

Hello, I am Lindsay Isom. I am originally from West Chester, Ohio, just north of Cincinnati. I graduated from Lakota East High School, with honors. Currently, I am a pre-major for chemical engineering. With this degree, I wish to work for Procter & Gamble in research and design. I find it infatuating that certain elements and molecules can work together to make our lives healthier. I believe creating safe and efficient health products will improve quality of life.

I have been dreaming about this goal for five years, so I have and will continue to utilize any opportunity to reach it. My junior year of high school, I obtained an internship with P&G. It was a three day unpaid internship, and I am so thankful to have learned about the job environment. Needless to say, I am even more excited about the path I have chosen. I also received a Mathematics and Science Scholarship thanks to P&G. This is a huge motivating factor for me to continue to prove my hard work ethic in college. I have started by getting involved with Society of Women Engineers, and I am looking forward to participate in ChemE Car. I also enjoy the outdoors, so I am interested in the Mountaineers Club. I hope through my active participation in various organizations, I learn about diverse thinking and problem solving.

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.]