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

Global Awareness

The primary way I have developed my global awareness is by studying abroad last summer in Finland and Estonia. I learned an incredible amount about life in Northern Europe. My progress in developing as a global citizen took place in three primary ways. First, I understood how every country has something to offer to the global society. Second, I developed a deep appreciation for the uniqueness of every culture, which manifests in the people, their natures, the language, the food, and the arts. Third, I realized that most people are truly curious, and we all want to learn about the world and other cultures. With patience, we can do that. Global understanding of each other will improve relations, correct stereotypes, help define morals, and contribute to creating a more just, peaceful, and prosperous world.

I plan to continue to work towards the goal of global awareness by participating in various cultural organizations and events (for example, events hosted by Muslim Students Association, Asian American Association, etc.). Additionally, I hope to go on an international mission trip at some point with my campus church H2O. 

Original Inquiry

 I have explored the research process during a perovskite solar cell research project in my Chemistry 1920H class. I learned how to utilize the scientific literature, search databases, interpret articles, and synthesize my own ideas. I learned a lot about the specific topic of perovskite solar cells and grew to empathize with the patience and persistence fundamental to research.

I shadowed several research labs during Summer 2017, and at the start of Fall semester 2017, I joined a lab studying RNA aptamers as a therapeutic for stroke. I developed several lab techniques and animal handling skills. However, the lab did not end up being a good fit for me, and thus I decided to change directions with my research pursuits. I found my interests were more centered in molecular cardiology.

I had a plan to begin research in molecular cardiology at the beginning of Spring 2018, but unfortunately plans did not work out. I continued to diligently pursue opportunities throughout this semester, but all to no avail. It has been very discouraging to be so passionate and yet not find an avenue to bring that passion into realization. I continue to seek out an opportunity to research in molecular cardiology, and I dearly hope to begin work on a project this summer. I have lofty goals with research—pursuing an honors thesis, seeking to become published, and presenting research at many forums—and I am eager to have the opportunity to begin working towards them. 

Academic Enrichment

As long as I can remember, the human body has fascinated me. Growing up in a household where both my parents work in the medical field, I was given a tremendous resource for my curious mind. As I grew older and took more advanced science courses, I was drawn into the science of how life and the human body function at the molecular level. Truly, the human body is an incredible system. At the smallest level, chemical interactions drive the body functions. Like workers who control our society, molecules allow our bodies to function. I love chemistry and biology, but what I love most is where they overlap. It is astounding to think that four macromolecules—proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids—can serve as the foundation upon which life is built. It is for these reasons that I chose to study biochemistry.

Throughout my Honors Contract, I have created a program of study that challenges me not only to a great extent in my major, but also across many disciplines. I highly value the philosophy of a liberal arts education, because I feel that a well-rounded education is necessary for me to understand the world and become a better person. As a result, I have a plan that has me taking rigorous courses in a broad range of subjects. I do not plan on minoring, because that will allow me to take more courses in a broader range of subjects.

Outside of my major, I am excited to learn about subjects in the social sciences such as sociology, psychology, and economics, because these courses will give me insight into how people and nations interact, and furthermore how that drives people’s actions.  I also look forward to my Shakespeare literature class. My History of Art class examining art from the Renaissance to the present has been one of my favorite classes so far. These classes in the humanities will help me develop a sense of the things that make us human. I think that this understanding will be critical as I pursue a career in medicine, because I need to stay aware of the humanistic side of medicine along with the scientific side.

My course selections go far beyond the minimum requirements because I want to challenge myself and receive a great education in a broad range of fields. I am selecting honors or upper-level classes whenever possible. Additionally, although I have a lot of AP credit, I am limiting my use of it (especially in the sciences) because I want to make sure I have a firm foundation in these areas. The foundational science courses (chemistry, biology, physics) are the foundation for all of my higher-level coursework in these areas, so I wanted to make sure I have a deep and comprehensive understanding.

While the minimum number of credit hours for graduation is 121, I have a plan that includes 161 hours. Taking this into account, as well as the reflection I wrote about above, I feel that I have demonstrated a profound commitment to the goal of Academic Enrichment.

