Second semester is already coming to a close, and it feels like I just embarked on my sophomore year at Ohio State. This university continues to surprise me every day. From the opportunities that I took advantage of to the skills I developed, here are the G. O. A. L. S. that comprised my sophomore year.

1. Global engagement: This May, I will be traveling out of the country for the first time on a May-mester to Cyprus about the geography of the European Union. I’m also the vice president of a cultural organization called Snehalaya that fundraises for women’s education in India. As I continue at Ohio State, I’m excited to see what other travel and educational opportunities await me.
2. Original Inquiry: As a sophomore, I’ve only recently begun to take upper-level courses. This spring I took my first advanced science course, Integrated Biology, and my first advanced English course, a special topics course in creative nonfiction. Apart from the increased workload, I am enjoying the opportunity to delve deeper into class subjects and have more meaningful discussions. I’m also involved in research with an emergency medicine doctor from my hometown, and I have been using the skills that I develop in my science classes to assist him in crafting, completing, and writing up studies.
3. Academic Enrichment: This year, I added my second major–english, with a creative writing concentration. It was certainly difficult to adjust to the courseload, but I find that the humanities and STEM complement each other in ways that I never would have expected. My Honors Contract illustrates my commitment to the pre-med track as well as my passion for creative writing, and my chosen GE courses are meant to strengthen either one of these or both.
4. Leadership Development: Last fall I participated in the ASC Peer Mentor program in which I attended survey class and mentored incoming freshmen. It was a wonderful, illuminating experience and one that I plan to repeat in the future. I understand the collaboration and mentoring that goes into a career in medicine, and my hope is that I can develop my leadership skills here and now in order to use them later. Also, as I mentioned above, I serve as the vice president for Snehalaya, a student organization on campus.
5. Service Engagement: Through the Choose Ohio First Scholarship, I have been participating in the WOW program. This volunteer opportunity takes me to local elementary schools where I teach children about scientific topics like magnets, conservation ecology, and the weather. It’s been incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to continuing next year in a leadership position. I’ve also been volunteering at my local hospital over the summer and plan to involve myself in volunteer opportunities at a health clinic in Columbus.