Reflection on Turkish Heritage and Anticipated Knowledge from Turkish Culture 2241 Course

As I looked through the extensive list of classes offered as general electives for the College of Arts and Sciences during my Honors Contract drafting, one course piqued my interest immediately, “Turkish Culture”. While I was born in Hungary (a somewhat close neighbor to Turkey) both of my parents were from Turkey, and consequently my entire family from both parents’ side had a direct link to the Turkish culture. My family’s immigration to the United States in 2006, inarguably a life-changing decision for both my brother and I, had the unfortunate side-effect of prohibiting my personal cultivation of a relationship with this culture or the intricate history of the country. However, by virtue of growing up in a household that still actively communicated with their family abroad, I have picked up on fragments of the Turkish culture that has kept me interested in rekindling an in-depth exploration into as many aspects of Turkey as possible, which I believe I can begin in my Turkish Culture class.

First, I would like to reflect upon and record some facts and subtleties that I have picked up in the 20 years I have had speaking with my parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and one cousin concerning the state of Turkey and what characteristics define the country. After moving to the United States, the constant reminder that I was not wholeheartedly American, apart from my parents speaking in Turkish (which really make angry conversations with your name in it especially frightening when you don’t recall the language), was the traditional food that my mother often prepared for dinner. Of the dishes that I know the name of, my favorites consisted of kofta, dolma (after I transitioned out of my picky phase), baklava, and palacsinta (which is technically a Hungarian dish but complemented well with a hearty Turkish dinner beforehand). Specifically, kofta, which is essentially a meatball, was the most cooked item out of my mother’s culinary arsenal, and I distinctly remember the extraordinary pairing of the meat with countless styles of fragrant lentil, noodle, and chicken stews and soups. Interestingly, I find my acquired taste of dolma (bell peppers that are stuffed with meat, rice, and other ingredients and then cooked in an oven) to be analogous to my growth as a person and my renewed willingness to investigate my family’s culture as an adult that has surpassed the close-minded and picky nature of my adolescence. One comical experience I remember with the food culture of Turkey was actually one my family’s visits to the farm of my grandparents in the rural areas of Turkey. There was one night where my parents and grandparents were being deliberately deceptive with the ingredients of the meat stew, and as my brother and I tentatively ate our meals, we were met with an invitation to look at the animal enclosures outside, which specifically included a display of the most pristine white rabbits. Fortunately for me, I was still too young to notice the sly hinting of my parents. If I had noticed, I would most likely had been sick to my stomach, as my childhood take on food was still limited to the chicken, beef, and pork dishes of the world. Looking back, I find it funny that my parents had to pull such a ploy against my brother and I to enjoy the traditional heartfelt cooking of my grandmother, but it encourages me to continue finding hidden gems of Turkey that I have not yet had the chance to experience for myself.

Delving past the irresistible topic of food, I have also gained a unique perspective on some traditional events and cultural practices of Turkey through my visits to Turkey, and my interactions with both my parents and grandparents. The one cultural practice that my family continues to this day is called Bayram, which is a celebratory event where younger members of the family show their respect and appreciation for their elders, meaning parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. Since I have been with my parents for most Bayram celebrations, the day consists of kissing the back of the hand of your elder, raising it to your forehead, and saying “Bayramınız Mübarek olsun”. It means “May your festival be blessed” and is essentially a well-wishing for the upcoming future of a family member, which can be celebrated as either a secular or religious occasion. I have not had the chance to visit Turkey for several years, so my family and I simply say the line wishing a good “feast” for our family abroad, and have a good conversation about what we have planned and how everyone is doing. Importantly, this has allowed me to remain connected to the culture of my family, and has also given me ample opportunities to continue checking in with the family members that I so rarely get to see. Furthermore, beyond Bayram celebrations, I was witness to some of the religious practices of the rural areas of Turkey when I last visited my grandparents, during which I was around 12 (important in how I viewed everything I experienced during my visit). To my surprise, the weekends did not consist of my parents waking up to start the day, but instead loud intercoms that blared through the town with religious speech and music. As a young male whose introduction into the American culture at the age of 7 was extremely intensive and character-defining, it was a slightly uncomfortable shock to have religious music played disregarding the activities and opinions of everyone that lived in the vicinity. Having read into our assigned introductory material for the course, I now understand that President Erdoğan’s emphasis on educating the youth about Islam and integrating Islamic curriculum into the coursework of students is meant to match the values of a sizable population of Turkey that sees religions as a crucial part of their lives. Finally, the aspect of Turkish culture that I found most different from my first several years in America, which may not hold true for all Turkish people as I only had experience with a limited number of people and unique locations, was the outward friendliness and sense of community. The most profound and encouraging experience I had was actually a solo venture into the town surrounding my grandparent’s small farm. I was told that I could take the family bike and go into town to buy groceries, which seemed daunting at the time because I was anxious about not having the ability to speak Turkish with local members of the town. However, my grandparent’s presence in the community must have been strong, since everyone I encountered was extremely open to helping me with their minimal knowledge of English, and allowed me to ride around the town feeling safe to do as I pleased as a 12-year-old. Additionally, my family’s trip to the local city was met with a similar acceptance of store clerks, strangers, and old friends my parents ran into coincidentally. Having learned extensive historical accounts of many countries and cultures throughout my academic career, I am not naïve enough to believe the whole of Turkey shares the hospitability that I experienced, but as a foreigner, I also cannot ignore the fact that almost everyone I shared a conversation with was refreshingly amicable.

