As a direct result of my cultural heritage, I have a peculiarly strong interest in expanding my global awareness, as I have witnessed first-hand the impacts of embracing a culture foreign to one’s original birthplace. Consequently, I would enjoy the prospect of traveling to a different country to possibly provide humanitarian aid or education to a community that would not only allow me to help others, but to also learn about the backgrounds and conditions of the people that I meet. However, due to my intent to major in the two work-intensive majors of Mathematics and Biology, my exposure to the globe will revolve around classes and on-campus resources that provide global awareness.
As I delve deeper into Mathematics and Biology, I would be interested in conducting research that allows me to employ the knowledge and skills acquired from both subjects. Specifically, some sort of research opportunity that involves the inquisitive-mindedness and analysis focus of Mathematics, and the composition and discovery mentality of Biology would be an extremely exciting prospect. Furthermore, I expect to experiment with my first taste of Original Inquiry with the research that is conducted in Chemistry 1920H, which includes a research project that will expose me to the necessities of conducting meticulous experiments and composing adequate reports.
In an attempt to avoid my lackadaisical view towards the generally easier classes that I completed in high school, I will embrace academic schedules, semester-by-semester, at The Ohio State University that stimulate my competitive mentality to “beat” the most challenging classes that the university can provide in the majors I seek to complete. By majoring in both Mathematics and Biology, I have willingly enrolled in a rigorous path of academics that require almost every semester to have the maximum hours of study, specifically with classes that amount to little over 90 hours of upper-division classes. While this may seem daunting, there are classes mixed into the schedule which should serve to alleviate the stresses of such difficult course material, one of which is Classics 2220H, a Literature class that focuses on one of my most long-standing academic interests, Mythology.
Similar to previous extracurricular venture in high school, I will research clubs and organizations that not only match my interests, but also provide opportunities for the cultivation of leadership and communication skills. Temporarily, I am only participating in three extracurricular activities: Reading Classics of the Mathematics Department, Radical Pi Club of the Mathematics Department, and the Tough Mudder Club. These opportunities have allowed me to create an initial network of companions and friends who have been able to provide my with invaluable knowledge in academics, social life, and the development my own communication skills and leadership potential. However, I do anticipate to increase my involvement dramatically in the future, specifically in other organizations, research, and possibly internships, where I can continue to improve upon my current competencies in speaking and team-building.
During my college experience, not only do I plan to contact local organizations through university clubs to humbly implore about service opportunities that can enrich my understanding of the community, but I also plan to travel at least once, at least out of the state, to provide a service to people who require any form of assistance. In fact, on Sunday, October 22, 2017, I, along with the Tough Mudder Club at OSU, helped the Tough Mudder Corporation disassemble their entire course and provide services during the event to contestants that were running Tough Mudder’s obstacle course. After completing the course as a club on Saturday, October 21, 2017, the service opportunity on Sunday was the perfect way to conclude the weekend in a way that solidified our own accomplishments as well as providing a way to allow others to succeed and realize their capabilities and desires.