For my artifact for this school year, I have included a picture of me as a baby. I chose this picture since I made the switch to dentistry in order to help kids born with cranio-facial defects, namely cleft lips and palates, like what I was born with. This picture shows me prior to having my first surgery as a baby. Having been born with this, I spent a good amount of time as a kid in doctor’s offices and becoming close to the dentists, orthodontists, and surgeons who helped to repair it and who strived to make it so I could have as normal a life as possible. As I continue my undergraduate career and then hopefully dental school and beyond, I will always be reminded of the impact these individuals had on me and use that to have the same impact on others. My experiences have taught me to overcome obstacles and to never let anyone tell you otherwise. 
Month: April 2021
Class Review
One class that has had a great impact on me in my two years here at OSU would have to be organic chemistry 1. This class, while being very challenging, allowed me to learn how to problem solve and also how to prepare better. Prior to this class, I was used to just taking notes and that would be the end of my involvement with a class. OChem showed me that I had to practice with the concepts I learned and be aware that everything builds off of the previous content. OChem 1 laid a very solid groundwork for me as I took OChem 2 and OChem 1 Lab this semester. My next steps for learning will include taking OChem 2 lab this fall and also studying for the DAT this summer, which I feel as though my classes here have prepared me very well for the organic chemistry portion of the test.
Second Year Reflection
This semester and school year have gone by very quickly and it is hard to believe that I am now halfway done with my undergraduate career. COVID produced numerous challenges this year, especially in regards to my learning. Online classes took time to get used to and even after a year of them, I still do not enjoy them as much as having in person lectures and labs. One silver lining from all of this is that I have been able to grow and mature with my studies. Online classes have helped me to be more organized and have better time management. It has also taught me to not take things for granted since I have been able to see just how quickly life can change. Going into my third year, I am beginning to get into my specialization more and have been able to pick more classes that interest me, rather than just pre-reqs and gen eds.
Statement of Action
My two years here at Ohio State have flown by and I have grown greatly thus far. In my two remaining years here on campus, I plan to become as involved as possible and also make myself the best applicant for dental school. This fall, I will be taking the DAT and then continue to complete my pre-req courses and help build my app with shadowing, volunteering, and leadership experiences. In addition to making myself the best candidate for a dental school, I also wish to step out of my comfort zone and take advantage of all of the opportunities that are available to me as an OSU student. This help to make me more well-rounded and also allow me to find new subjects or hobbies that may pique my interest.