News Update!

I joined a few of my fellow IA Scholars for a news update and trivia Zoom! It was so nice to reconnect with a few friendly faces and talk about what we’ve been up to while staying at home. Mostly all of the news stories were directly related to Covid-19 and it’s impacts over that last few months. We spoke more in depth about Russia, The Netherlands, Hungary, Turkmenistan and Sub-Saharan Africa. We did discuss the United States’ handling of the crisis, but mainly focused on or compared ourselves to other countries.

We learned that Turkmenistan had not reported any cases (as of April 9) and whether or not we actually believed that to be the case. Turkmenistan is known for censoring the media and reporting unreliable information. It has gotten to the point where simply saying the word coronavirus is illegal. They had not changed life internally, but did close off their boarders to prevent travelers from bringing the virus to their people. This topic brought up an interesting discussion about the media right now. Many of us were appalled that they were (most likely) providing false information to their people, but I posed the question: Is it really that much different than our situation here?

We have received a lot of misdirection and false information from the president, and many people actually believe it. I would be interested to discuss the media’s challenges during this time, and how they sought to provide the most accurate information, and if they received backlash for doing so.

International Coronavirus Perspectives

I joined a Zoom Call with people from all over the world on Wednesday, April 22. We had participants from France, Germany and China sharing their experiences related to COVID-19 and the quarantine guidelines put in place. I was very intrigued to hear from the two people in France, as their regulations seemed to be the strictest. They are unable to go within a certain distance of their residence, unless for essential activities. However, their definition of essential is much tighter. Every resident was given a scanner that they must provide to police when asked. Their information, such as home address, and provided so security officials can see if they are within the proper boundaries or cleared as an essential employee. If you are not, you will be sent directly home.

However, what has stuck with me the most was their views and questions about life in the United States right now. It was obvious that they were speaking with restrain as to not offend anyone, but a little reading in between the lines goes a long way. I live about 25 minutes from Columbus, which is our state capitol. I have been increasingly bothered and disappointed by the protests occurring there, and at Dr. Amy Acton’s home. They were especially curious about these protests and their purpose. We attempted to explain their deeply rooted connections to right-wing political parties, but saying it aloud seemed silly. It was definitely an eye-opener to see how our reality is somewhat of a joke to our friends abroad.

Immigration Stories

A few weeks ago, I attended the Immigration Stories Event, put on by Undergraduate Student Government’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. I had just joined USG, and this was the first event that I was able to witness the planning, but also attend. Not only did I have a special USG connection, but three of the panelists are my friends, two being from IA Scholars!

I was intrigued by the emphasis some of the speakers placed on an introduction, breaking down each part in order to explain to us their intentions and purpose with including that piece of information, in that specific order.

Name Pronunciation- Many immigrants, first and second generation, face trouble when it comes to others pronouncing their names. White people especially, tend to pronounce things in their way, whether or not it is correct. This may seem harmless in their eyes, yet a name holds power. It holds identity.

Country- Some of the students chose to refer to themselves as American first, or their home country. It often came down to how their parents raised them, and where they felt most at home.

Gender- A few students chose to mention their gender in their introduction. The two speakers to do this were both women. It was found in the phrase “and I am a Somali woman.” Some speakers took the initiative to write their pronouns on their placards.

I feel it’s important to note that there was so much more to take away from this than just the way in which they introduced themselves. However, it was something that I had never noticed during a panel before. Not only did they break down multiple aspects of their identity, but explained the reasoning for doing so as well. In a perfect world, this introduction wouldn’t have grabbed my attention as much as it did.

 

 

Spring Involvement Fair

At the beginning of the semester, I attended the Spring Involvement Fair with a few friends from IA. I had added it to my calendar before Finals even ended. I set explicit goals for the next semester, one of them being to find a true home in a student organization.

At nearly every admission event that I attended in high school, the notion that there is always a place for you on campus was constantly emphasized. But, halfway through my first year, I realized that this wasn’t yet a reality for me. I was determined to find a group to join.

The Involvement Fair itself wasn’t anything drastically different from the one in the Fall. However, my reflection is what made this experience stand out to me. I was much more confidence approaching booths and holding conversations with people from the different organizations. I had more direction with my interests and expectations from a student organization.