Although I may have had more of an introduction to the Turkish culture than others who may be starting their cultural education through classes such as Turkish 2241, there are still many things that I know I can learn, and have learned through the initial burst of material in our first week. The very first cultural phenomena that I was surprised by was the ethnic diversity that shaped the development process of Turkey, as well as defines the country to this day. I had taken history classes that mentioned the Ottomans and their dominant path through Asia and Europe , but I never seemed to make the connection that the settlements made in Anatolia and Constantinople by the Ottomans was crucial in the building of such a strong modern-day country. Furthermore, I was also unaware of the ethnic and religious persecution that seemed to be copiously dispersed throughout times of these dominant Ottomans, which unfortunately persisted to almost the end of the 20th century. During my visits to Turkey, I never realized the ethnic diversity nor any differential treatment of certain groups of people, and it impacts my future-planning to this day, as I would like to see Turkey through the critical eyes of an adult with information about the region and the amazing breadth of sub-cultures that coexist in Turkey. Also, even though I had slightly heard about military pressures during communist Russian dominance in the end of the 20th century from my parents, I was surprised to learn during the reading that the Turkish military is still viewed with a distaste that is attributed to their general harshness towards citizens, and continuing archaic torturing sessions of civilians that are suspected to be criminals. Another section that resounded with my interests was the economics discussion in the reading, since I am a business minor with a passion for the business, economic, and even political side of many issues. As such, the discussion about the GDP breakdown of Turkey, as well as their stable membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development was fun to read about. Moreover, I had never known the governmental structure of Turkey, so learning about the 10 parties, although only 4 dominate, was a nice change of pace from a lot of historical and geographical material. The referendum mentioned in the reading, in its abolishment of the prime minister position and granting executive power to the president that had previously been relatively powerless, allowed me to connect a name I had heard before (President Erdoğan) to a relevant political development in Turkey. All of the new information that I was able to absorb from our initial material was meaningful to me, as it established a base of knowledge that I can build up to better understand my familial culture. However, I look forward to diving into the topics set up for the upcoming semester, as I am hungry to continue expanding my awareness of something so near to me. Priority-wise, my relatively low exposure to the state of Turkey as a global entity, in terms of economy, country development, relevant news, government, religious and education reform, and ethnic diversity acceptance influences my desire to dive straight into the depths of each topic. But I also want to accentuate my current factual sway over cuisine, art and architecture, music, geography, nationwide holidays, and topics relevant to my collegiate Turkish counterparts. Thus, I am most looking forward to our class conversations with the students in Turkey, as it provides a direct link to the opinions and experiences of people actively living within the range of topics that we are only studying about. Personally, I am looking forward to the potential that people will question my name and invite conversations with me, as my name is a relatively common Turkish name and will most likely come as a surprise as the name of an American student. Furthermore, I would like to challenge my current knowledge of different aspects of Turkey, and maybe have them educate me about specific places I have been to and unique experiences that I have had, so that I can better grasp the intricacies of my life in Turkey. To conclude, I am inspired as a member of both the Turkish and American cultures to finally receive the necessary knowledge to be able to realize drastic differences (not necessarily bad) that characterize both entities. However, I am even more excited to draw my own conclusions about the subtle overlaps that can be noticed in both cultures and can be used to possibly visualize the effects that the globalization and sharing of different cultures has had on the development of unique fusions of cultures within different countries. To be able to acquire such perspectives, I truly believe that I have made the right decision to dive into Turkish 2241 and learn what it truly means to be Turkish.