Leadership Development

I am heavily involved with H2O church. I serve as a small group leader as well as a greeter at Sunday services. Through these roles I have definitely grown as a leader by means of learning to be perceptive to the needs of others, developing empathy, and improving my reflective listening skills. This summer I plan to participate in a Leadership Training program through H2O, which will help me grow in character, biblical understanding, and leadership. With regards to my career goals, small group leading and the Leadership Training program will equip me to become a doctor fully prepared to engage with the humanistic aspect of medicine. Traits and skills such as compassion, empathy, reflective listening, and the ability to draw others out in conversation in a way that is nonjudgmental will be incredibly valuable to me as a doctor. This year I have also been involved with Mirrors Sophomore Class honorary, ENCompass, Honors Collegium, and intramural soccer. These experiences have all provided me with valuable leadership experience. Some of the things I have learned are how to take initiative, effectively communicate, and utilize everyone’s ideas for casting vision. My main goal in my leadership development is growing as a servant leader, because I truly believe that leadership is about serving those one leads and raising them up to be future leaders themselves.

Service Engagement 

I have participated in Community Engagement days with H2O Church at places like The Bridge refugee center. This past spring break I went to Houston, TX to serve those affected by Hurricane Harvey. I have volunteered at one of the free clinics in Columbus and with the organization ENCompass, helping connect impoverished individuals to crucial resources. Beginning in August 2017, I have been volunteering at The James Cancer Hospital with the Restful Nights program. I plan to continue volunteering with the James and participating in service projects with H2O. In the future I would also like to do more work with mentoring and/or inspiring and equipping high school students.

Finland and Estonia: An Exploration of Public Health Initiatives and Developing into a Global Citizen

At the beginning of this summer I embarked on amazing journey. During the month of May, I participated in the Public Health Perspectives: Finland and Estonia education abroad program. It was an incredible experience. I was able to visit some amazing places, meet wonderful people, and learn a ton. When I embarked on the journey about a month ago, I was ready for anything, but I was not exactly sure of what all was going to happen. Now, I look back with fond memories of all that happened. I stepped out into new horizons (literally embarking on a new one when I turned 19 in the middle of the program) and grew in more ways than one. I want to take some time now to reflect on this experience and how it has impacted me.

Taking our OSU spirit everywhere – even in Jyväskyä, Finland

In what ways have I changed as a person?

I think the main way that I have changed as an individual is that I have developed greater independence. I felt a real sense of independence while abroad, and I have a confidence that I can take care of myself on my own. I have a desire to learn about the world, but not simply in a sight-seeing tourist kind of way. I want to experience the culture, form friendships with the people, and grasp the lifestyle of other countries. Finally, I have a greater appreciation for foreign cultures. I not only have greater empathy, but I also have an ardor for learning about them, embracing what they have to teach me.

Tallinn, Estonia
My independence grew as I navigated through every challenge (like finding my way through a foreign city!)

How did I take steps toward becoming a global citizen? Did I grow in being able to appreciate other cultures and relating to those who are different from me?

I feel like I definitely took steps in developing into a global citizen. Being in Finland and Estonia, I now have a better sense of life in Northern Europe. I understand the reserved nature of the Finns and their love for saunas. I know about the emphasis they place on nature and physical education. I understand the Soviet history in Estonia, their massive reform, advancements in technology and developing a digital society, and social problems. I have a better sense of how other countries can contribute to our world’s development as a global society. For example, the Finns have a great educational system, efficient methods for assessing national health, and are a noble, well-functioning welfare state. Estonia has made great advancements in creating a digital society. They will (hopefully) be a paperless society by 2050. The takeaway from all this is that countries can learn from each other. We are all different, and thus come up with different ideas. Through collaboration, open-mindedness, and creativity, we can make tremendous advancements as a global society.

