The Science Career Fair was put on by the university in the Union to help expose current Ohio State students as well as recent alumni to a multitude of hospitals, non-profits, and governmental sector companies looking to recruit students from a range of disciplines, but it was tailored more for students interested in careers in science. I thoroughly enjoyed this event because I recently switched my major from International Studies to Neuroscience, so being exposed to a variety of internship and volunteer opportunities that I have within reach was truly inspiring and exciting looking ahead. I am not entirely sure of what career I want to pursue, so I want to have as many internships, job shadows, and volunteer positions under my belt as possible to see what I enjoy and cross off anything I do not like.
While I was at the fair, I was able to speak to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the Wexner Medical Center, and The James, which is the cancer unit of the Wexner Medical Center. Being able to get my name out and learn of the internship and fellowship programs these facilities have to offer makes my future career seem that much more attainable. At the moment, speech and language pathology is interesting me the most as far as a career choice, and during my undergraduate years, I know that I would like to participate in research, specifically regarding stem cells and their hypothesized abilities to treat certain neurodegenerative disorders.
This event relates to International Affairs because the research being done in a majority of the companies that were present have some international influence and impact as well as the fact that an internship with any these companies could lead to another internship or a possible job in a foreign country implementing what was learned there. Overall, I am extremely glad I was able to attend the Fair and learn more about my options for the future. It is a very nerve-racking but exciting time, and being exposed to internship and volunteer opportunities so early on is helping me realize my future within the neuroscience field.