Sophomore Year G.O.A.L.S Reflection

Centering my focus towards a career in dentistry, my Sophomore year has been a period of rapid growth and development in my life, especially in cultivating skills and experiences that broaden my knowledge and understanding of both other people and myself. The following reflection will delve into 5 key categories where I will briefly talk about progress I’ve made in realizing or working on the subject of the paragraph.

To begin, I would like to comment on my expansion of awareness in global affairs and cultures of other people. Specifically, my most in-depth experience came about during my service outings to My Family Pantry through the Pre-Dental Club, which will continue into the foreseeable future until I graduate. At My Family Pantry, groceries are prepared and given to a diverse local community of Hispanic, African American, and Somali citizens that require assistance through meal plans. Most importantly, we get to live through the manner in which different cultures communicate with each other. I value these chances to talk and watch these different cultures deal with their own lives and adapt to the localities, and I plan to continue to learn about the values and interests of these people through service.

Next, I will discuss some of the inquiry-based efforts I have made throughout the school year to enrich my educational experiences. Primarily, my ability to explore topics through independent research has come through my time in Biology 3401 in my first semester, where we were tasked with exploring different symbioses and species of animals which could be used as mediums for delivering a more general and meaningful presentation about biological terms. In one example, my group investigated the validity of the claim that Airborne, the commonly advertised treatment for the cold, flu, or general immune system boosting, is actually effective. It was valuable to practice our research techniques and implement them in a way that will convince others of our conclusion.

At this point, I will very briefly discuss (as it is evidenced in my Honors Contract) my attempt to challenge myself thoroughly my academics and pursue excellence through coursework. Due to my goal of completing a Biology major and Business minor, I have incorporated plentiful 3000-level courses and above to meet requirements that will naturally challenge my ability to successfully understand and use difficult material.

Next, I will mention some of the activities that I have participated in to advance my leadership abilities from things as small as driving others to volunteering to something as important as running for leadership abilities in a club. Specifically, I am currently involved in the Pre-Dental Club at OSU and SEAD, which is a more service-based and minority representation-based club. Recently, I ran for the position of treasurer for the Pre-Dent Club, which is the largest undergraduate dental club at OSU, and while I was not successful, I was told by the current leadership and Graduate School Adviser Terry Porter that I gave an amazing speech and response to the questions. I was encouraged to continue my involvement in the club and run again after more than a year in the club so that I can have club experiences to back my passion. Furthermore, I am still in consideration for a position in SEAD, and even if I am not accepted for a leadership position, I plan to continue helping others and acting in a way that a leader would regardless of a specific title in a club.

Finally, as both SEAD and the Pre-Dental Club have an abundance of volunteering opportunities, I have been very involved in the local community. I have volunteered at OSU Dental Alumni Tailgate, My Family Pantry, Starhouse (another food pantry and clothing store for under-served communities), and the Boys and Girls Club of Columbus. Through these locations, I constantly strive to provide struggling people with an outlet to communicate and talk to others about their lives in any way they are comfortable, and to give back to the community through groceries, clothing, or simply my work and conversation.

Dr. Jason C. Slot Guest Lecture

Image result for podospora anserinaImage result for psilocybin phylogeny

On October 25th, 2018, Dr. Jason C. Slot, a fungal evolutionary genomics researcher, attended our Biology 3401 class to discuss his research and observations on the impact of analyzing the genomic information of distinct species to gain evolutionary information. Specifically, Dr. Slot delved into the two cases of the Podospora anserina and the Psilocybin mushrooms, which are both a type of fungus that display a level of horizontal gene transfer that illuminate phylogenetic information about their type of organism. While it will be elaborated upon, the awareness of the metabolic pathway gene transfer in Podospora anserina and the occurrence of unique gene clusters in Psilocybin mushrooms that do not correlate with close relatives can imply meaningful results in the presence of horizontal gene transfer (HGT).