The Estonian Biobank in Tartu, Estonia

I feel like I am definitely better at appreciating other cultures and relating to those who are different from me. Our differences make us unique, and uniqueness is what makes this life interesting. My favorite part of the trip was interacting with local people. I think this was mainly because through these interactions, I was able to learn about them, their values, their personalities, and culture, and their country. I have developed a great appreciation for other languages. That is an integral part of culture. I think languages are beautiful because they are truly the most amazing testament to being able to solve a problem in more ways than one.

I had patience on this trip, and I think patience is key to being able to relate to each other. Working with differences is not necessarily easy, but through patience great outcomes can result. It is important we engage with the global world. We need to open our eyes to what lies beyond our horizon, because new horizons will enable us to create a more beautiful painting. So, to conclude, my steps in becoming a global citizen took shape in several primary ways:

  • Understanding that every country has something to offer to the global society
  • Developing a deep appreciation for the uniqueness of every culture, which manifests in the people, their natures, the language, the food, and the arts
  • Realizing that most people are truly curious, and we all want to learn about the world and other cultures. With patience, we can do that. Global understanding of each other will improve relations, correct stereotypes, help define morals, and contribute to creating a more just, peaceful, and prosperous world.

How might the things I learned make me a better doctor?

The empathy and patience I developed will definitely help me in patient interactions. The leadership skills I developed (taking initiative, being bold and courageous, and having an open mind) will help me as I will likely be in charge of others. The perspective on healthcare I gained will allow me to be an advocate for improving the system in the US. Finally, the background with public health I gained will give me another avenue through which to seek to improve my patients’ health.

What did I learn about socialized medicine?

I learned the government can fund national health care (via higher taxes). According to recent data from the WHO, health outcomes in countries with socialized medicine (ex. Finland and Estonia) are comparable to those in the US. However, overall spending is dramatically lower in countries with socialized medicine. This is due in part to a focus on primary care (over specialized care) when all people are given ready access to healthcare. Prevention is strongly emphasized. The main benefit (in my opinion) of socialized medicine is that the stress of not having the money to pay is alleviated. That stress in itself can lead to adverse health outcomes. Obviously, socialized medicine is easier with a smaller population. You do not necessarily have as much choice, but in my opinion I do not think that’s a huge deal. I learned that the downsides are people taking advantage of the system (mainly, that is in the form of medications). However, I think doctors could play a role in fixing that problem by having greater discretion in writing prescriptions. People in the US don’t want to have to pay so others can be lazy and take advantage. However, other parts of society are technically socialized. Just look at infrastructure, military, post office, etc. People don’t throw fits about those institutions. Thus, I think a big problem in the US is people looking at socialized medicine the wrong way. So, do I think socialized medicine is better? Yes. Is it possible in the US? Not at the moment. There is too much polarization and political rancor for such legislation to be passed.

How can healthcare in the US be improved?

This is still a tough question to answer, but I can give some insight based off of what I learned in Europe. Throughout Scandinavia (and a good portion of Europe, I learned), universal healthcare is provided free through the government. Yes, taxes are higher, but in the long run money is saved because people have better access to healthcare. People admit that they seem to take it for granted, but in truth people in Europe don’t worry about healthcare, because it is a service provided by the government just like infrastructure is. The main difference I came to realize is that in Scandinavia, society’s outlook is just different from the US. They value making sure everyone is taken care of. That is the well-functioning welfare state. The core ideology is different from the US. They don’t want their citizens left groveling in search of healthcare. What matters for one person matters for the whole society. In the US, society has become so individualized, healthcare has been so privatized, and people are confused about how to solve the problems. Obviously, big differences are in part to the much larger population of the US. The task of socializing medicine in the US would be enormous. However, I like to be an optimist, so I ask: What can be done? I think there are some small steps that can be taken to improving the US healthcare system. First, I think more commonality needs to exist for the EMRs. While it might be difficult to implement a national system, I do think it might be possible to establish state-wide systems. If we could at least get universal access to the EMRs throughout each state, I think that would be a step in the right direction. Second, we need drug company reform. Drug prices can be outrageous. Third, I think somehow we need to create national health care. The amount of money we spend on healthcare versus the country’s health outcomes reveals the poor state that our country is in.

How has my perception of the United States changed?

