Author: kaiser.365

My Vision

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This is somewhat related to my “Year End Review One AND Two” post, so for background as to where I’ve come from, read that first. If you’re a superstar and you already have read that, continue reading this.

The question, as presented to me by my dear Biological Science Scholar Mentor Melissa Basford, is what is my vision statement and my statement of action? To which I respond: I have no freaking idea. I came into college with this idealized model of what it would be like and what I would do. And, as I stated in my “Resume” post, NONE of what I thought would happen actually happened. At all . . . So I feel like I would be doing a disservice stating everything I want to do and what I hope to become before I graduate and (hopefully) go off to grad school. I need to mold into the person I am meant to be instead of the person I want to be in the future. And if I am to do this, why would I set this long list of “I will…” and “I plan to…”  knowing that there is a 99% chance that what I want to happen will never quite happen the way I want it to. With that being said, here is a general self reminder for myself. I think it’s better than a vision statement for a vision that will probably never happen completely the way I want my perfectionist mind to.

  1. You are meant to be here.
  2. Everything happens for a reason.
  3. No matter what it looks like to you, you are always doing enough for pre-med.
  4. Support your friends in their goals and ambitions. If they are the right friends, they will do the same for you.
  5. Study more than you think, you need the good grades.
  6. Do more facemasks, and take more mental time for yourself.
  7. Pursue your ambitions. Many doors will be smacked shut in your face (i.e. sophomore year spring), but that only leaves the right ones for you to waltz on it. Perfect that waltz through all the interviews and hard work. You have big things coming.
  8. Keep volunteering, you know it keeps you human.
  9. Keep finding opportunities for yourself.
  10. Don’t forget to call your parents and tell them your accomplishments. They love you lots and always brag about you. Keep giving them stuff to brag about!

Abstract

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Hey all, you’ve made it here so props to you for finding me in the most obscure way possible. What you’ll find here is probably the most sporadic collection of posts about my life here at OSU. This mini project was put as a requirement for the Biological Science Scholars for qualifications for the program. I’ll try to keep this as up to date as possible for now on, but life can really get in the way. So, as a list, you will find:

  1. Semester and Year in Review posts highlighting my time here at OSU and everything I’ve learned in and out of the classroom.
  2. G.O.A.L.S. of mine, highlighting how I am implementing Honors and Scholars values.
  3. “Artifacts” of my time here highlighting the adventures I go on here and the passions I develop.
  4. Career updates and what I am doing to further my career in my preprofessional program
  5. Stuff just about me as a person since I am, after all, more than what I study and the preprofessional program I do.
  6. Possible random posts that are labeled as “Uncategorized” when I make posts on here.

I hope you enjoy the blog.

A Year in Review Post One AND Two

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This is more going to be my underclassman experience in review, since after all freshman year is long gone and to comment on it now as a completely different person. My look on it now is much different as I learned more about myself through sophomore year and looked at events in my freshman year differently. I was supposed to do this last year but, I did not. Such is life. We will knock out two birds with one stone since, if I were to have done a post like this a year ago, I would probably look back on it thinking about how generally clueless I was freshman year. So, here we go.

The first two years of undergrad were… hard… to say the least. Coming out of sophomore, I am a much different person than the 18 year old coming in. It seemed that everything that could happen, did happen in a bad sense. And as a result, I struggled. A lot. But through all of the bad stuff that happened, there was so much more good in my life that made up for the fact that it seemed like my collegiate world was falling apart around me. I built great friendships, some of which were there for a season and a reason. While others I see lasting for a lifetime. I had great experiences that no other college could provide me with. And I was cognitively pushed more than I thought I would ever be. I found a major that, through its flaws, I love and can truly care about. These first two years taught me perseverance in the most raw way, pushing through bad days and classes that seemed impossible to get through.

Speaking specifically on freshman year, I was nothing compared to sophomore year. Little did I know, the struggles I went through the first year would only make me more strong for second year. I specifically learned to stand up for myself and say NO. I learned to be kind and resilient while still standing my ground and being my own advocate. This lesson really impacted me my second year standing up to bullies. You wouldn’t think that they would still exist in college. In fact, you’d think they would be a thing of high school rather than when we are all struggling in college together. But they still exist, and they are more manipulative and scary than you would ever think. And the vivacity that I learned to harness freshman year allowed me to get past some of the toughest classes, people, and situations ever. 