First, it is important to note that the evolutionary history of Podospora anserina could not be understood to its greatest extent had it not been for the understanding of HGT, which is the “Duplication of genetic material from a genetic locus in one species to one in another species” (Slot 2018). After the analysis of the genes in the fungi, it was extraordinary to see that 14.5%of the horizontally transferred genes were determined to be genes responsible for secondary metabolite synthesis, transport, and catabolism (Slot 2018). Furthermore, a study done on Podospora anserina further concluded the fact that the necessity to metabolize from different complex carbon sources required horizontal gene transfer to form a dynamic evolutionary history of the fungi (Espagne et al. 2008). Moving onward to HGT, as it pertains to the specific mechanisms, it was vital that students understood the “selfish cluster hypothesis”, which communicated the idea that weakly selected genes can survive through the clustering of their gene with others to transfer to distinct species (Slot 2018). It is believed that the clustering is the reason that Psilocybin, which is a cluster of different chemicals, has been identified as a prevailing feature in mushrooms, due to its absence in close relatives signaling HGT in recent history to dung (why dung is preferred is still in question). Also, research done on HGT now extrapolates such results to challenge previous notions that eukaryotes could not observe HGT, as there has been increasing results suggesting the prevalence of this genetic transfer throughout the entire tree of life (Qiu et al. 2016). This allows us to be aware of the changing dynamics in evolutionary research, and the further finding will always enhance our understanding of the most core theorems and truths of biology.

While the information may have seemed daunting throughout the presentation, having to complete some independent research and analyze professional publications was an opportunity to digest material that was slightly beyond my understanding. Such work better prepares me for future endeavors in the scientific field, which requires that the populace of, in my case, dental professionals have the ability to collaborate with other people and to understand new studies done in the field, no matter the specific content’s relevance to your own work.

  1. Slot, Jason. 2018, October, 25. Reading the genomes of microorganisms to form ecological

and evolutionary hypotheses. Seminar presented at: Biology 3401, Ohio State     University. Columbus, Ohio.

  1. Espagne E et al. The genome sequence of the model ascomycete fungus Podospora anserina.

2008 May 6 [accessed 2018 Nov 1]. https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/gb-2008-9-5-r77

  1. Qiu H et al. Extensive horizontal gene transfers between plant pathogenic fungi. 2016 May

23 [accessed 2018 Nov 1]. https://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12915-016-0264-3

University Hospitals Volunteering as a Lecturer for Senior Patients

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Throughout the summer before my senior year of high school, including the entirety of my senior year, I volunteered at the Ahuja Medical Center and the Geauga Medical Center, which are University Hospitals locations in Northeast Ohio. As a part of the Age Well Be Well program, I was tasked with providing informational lectures on the basics of the internet, which included the following concepts: devising search terms, using the search bar, creating and accessing an email account, avoiding spam or scam emails, discerning viable online threats, and gaining access to technology and ultimately the internet. My role was that of the primary lecturer, so while other volunteers would peruse the room and help senior patients through the current objective, for example searching their favorite animal, I would communicate the information in a way that delivered the information in a manner that was clear and did not berate the limited knowledge of the patients. Having to teach an audience the basic structure of a resource that people of my generation use (sometimes exploit) with relative ease was an eye-opening opportunity to become aware of the necessity to consider the backgrounds and experiences of different people when interacting with them in a professional setting. As such, the enriching feeling of providing aid, in any form, to a collective that requires my specific take or knowledge of a certain topic or procedure was repeatedly fulfilling, and I look forward to continuing my ventures into volunteer opportunities that allow me to lighten the confusion or struggles of diverse groups of people. Appropriately, the patient-professional relationships is vital in the dental field, and I accordingly place great value in creating meaningful bonds with people now so that I can foster the development of myself in a way that best prepares for amicable and respectful interactions with patients.