I am and will always be thankful for our freedom. However, there are many ways I now see that the US can improve. First, I feel that things in the US are heavier, bigger, and weigh us down. This is mainly in the form of food and traffic. I wish we had better public transportation. I am bugged now by how many semi-trucks we have on the road. I am also frustrated with the stubbornness of the US to radical change. I think personalized medicine, biobank, universal healthcare, and national IT infrastructure would be great for our country, but it is just too difficult to get such a large population on board with anything. On a positive note, I am glad we see a much greater degree of religion in the US, esp. compared to Finland and Estonia. There, so many of the churches are just historic and tourist sites. The real church does not seem vibrant. Although it may not exactly be vibrant in the US either, the church at least seems a lot more present.

Closing thoughts:

My time abroad was one filled with adventure, excitement, amazing people, and fascinating ideas. I’m incredibly grateful to OSU to have had this opportunity. Being back on campus, I’m excited to see what directions this experience might take me in and how it will give me a new lens through which to look at the world. So, until the next adventure, näkemiin (goodbye – Finnish), and kena päeva (have a nice day – Estonian)!

Our group at the Petäjävesi Old Church in Finland

Perovskite Solar Cells: An Introduction to Research

In the wee hours of the morning, I pour over the literature on perovskite solar cells. After two hours of searching, I finally come across a paper that sparks an idea. We develop a proposal, but that idea gets shut down due to lack of resources. Back to the drawing board, we develop a new proposal, hoping this time to have an effective plan to make a discovery.

This is a glimpse of my laboratory experience in Chemistry 1920H.  This semester, we had the opportunity to work on a semester-long research project related to perovskite solar cells. The first part of the semester was spent on learning relevant ideas and experiments, such as X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy, synthesizing relevant compounds, and fabricating a solar cell. In addition, we learned about how to investigate the literature on the topic.

Learning about perovskite solar cells was very cool, and I loved diving into the project. However, like in many experiences in life, this project was fraught with challenges. First, as I mentioned earlier, we had to redo and revise our proposal multiple times. When we had what seemed like a great idea, we had to make adjustments due to considerations of time and resource restraints. Eventually, our finalized proposal was based on investigating the effect of humidity on bromide and iodide perovskite solar cells. Once our project began, we ran into obstacles such as materials not being available on the day we needed and rushing to finish experiments by the deadlines we set. Along the way, we had to continue to make revisions to our project design. At the end of our project we had more challenges facing us, such as the lack of a control group (due to supplies failing in the fabrication process) and obtaining puzzling data.

Although we had many obstacles, the project was indeed a learning process, and I took a lot away from it. First, I gained an understanding of utilizing the scientific literature on a topic. I grew in my ability to search databases, interpret articles, and synthesize my own ideas. Second, I learned a lot about a specific area of science: perovskite solar cells. I loved getting to level of knowledge where I could begin synthesizing new things from the background of knowledge I had gained throughout the semester. Third, I learned a ton about the process of research. I can now empathize with researchers and the patience they must have. I have an idea of the dynamic nature of the research process, adjusting projects along the way as new things come up. Finally, I got to see the scientific method in practice, and this helped to ingrain in me the methodology behind how science works.

I am very grateful to my TAs and professor, Dr. Gustafson, for all of their guidance throughout this project. Although I might not be doing further perovskite solar cell research in the future, I did realize from this project that the process of research, though requiring patience and persistence, can be very rewarding. I loved the feeling of taking a project with my own hands and synthesizing the ideas and methods around it. I will seek out a research lab to work in, and aim to make a meaningful discovery. I’ve had a glimpse of this in Chem 1920H, and I’m excited to get running with it in my future.

About Me

Hello, my name is Nathan Kudlapur. As long as I can remember, the human body has fascinated me. Growing up in a household where both my parents work in the medical field, I was given a tremendous resource for my curious mind. As I grew older and took more advanced science courses, I was drawn into the science of how life and the human body function at the molecular level. There is a beauty in the foundation upon which life is built, and I seek to experience this beauty in all of its forms.

