Month: August 2019

Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both 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.
  • Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]

Academic Resources at Ohio State

Math has never been a subject that I have considered my strong suit. I have always had to work significantly harder to get the grade I wanted in my math courses compared to my other subjects. Throughout high school I had classes that were very small and catered to each student’s needs. I received the support I needed in the classroom and had never needed to seek out academic support elsewhere. When I was having problems with a subject, I would watch online videos or simply ask my teacher for help. So naturally when it came time for college courses to begin, I was very nervous about large lectures and confusing recitations. 

At the beginning of this semester, my Math 1151 course had become overwhelmingly hard for me and I had begun to panic and dread going to class. I was receiving terrible grades on assignments and I wasn’t sure how to fix that. Fortunately, I had talked with one of the older students on my floor about my calculus troubles and she highly recommended that I visit the Math and Statistics Learning Center. While I was very nervous to go to the MSLC, my friend and I decided to try it together and now the MSLC is our favorite resource on campus. Going with a friend to the MSLC at first was beneficial because I saw that I wasn’t the only person struggling in calculus which in turn helped me to be more confident about seeking academic support. Now I have a small group of friends that I go to the MSLC and work on homework with. 

The MSLC tutors are phenomenal and help me not only get problems correct, but they also help me to understand the material in a way that makes me confident in my calculus abilities. At the MSLC, I typically begin by working on a homework assignment and then if I’m having trouble with a question, I’ll let one of the tutors know and they work with me until I fully understand the concept. Other times, I will bring in my graded quizzes and the tutors help me correct my mistakes and give me advice on how to format my work better in order to receive more credit. By learning from my mistakes instead of just being upset about the grade I receive, I have felt much more prepared for assessments and as a result I have performed significantly better on them. 

I recommend the MSLC to every student struggling in a math course. So many people at Ohio State have never needed academic support before and as a result they’re unsure about how to get the tutoring or assistance they need. The MSLC is amazing because students can receive tutoring from their peers, something much less daunting than going to office hours to meet with a professor. The MSLC has helped me learn that I don’t need to rely on just myself to succeed. I now understand that I need to advocate for myself and seek out the resources that will help me to succeed.

 

About Me

My name is Meghan Kessinger and I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio, where I attended Beaumont School for high school. I am currently earning my Bachelors of Science in Medical Anthropology at The Ohio State University. I am on the pre-med track and in the future I plan to attend medical school and specialize in urology.

During my four years at Ohio State, I want to be a well-rounded student that is academically focused and involved on campus. I am currently a member of the club swimming team which fosters friendship through physical activity. I also plan on applying to become a member of the Student Alumni Council because of my deep appreciation for the alumni of Ohio State. While in college, I plan to continue to volunteer as a Eucharistic Minister and join the American Medical Women’s Association. I am very excited to explore and experience the countless opportunities that The Ohio State University has to offer.