Expectation of Dr. Jason C. Slot’s Guest Lecture

On October 25, 2018, Dr. Jason C. Slot will be visiting my Biology 3401 (Integrative Biology) class and giving a guest seminar with the following title, “Reading the genome of microorganisms to form ecological and evolutionary hypotheses”. The topic actually invites a peculiar view on the entire profession of dental, medical, and any form of health care, specifically in the necessity of understanding evolutionary changes in microorganisms, which is the topic of the seminar, but also of humans. Many of the biological studies done on animals, and some on humans, analyze microorganisms to evaluate key vectors of concern or safety towards the tested variables of that study, wherein results usually impact medicine development or treatments to ailments. An understanding of the evolution of microorganisms can facilitate the growth of a more detailed view on the future of public health and dental care, as well as create a more educated physician or dental professional community. Furthermore, the theoretical exploration into the evolutionary patterns of microorganisms can extend to the analysis of the development of human and animal features over time in response to external stimuli, and can help garner the propagation of ideas that aid professionals in examining patient history and explaining the presence of features that would not be easily understandable without proper historical context. A followup post will be created to reflect on the information from the seminar, and what lessons can be applied to dentistry specifically.

Onur Kardzhala’s OSU Freshman Year in Review

Recollecting all of the memories and experiences of my time at OSU during my first year, I have realized a heightened characterization of myself that expands upon previous preconceptions I had toward my own capabilities and future prospects. First and foremost, it is important to establish the foundation of my academic journey at OSU, which was primarily focused on an arrogant headfirst dive into mathematics, a strategy, that in hindsight, cleared my vision of my true interests in biology (more specifically dentistry). However, at the time, my commitment into advancing my knowledge of different fields and aspects of mathematics compelled me to visit several Reading Classics sessions hosted by Dr. Vitaly Bergelson, which were short lessons given my students and teachers about the historical context, as well as definitions and explanations, of popular mathematics theories and conjectures. Furthermore, I attended several Radical Pi meetings, which were guest lectures sponsored by the math department that taught interesting topics not covered by most university classes. Unfortunately, my effort to delve into mathematics quickly allowed me to realize that I didn’t feel a sincere connection with the content and applicability of what I was learning, and instead became enamored with the inquiry and experimental level knowledge required for my chemistry classes.

While mathematics was usually my most highly cherished academic subject, biology and chemistry had always been a close second only due to the restrictions on high school curricula with regard to the sciences. Although I was intently focused on academics and educational extracurriculars, I made time for a club called “OSU Tough Mudder”, which was an obstacle course racing club that allowed me to accomplish one of my goals of staying fit, as well as enjoying an opportunity to run a race in North Carolina. (Picture below shows me going through one of the obstacles)

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Returning to my development of interest in dentistry, it was actually a conversation I had with my parents, one of which is a dental hygienist, after completing my research project for Chemistry 1920H (please refer to the experience tab for more information) that allowed me to definitely decide upon my ideal future in dentistry. The research I began to conduct at the end of the year, which included medicine and law at the time, spurred me to pursue my addition to the Honors Collegium, a group that I believed could enhance my ability to make up for a year of purely exploratory education and begin working towards my career prospects. Learning of my acceptance over the summer, the strenuous journey of my first year came full circle, and I truly basked in the wide array of possibilities that I opened up by finally committing to a career that had been slowly gaining ground through my upbringing and experiences in volunteering. At this point, the focus now shifts to applying my newly developed drive towards dentistry in the specific course work I complete, the volunteering experiences I do, and the offices I seek to shadow and intern with during the summer and school season.

Sophomore-Year Introduction to Onur Kardzhala

Hello! After accumulating a wide array of academic knowledge and practical career information throughout my first year at The Ohio State University, I have determined that a career in Dentistry most closely aligns with the experiences I have been exposed to and the interests that motivate my personal determination and drive. My initial introduction to the dental field was actually at a very young age, as I would visit the dental office that my mother worked at quite frequently, which at the time was in the city of Budapest, Hungary. Since the days of adolescence, I have had the opportunity to observe the inner workings of dental offices that would normally occur unbeknownst to most patients, which in itself has given me a predisposition to entertain a career in dentistry.

Furthermore, having volunteered in multiple locations such as Ahuja Medical Center, Geauga Medical Center, Taste of Bainbridge (local restaurant endorsement event assisted by Kenston High School Math Club members), and Chagrin Valley Athletic Club, I have had the freedom to exercise my abilities in communicating to patients and those who rely on my knowledge to progress through the respective events. Not only have the different occasions of volunteering given me a chance to develop my skill in practical communication and leadership skills, but to also realize that I truly enjoy the action of serving any population of people that require guidance to improve their lives or progress through a desired activity or event.