But in all the pushing and clawing and kicking, these first two years also taught me about what it means to take care of yourself. Mental health was never on the forefront of my list of priorities, and quite frankly I thought I had everything under control. This was a lie that college, specifically my second year of college, only amplified. While I was coming to terms with it late fall through the summer of freshman year, sophomore year said ” let’s take this problem head-on.” And that realization has turned into a now years long learning curve that I am still learning to work with. And not every day is a win. The reality is that every day you wake up, that is your brain doing that for you. And where you are that day is where you are, as cliche as that sounds in a mental sense. It is up to you to not only realize and understand that, but to not separate yourself from reality. Instead, let it carry you through the day and make room for acknowledgement of changes in yourself and forgive yourself if you have an off day. Be the best you can be, but understand that the body that holds your spirit may not be at the same level and mindset at all times. Save space for others to understand where you are. Finally, understand that not everybody you work with on a daily basis will be at their best, and that it is up to you to navigate different brains and moods. This was something I learned through Dance 5106, where my teacher Gina emphasized this truth in an environment where you leave everything at the door and focus on  yourself only. It’s such a big lesson thats hard to put into words but I tried my best.

Every day I wake up, I know that I am where I am in life for a reason. And I am meant to be here at OSU. I’m thankful for every opportunity I get at this great school and I cannot wait for the challenges and adventures that lie ahead.

My (New) Resume/CV

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Hey there friends,

In 2017, I posted a potential resume for things I wanted to accomplish and where I saw myself going at OSU. Well, surprise surprise, that resume turned out to be completely inaccurate, and to keep it up would be a disservice to what I have actually done, which is so much better than what freshman year me thought that I was capable of. I have accomplished so much already in a short two years, and I can’t wait to see how much more I accomplish before my time here is finished. So, without further adieu, here is my complete resume/CV.

Kaiser Resume MASTER DOC copy

More Artifacts!

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“Who You Are”

This is my first major choreographic work that I put on dancers. Coming into my second semester of my second year, I found out I fractured my back and had a slew of problems that basically signalled that my time as a dancer was finite. I always wanted to keep dance in my life. Art in it of itself keeps me sane between the pre-med courses and the busy life I lead. So obviously you can see how much of a blow this was. I stretched myself to do more choreography rather than dancing to keep what I love in my life, just in a way I never thought I would imagine. It was so rewarding and I am thankful for this opportunity to make me a more well rounded student and allow me to think about things through a different lens. Special shoutout to the new club, Studio Dance, that allowed me to choreograph and be a part of this family in its first year and make an impact on the club and its foundings. I am super excited for what’s to come for this dance family, and I can’t wait to be a part of it. Below you’ll find some still photos of the dance if viewing the video isn’t working for you at this very moment.

A Semester in Review

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To say that this was an adventure is an understatement. And the fact of the matter is that this is only just the beginning. In just a couple of months I have made some of the greatest friends that I have ever had. I had some amazing college experiences like the football games and the adventures around the city, exploring my new home. But to say that it was easy would be a lie. College was a giant flip on my world and I had to learn how to actually “college,” so to speak. I had to navigate my way around a place that seemed HUGE and develop a new routine. Coming into college, I had never really studied before and I could easily go through school. College was a giant slap-in-the-face-reality-check. I actually had to learn how to study more effectively, and manage my time better as I realized that I couldn’t really just go with the flow. It was a giant shock because, for the first time, I found myself slightly struggling with the workload and course material. It was a problem I had never faced before and needless to say it set me back for a bit. Nevertheless, I quickly adapted and found my footing. Bio Sci Scholars also held me accountable and made sure that I actually was working hard to maintain a good GPA. Not only that, but the Bio Sci events were really fun and as a result I have made new friendships with others in this Scholars group. Overall, I’d say that it was a pretty fantastic semester, even with the little bumps in the road.

Dance: A Passion

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When I was little, my mom put me in everything from martial arts to recreational hiking and everything in between and beyond. It wasn’t until I was put in a dance class at the closest studio to home (with my then-best-friend) that I truly found my love. Throughout the years, dance has challenged me. It taught me to let go of perfection, or at least my idea of it. I learned how to work through difficult and trying times, as dance was NEVER truly easy. It taught me how to work towards a goal and value what I have. And more than anything, I also made friends. My friendships with the beautiful people that made up the I’hde Rather Be Dancing Competitive Team will last long after I leave and start a new life here in Columbus. They have seen me at my best and my worst, and together we were unit of art and passion.  Dance was been and will always remain an important part of life, as it reminds me of all the lessons I learned and memories of my youth can bring me up when I am down.

