The Ohio State Honors and Scholars Program encourages its students to embrace diversity in any aspect, and the program cultivates learning communities in order to allow students to experience diverse situations both academically and socially. This Honors and Scholars program helps students gain involvement in out G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement.
Global Awareness
To me, Global Awareness is learning about diverse cultures in order to gain a better understanding of communities worldwide. In an attempt to gain global awareness, I plan to do a study abroad the summer after my sophomore year in Copenhagen, Denmark where I will get to explore a different culture and way of life for 6 weeks. Furthermore, I plan on taking more sociology and folklore classes to see how society and tradition change in different regions of the world.
Original Inquiry
Original Inquiry is my drive to conduct research and explore the health field in a more impactful way. My Biology 1113 had research incorporated into the lab where we spent the semester studying bacteriophages, and my Greek Folklore class required me to conduct an interview and write a research paper based on a specific Greek tradition which gave me experiences in two different research perspectives. I hope to gain the opportunity to research in a lab at some point in my undergraduate career.
Academic Enrichment
Academic Enrichment is my passion for learning and taking on the challenges that a prehealth coursework involves. As a Health Sciences major, I am able to garner knowledge in the health field but also its business aspect. Though I have not yet chosen a minor, I am interested in Neuroscience as it is extremely interesting to me and will give me the challenge I need to succeed. I had the chance to interview my TA from our seminar class, Kelly Dubay, who just answered some questions for me and gave me much appreciated advice. I am currently pre-optometry and that was how Kelly started her undergrad but later switched to pre-med. We talked about what we both liked and respected about the Optometry field and her opinions on why she preferred medicine. Furthermore, she was obviously very in love with her major- Neuroscience- which got me thinking about the opportunity to minor in Neuroscience. Kelly gave me advice on classes, when to take them and how to do well in them, and overall reassured me that I was doing fine and have plenty of time to decide what my options for my future are.
Leadership Development
Leadership Development is how I apply myself in the different organizations on campus in order to better my education outside the classroom. Freshman year I was a member of Medlife on campus where we focused on Medicine and Education abroad, I am part of a Greek culture club– Sigma Epsilon Phi– in which I connect with people who share my culture and we focused our efforts on providing for our philanthropy, and I am a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. I have been an active member in each since my freshman year. Fall semester of my Sophomore year I became a TA for the HSS Seminar class and this allowed me to have a leadership role within my scholar’s community.
Service and Engagement
Service and Engagement are how I give back to my community. Both Sigma Epsilon Phi and my sorority Kappa Alpha Theta provide short-term service opportunities, but for two years now I have volunteered in the Restful Nights program at The James Cancer Hospital. My work as a Restful Nights volunteer at The James is extremely meaningful to me and gives me the feeling that I am actually contributing to my community. I plan on continuing this position during the rest of my four years at Ohio State because the Restful Nights program gives me the opportunity to connect with patients by giving them my time and the chance for them to have someone to talk to during their stay at the hospital.