Year in Review

3/28/19. As the end of sophomore year approaches, it is time to reflect on my GOALS and the steps I’ve taken toward achieving them this year.

Global Awareness – To expand my worldview this year, I took Honors Intro to Sociology, which complements some of my previous GEs like Honors Russian Literature and Honors Intro to Religious Studies. In the future, I’m also interested in taking a history class about witchcraft in Europe.

Original Inquiry – Since last May, I’ve been working with Dr. Christine Thomas in her laboratory investigating transition metal complexes with potential for useful catalysis. During this time, I’ve learned about organic and inorganic chemistry, how to carry out some reactions, and how to function in a glovebox. Perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned about the nature of research, including its pace and frustrations. This summer, I will be participating in the Amgen Scholars program at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where I hope to continue to learn about the nature of research and explore another potential career path.

Academic Enrichment – I’ve continued to load up on honors classes, including honors courses in psychology, sociology, organic chemistry, and analytical chemistry. Many of these GEs are important to my major and/or to applying to MD/PhD programs after undergrad. In addition, I’ve committed to undertaking a few minors. The first, a music minor, reflects my interest in classical music, particularly for the piano. This minor also shows my interest outside of the science world. The second, a biology minor, is more a complement to courses for which I already have credit – I only need to take two more courses to earn the minor.

Leadership Development – My primary leadership experience has been my time in the OSU Marching Band. I’ll be honest, my first year in band was extremely confusing, hectic, and draining. Thankfully, I had the friendship and guidance of veteran band members to ease my transition into band and my freshman year of college as a whole. This year, I got to step into the shoes of the older members, teaching this year’s first-years how to survive band and school. Over the summer, I also got to teach candidates the fundamentals of our marching style at summer sessions and answered questions about the band and School of Music for incoming freshman and their families at orientations.

Service Engagement – This is the area in which I could improve the most; my experiences this year were primarily through the marching band. We’ve done various service activities throughout the year, such as working with student musicians from the School for the Blind and meeting with young patients and families from NC4K. In the future, I should make an attempt to actively seek out more service activities outside of band.

G.O.A.L.S.

G: Global Awareness – I intend to take classes that examine cultures with which I am not very familiar, like the Honors Russian Literature class I’m in right now. I’m also considering study abroad, but I don’t know if I’ll have the time or want to pay a large sum of money to do it.

O: Original Inquiry – I want to get to know my major professors better, whether that be through reading about their research or through talking to them personally at their office hours. Once I’ve established relationships with them, their guidance in conjunction with guidance from my major advisor will likely help get me into a chem lab.

A: Academic Enrichment – I plan to consistently take a full schedule of classes. This semester, I’m a member of the TBDBITL, or the OSU Marching Band, which has given me plenty of musical exposure. Next semester, when I have more time on my hands, I should be able to become involved with academic groups. like the Chemistry and Biochemistry Club or American Chemical Society Buckeye Chapter. Right now, I’m planning on doing music minor to supplement my major and GE coursework, though I’m considering other minors as well.

L: Leadership Development – As a first year student, I don’t see a lot of ways for me to be an active leader right now. Also, given my busy schedule with band this semester, I wouldn’t want to try to lead a club half-heartedly. In the future, I will likely become a leader in marching band and whatever other clubs I may join.

S: Service Engagement – There are all sorts of community service clubs and opportunities on campus. Since I’m registered as pre-health, I also receive constant email updates with all sorts of opportunities. I may also look into joining Kappa Kappa Psi, the band honorary fraternity, which does service for both the band and the the larger community.

 

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.   For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Artifacts

[Artifacts are the items you consider to be representative of your academic interests and achievements. For each entry, include both an artifact and a detailed annotation.  An annotation is a reflective description of the artifact that attempts to communicate its significance.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

About Me

[Your “About Me” is an introduction and should provide insight into who you are as a person and a learner.  This should include a picture of you that is appropriate in a professional/academic context. This information should be continually updated.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio.  Delete these instructions and add your own post.]