Full Moon Float

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One of the Scholars events that was made available to us was a “Full Moon Float” down the OlentangyRiver to look at downtown Columbus in a new way. Eager to get out the dorm to have some fun with old friends and hopefully make some new ones, I signed up right away. It was super fun and I learned a lot about myself and others in the group as we played a classic game of “Two Truths and a Lie.” Rowing requires teamwork from everybody involved much like life and is was good to be reminded of that truth. The city was beautiful to look at it was good to get some fresh air and some great exercise!

G.O.A.L.S.

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G.O.A.L.S. is the collection of principles that we as Honors and Scholars students live by to ensure our success at The Ohio State University. We use these ideas to push ourselves as well as each other, broaden our perspective on the world, and constantly challenge “dogma.” Below are the five parts more in detail:

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 . During my time at college, I would love to study abroad and expand my horizons on the world while learning in a university setting.
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. A large part of being a pre-med student is taking the opportunity to conduct research and be part of the discovery of knowledge and so you will hopefully see my name on a couple of publications in the future.
Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom. Being a Neuroscience major, you are held accountable as you are to hold at least a 3.2 GPA. This requires you to  be active in the classroom and always be challenging yourself to be the best you can be 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. Joining clubs is basically a “must” at OSU, and within the clubs at OSU there are many leadership opportunities. I am already a part of some great clubs that are both service-based and that reflect my interests!
Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community. Another part of being a pre-med study is giving back to the community, and volunteering is very important. More than the hours you get under the belt, it is the experiences that you get and what you take from it is more important and I plan to continue to volunteer like I did in high school.

Altogether, as Honors and Scholars, we hold ourselves to all five standards as individuals and as a community of intellectuals. Check back more throughout the year to see my stories of living up to these principles!

About Me

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A Bit About Myself:

Hello! My name is Kaitlin Kaiser, but most people call me “Katie” for short. I am northeast Ohio born and raised, and until now, I have been living Cuyahoga Falls. (For reference: just think Blossom Music Center and you’re right on the money in terms of location.) I love art of all types and poetry, and dance is my favorite activity that I’ve been working to perfect for 12 years. Generally, if a food is covered in cheese, there is a 90% chance that it will be eaten. I graduated in the top ten with honors at Woodridge High School located in Peninsula, Ohio, and I am starting as a 1st year at The Ohio State University as an Honors and Scholars student studying Neuroscience.

High School:

Woodridge was, above all, a great place to grow up in. I had been going there since kindergarten and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. In high school, I was very active and involved in the I’dhe Rather Be Dancing Competitive Dance Team. To challenge myself and try something new, I signed up for the school’s tennis team and by senior year I went from never holding a racket before to playing varsity doubles. Church life was a large component in my life as I served communities around the country in mission trips and was an active leader within the youth group at Northampton United Methodist Church as a “Teen Leader,” where we as a group coordinated events and acted as the liaison between the youth and the adult leaders. I was also very involved with the arts at school, participating in and leading: Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Womens’ Ensemble, and Rhapsody (the school’s show choir). All the while I pushed myself academically in numerous AP courses and participating in NHS. Some of my favorite memories revolve around the experiences that I have made with my friends in my passions. One particular memory that sticks out as I am writing this is an experience that happened not too long ago. As part if a church outreach, volunteers drove down to the Akron-Canton Food Bank to assist the staff in organizing and repacking the meat donations. We worked along each other as friends and family and even made connections with total strangers that worked alongside us. It was a long morning, and by the end we all were cracking jokes about eating salads for the rest of the week, but all of the hard work paid off in dividends. We were able to repack and organize 19,300 pounds of meat which provides 16,083 meals to families in need. In that moment we were overwhelmed with gratitude and humility as we heard the stats. It goes to show that even a little bit of your time and some actions as simple as passing food from one place to the next can go a long way in helping others who need it. It was a truly beautiful experience that will stick with me for a long time.

Continuing on at OSU: 

Woodridge is a smaller high school that, while growing rapidly, only has about 170 people in each class. This allowed for each class and the entire school to become a tight knit community. It might look weird, going from a small community to studying at one of the country’s largest campuses. But I craved the change. As diverse as Woodridge was, I wanted to meet more people from every background and walk of life and escape the small school bubble. I see OSU as a fresh start for new experiences and people. While overwhelming at first, the more time I spend on campus, the smaller it seems to get. I see familiar faces from high school and newfound friends everywhere I go. Even the campus itself seems a little smaller the more I navigate it. At OSU I plan to push myself to get the best education I can. Undergraduate research is a huge thing I plan to get involved in to discover new ideas that challenge the status quo. Like my time in Woodridge, I also hope to make lasting connections that will help me throughout my life.