I find it difficult to truly buy in to a commitment when I don’t see positive, tangible results. Whether it be creating art with the Photography Enthusiast Society, or writing to a local elementary student in Columbus, I truly feel as if my actions are worthwhile. When talking to representatives at the SIF, I was sure to ask what a typical meeting was like, and what their goals were. There were a few times when they didn’t quite have an answer, and I knew it wasn’t the place for me.

I also value a friendly and inclusive environment, rather than one focused on competition or going up in the ranks. There were some points during first semester where I felt isolated from other students. IA Scholars gave me my closest friends, but I found myself regretting not reaching out more. I am much more excited and motivated to attending meetings or outings when I know that I have friends waiting for me, and cheering me on.

Graduate & Professional School Fair

On November 6, I attended Ohio State’s Graduate and Professional School Fair at the Ohio Union. I wasn’t originally planning on attending, but my advisor suggested it as a good resource and time to explore. As a Public Affairs Major, I was immediately drawn to the John Glenn College’s table. However, I hadn’t realize how many graduate opportunities that OSU offers.

Lately, I’ve been debating on how I would like to enhance my degree, whether it be a specialization, additional major, internships, higher education or a combination of the offerings. As a freshman, the though of Grad School seemed premature, but after attending the Fair I know that it’s not as daunting as it seems, especially with the combined degree programs.

The JGS has recently unveiled a combined degree program, 3 years of Undergraduate and 2 years of Grad School. At first, I wasn’t sure how this would fit in to my career plan, but I recently found out that a scholarship that I received is still applicable to my fourth year if I participate in a combined degree program. I would not have sought out these opportunities if I hadn’t attended the Fair, and I am so grateful that I made the time!

A Masters Degree in Public Administration would truly bring my “hire-ability” to the next level. Especially in public service, it is sometimes difficult to find a job that offers a salary one would desire. By seeking an additional degree, my ability to work on a range of projects would widen and my expertise would deepen.

Global Water Institute

I attended a session run by a member of the Global Water Institute at Ohio State. This session was perfect for me because it combined my passions of international affairs and philanthropy. I was astonished by the statistics she shared regarding access to water in developing countries, not to mention the sanitation of the water. It often falls on the women and children to travel to collect water needed for basic needs: Drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning. Not only must they travel long ways, but the weight of a small amount of water is a burden for many.

The Global Water Institute collaborates with communities in Tanzania to create sustainable water access. The first step is to hold a meeting with community members and create a committee to ensure that the community actually wants the GWI’s intervention. With the increasing threat of climate change and increasing population, access to water and other resources will most likely decrease in the coming years. Their model includes six aspects:

  1. Solar Energy
  2. Education and Training
  3. Private Operator Model
  4. Employ Women
  5. Improved Hygiene and Sanitation
  6. Agriculture Support

Solar panels are installed by local companies in order to fuel the economy and have nearby support in case they need repaired. Upon entry to the community, the GWI goes over marketing, budgeting and other business concepts in order to encourage smart decision making in the future. The Private Operator Model means that members of the community will be directly managing these systems. They also try to prioritize the hiring of women. In addition to the water system, they also build a public restroom unit in the town with flushable toilets. Agriculture is the main source of income for most families in the towns they visit. Many have been using the same agricultural techniques for generations as they have not been informed about modern, more effective methods. After just one season of employing these methods, some farmers can see crop yields triple in size.

I was amazed by the work that the GWI does for people around the world. Their solutions are sustainable and meticulously planned in order to ensure success. I am really thankful for the opportunity to hear directly from their representative and that they have such a strong presence at Ohio State.

Día de los Muertos Celebración

Attending the Día de los Muertos celebration was one of the best decisions that I could have made for my weekend plans. My friend Max and I joined the precession as they were on their way to Sullivant Hall. Right from the start, we were instantly welcomed. We stopped multiple times to watch the leaders of the precession dance. Inside of Sullivant Hall, there was a beautiful ofrenda for Ruben Castilla Herrera. He was an activist in the community, and beloved by so many.