Now, with a series of academic classes rigorously drilled into my toolbox of applicable resources and skills in real-world situations, I strive to continue applying myself to the search for opportunities to better the lives of others in some way, which I believe will require that I begin participating in Internships and Shadowing positions. Consequently, I am currently extending my reach to, and would be gracious to hear from, dental offices and clinics that require undergraduate Biology students, with a focus on Pre-Dental studies, who would learn valuable lessons only obtainable from the work in an actual dental environment.

Chemistry 1920H Research Project Approval and Completion

During the 2nd semester of my freshman year, I had the opportunity to develop a research project with a small group of 2 fellow chemistry students, 3 including myself. The objective was to conduct research that focused on the impact of perovskites, which are a class of chemical compounds with a similar structure to that of CaTiO₃ by definition, but more importantly possess favorable photovoltaic properties at a fraction of the cost of most prevailing silicon-based solar cells. Due to progressive developments in solar technology, with respect to the use of perovskites, the class tasked students with conducting research on how to possibly improve upon the leading compound in the world of perovskites, which is a methylammonium lead halide perovskite. As the chemical name so subtly suggests, there is a presence of lead in the most optimal solar cells that utilize perovskite technology, which poses an obvious toxicity hazard to people that handle the technicalities of installing the hardware to locations.

Faced with one of the first real-world applications of chemistry as a student, the entirety of the project was rewarding in its ability to foster the growth of independent creative thought, professional collaborative work, and production of feasible, or somewhat meaningful, results in a real laboratory environment. However, the difficulty of creating a scientific investigation into the future of solar cells was humbling, especially in the amount of individual research that was required to handle the information of the industry and implement relevant concepts into our project. Having struggled to establish a cohesive first draft, which was accepted without significant revisions, there was a notable feeling of excitement from the success, as well as the opportunity to work under our own initiative. Furthermore, completing the work and having the opportunity to present it to Dr. Moga and the entire lab group was an excellent experience in the communication of scientific research. Overall, the journey of experiment synthesis and completion was a useful foray into the complexities of working in the scientific community, and will serve to ground myself in the expectations of my future work in the technical field of dentistry. Finally, the presentation of my groups specific research will be provided in the form of a link at the bottom of this entry, wherein there are summarized descriptions of all the new experimental techniques our group learned and the results we calculated for analysis.

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First Semester at The Ohio State in Hindsight

As my first semester at The Ohio State University winds down, I have finally begun reflecting upon the numerous changes that I have encountered, whether in an academic, extracurricular, or social setting, and I can conclude that I have successfully overcome some my most fearfully anticipated challenges at college. Most importantly, the manner in which I faced the social aspect of college was the most surprising, mostly to myself, due to the fact that it marked a significant transition between the introverted lifestyle I led during high school and the noticeably more active effort of meeting people during college. Advertised as an all-encompassing experience, no student can venture through the long journey that is the college experience without dealing with the social aspect of communicating with other people and creating connections that extend past their education. Accordingly, I have taken an active role in solidifying my initial connections with all suite mates, and as many classmates and superiors as possible, in order to not only expand my capability to escape my comfort zone, but to also prepare for the practical communication-based nature of the work environment after college. Furthermore, my honed ability to value the respect-based relationships with other people has allowed for me to draw from the unique knowledge of all people I have met, which will be invaluable in my undergraduate experience, where any problem I have will most likely have a solution from one of the people I have built a connection with during my first semester. With respect to the aforementioned academic and extracurricular aspects of college, the prior commitments to education and extracurricular practices that I made before college have directly translated to a relatively easy management of my current priorities and responsibilities, and I eagerly await the opportunity to encounter the truly challenging course-work that defines the academic maturation of college students.

University Resources Commercial: University Disability Services

The attached link leads to a video that a group of Arts and Sciences Honors students and I completed for our freshman survey class. Tasked with creating a short commercial that outlined the general information pertaining to a specific resource on campus, our group devised the provided short commercial skit that provides the audience with an introduction on The Ohio State University’s Disability Services.

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