Sophomore Year:

G.O.A.L.S.

Global Awareness:

In order to expand my global awareness and develop my cultural knowledge, I am minoring in Spanish. Through my Spanish minor, I have had the opportunity to take multiple courses that enriched my cultural awareness, including a class focusing specifically on the culture of Spain. I have also taken courses in cultural anthropology and sociology, both of which focused on cultural and social diversity. Over the summer, I worked at a YMCA residential summer camp in which many of my coworkers were from other countries, including Brazil, South Africa, Scotland, Wales, Australia, and England. This experience allowed me to significantly increase my cultural competence through collaboration with those from completely different backgrounds and cultures than my own. This summer, I plan to study abroad in Barcelona where I will be taking courses in Spanish history, art, and architecture. I will fully immerse myself in the Catalan culture by living with a host family, and hope that this experience helps me in further developing my global awareness and appreciation for the Spanish culture.

Original Inquiry:

I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to learn about the process of research in several different fields through the courses that I have taken so far in my undergraduate career. Through the integrated biology, psychology, cultural anthropology, and sociology courses that I have taken, I have gained some knowledge about the differences between the research processes that occur in these different fields. The sociology course that I took allowed me to experience sociological research by conducting a content analysis of messages regarding race, gender, and social class in popular children’s toys. I also was able to participate as a research subject in ongoing experiments through the psychology and communications departments, giving me insight into the research processes of these fields. I plan to continue to work toward this goal by becoming involved in microbiology research.

Academic Enrichment:

I am challenging myself to fulfill this goal of academic enrichment by majoring in biology with a pre-med specialization and obtaining a minor in Spanish. This major allows me to challenge myself by taking upper-level science courses including biochemistry, molecular genetics, and microbiology. I believe that a major in biology will assist in preparing me for medical school by allowing me to develop my skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and scientific inquiry, as well as gaining the necessary basic scientific knowledge. I am pursuing academic enrichment by taking honors general education classes in various fields, which have challenged me to deepen my knowledge in subjects outside of the physical and biological sciences. I chose to minor in Spanish because I love learning and speaking the language and developing my knowledge of other cultures. By minoring in Spanish, I am also challenging myself to develop global awareness and analyze problems from a different perspective.

Leadership Development:

I have become involved in a few student organizations on campus that have helped me to develop my skills as a leader. I am a member of the marketing committee in Mirrors Sophomore Class Honorary. Through this organization, I have worked on becoming a better leader by planning events on campus. With the collaboration of the other Mirrors members, I helped plan a gala benefiting the James Cancer Hospital. I am also a volunteer trainer for 4 Paws for Ability, an organization that places service dogs with children and veterans with disabilities. In addition to socializing the service dogs in training, a large part of my role in this organization is spreading awareness about service dogs and the impact that they can have in an individual’s life. I continue to develop my leadership skills in this organization by talking to individuals on and off campus who approach me wanting to pet the service dog that I am handling at the time. Educating people about the roles and regulations of service dogs has allowed me to acquire more confidence in my abilities as a leader. Additionally, working at a YMCA summer camp had a large impact on my skills as a leader. As a residential camp counselor, I lead groups of children in various activities and learning experiences throughout the summer. This role taught me how important it is for children to have positive role models in their lives. Through working with my coworkers and the children that attended the camp, I developed a better idea of the characteristics of a good leader and recognized ways in which I can implement these skills in my life to achieve my personal goals.

Service Engagement:

I have become fairly involved in volunteering with the James Cancer Hospital through my second year at Ohio State. A service organization I am involved in, Mirrors Sophomore Class Honorary, volunteers at and raises money for the James. I have been a volunteer in the surgical visitors’ lounge at the James for two semesters, and plan to continue volunteering at the James throughout the rest of my undergraduate career. This volunteer position has allowed me to work with the families of patients, patient experience staff, and nurses at the James to improve the overall experience of the James patients. I have also volunteered in making tie blankets and ostomy pouch covers for the patients of the James. Additionally, I am a volunteer trainer for 4 Paws for Ability. I assist in the basic training of and socialization of service dogs in training, as well as spreading education about service dogs and the mission of 4 Paws for Ability. As a member of Hall Council for my dorm, I also have helped plan a nursing home pen-pals program and a volunteer event at a local food pantry. I plan to continue my involvement at the James Cancer Hospital and with 4 Paws for Ability, and hope to have the opportunity to participate in more short-term service commitments as well.