We started talking to two of the volunteers for the event that were both graduate students from Cuba. NAME was super generous and offered to meet with us again to talk about dystopian novels. He explained that since he is from Cuba, it is a large form of political pushback that is able to slip under the radar. He emailed us a list of books that he recommends and even offered to share some of his own work! I am so happy that we met, and I can’t wait to hear more from him in the future.

We also got to tour the collections area! I loved looking through all of the old pamphlets and publications, with some being as early as 1770. My favorite piece was more satirical, taking the stereotypical members of the community that have passed and remembering them. When I think of publications from that time period, I didn’t really anticipate having comedy included. After filling our stomachs with pan dulce and tamales, we said goodbye to our new friends and parted ways. I definitely plan on attending this event again next year, hopefully with a little more Spanish experience under my belt!

Careers in DC

I attended the careers in DC event on September 6 during the lunch session. There were to speakers: Mikayla Bodey and Abby Vesoulis. I was especially interested in Mikayla’s work with members of Congress. I really admired how passionate she was about her work. She really emphasized the importance of making connections during every internship or networking. In the world of politics, there aren’t the typical job boards. You have to network or seek out work on your own. I can see this being pretty daunting, especially right when you’re entering the work force.

Both of the women participated in WAIP during there time at OSU. After hearing the importance of an internship on Capitol Hill, I definitely plan on pursuing WAIP during my junior or senior year. I’ve heard so much about the program, but was still on the fence about taking the final leap. Now, I know that it is an opportunity that is crucial to my future career.

I was so happy to see two young women with such successful careers in DC. I imagine that it can’t be easy starting out in such a busy and fierce environment. I will definitely follow their advice to take advantage of every opportunity and never hesitate to reach out to OSU alumni.

Internship Panel

Since I am pursuing a major in Public Affairs, I it is very important that I gain real world experience in order to find my niche. The next few years hold so much opportunity, and I have to take advantage of it. Last Monday, I went to the IA Internship Panel held in Smith-Steeb. Since it was so close, most of the eighth floor made it down. I have always told myself that I would make studying abroad a priority, but I had never considered that I would be able to take an internship. All four of the speakers were amazing, but I was particularly drawn to Alaina and Jenna’s experiences. Alaina spent a summer in Washington, D.C. working with the State Department. Jenna spent three months with a company in France regarding green energy.

I was interested in Alaina’s experience because a mentor of mine is a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department and has led me to seriously consider a position there as well. Alaina said that she was the youngest in her office, which was a little daunting at times. I can only imagine how difficult it would be. I would love to ask her how she handled this, especially in a place with so much importance.

My main takeaways from Jenna’s experience was to take advantage of any opportunity to immerse yourself in the local community. She shared an apartment with someone from the area and joined a rec volleyball team.

It has always been a dream of mine to study abroad, but I had never considered the fact that I could take a job overseas while still in college. Listening to the presenters made me much more confident in my ability to not only study abroad but maintain an internship with true independence. This event made me much more confident in my ability to not only study abroad but maintain an internship with true independence.

Greek Festival

The Greek Festival was the first IA event that I attended, and it did not disappoint! We went on Friday, August 30, following the first week of classes. It was held at the Greek Orthodox Church in the Short North, so we were able to see some of the city as well.

As soon as I walked through the gates, I was immediately met with people of all ages dancing on the center stage and everyone on the sidelines cheering them on. This atmosphere was amazing, as nobody seemed to be left out or disengaged. Even though I had just met most of the people in IA, it was truly a microcosm of our community. We don’t all look, talk or think the same way, but we all come together as a big family. I was curious how many of the people attending were of Greek heritage or attended the Greek Orthodox Church regularly. With a sense of community so strong, I would be amazed if the majority of people weren’t already familiar with each other.

The Greek Festival was a phenomenal way to start off my freshman year. At one point, I found myself on center stage, joining in on a large dance circle. Although none of us in IA were quite able to master it, many members of the community jumped in to teach us. It was a beautiful moment to be a part of. As I go about my freshman year, I will strive to embrace everyone the way that we were received, no matter the circumstances.