To that end, I am pursuing a degree in biochemistry at The Ohio State University while on a pre-med track. I am currently in my second year. I am a small group leader for H2O Church, where I get to share my faith with others and help them grow in theirs. Additionally, I am a volunteer at The James Cancer Hospital where I get to engage with my passion of relationally building into patients. Apart from these interests, I also enjoy playing soccer and tennis, practicing the classical guitar, and exploring national parks.

G.O.A.L.S.

GLOBAL AWARENESS

I aim to become a global citizen, and consequently I plan to shape my experience here at Ohio State to help me attain that goal. To that end, I will take courses that will give me greater perspective of the world, such as Anthropology 2202H and History of Art 2002H. I also plan to study abroad. I would like to go on a trip that explores public health. Through that experience, I would gain a greater understanding of global public health and ways in which the U.S. healthcare system can be improved. If possible, I would also like to go on another trip that really immerses me in another culture. Through that experience I hope to learn how our culture is similar and different from other cultures, and furthermore how diversity can be used as a catalyst for success.

 

ORIGINAL INQUIRY

In order to have the original inquiry experience at Ohio State, I plan to become extensively involved in undergraduate research. I will either do research in biochemistry or through the medical center, in some field of biomedical research. Research will allow me to self-direct my learning, as I develop my own procedures and experiments. I will no doubt encounter many problems, but I will have the opportunity to find solutions to them as I am guided by mentors in the lab. Depending on how I feel about research once I begin, I may decide to complete a research thesis, in which case I would become even more deeply invested in the original inquiry goal.

 

ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT

Through my Academic Plan and Honors Contract, I will create a program of study that challenges me not only to a great extent in my major, but also across many disciplines. I highly value the philosophy of a liberal arts education, because I feel that a well-rounded education is necessary for me to understand the world and become a better person. As a result, I plan to take rigorous courses in a broad range of subjects. I am leaning towards not choosing a minor, because that will allow me to take more courses in a broader range of subjects. My biochemistry major will provide me a very in-depth education in the field of biochemistry.

Outside of my major, I am excited to learn about subjects in the social sciences such as sociology, cultural anthropology, and economics, because these courses will give me insight into how people and nations interact, and furthermore how that drives people’s actions.  I also look forward to my Shakespeare literature class and History of Art class examining art from the Renaissance to the present. These classes in the humanities will help me develop a sense of the things that make us human. I think that this understanding will be critical as I pursue a career in medicine, because I need to stay aware of the humanistic side of medicine along with the scientific side.

My course selections go far beyond the minimum requirements because I want to challenge myself and receive a great education in a broad range of fields. I am selecting honors or upper-level classes whenever possible. Additionally, although I have a lot of AP credit, I am limiting my use of it (especially in the sciences) because I want to make sure I have a firm foundation in these areas. The foundational science courses (chemistry, biology, physics) will serve as the foundation for all of my higher-level coursework in these areas, so I want to make sure I have a deep and comprehensive understanding.

 

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The main extracurricular I have been involved with this semester is H2O Church. I plan to stay heavily involved with H2O and eventually take leadership positions, such as a small group leader. I participated in intramural soccer this semester, and I look forward to doing other intramural sports in the future. I can seek ways to lead through my research and volunteering. Finally, I am looking for one other club to become heavily involved with. That club could possibly be Action Against Hunger, and I will see as it begins next semester. In any case, I plan to be devoted to the clubs I’m involved in and take leadership roles.

 

SERVICE ENGAGEMENT

I highly value service. I feel that it is a prominent way in which I can “make sure it mattered that I was even here,” as I learned from reading The Other Wes Moore. Service is a way of giving back to the community. In doing so, I am able to use the gifts and talents I have been blessed with to better the lives of others. I plan to volunteer at the nearby medical centers, such as the Wexner Medical Center, James Cancer Hospital, and the free clinics. I also would like to become involved in service that focuses on ending world hunger. I seek to become involved in the club Action Against Hunger, and this involvement will help me reach that goal. Finally, at some point I would like to go on an abroad service trip. I do not yet know details about that experience, but I do know that it is something that I want to pursue.