Semester in Review

As I’m nearing the end of my semester at Ohio State, I look back and see many areas where I’ve grown and many things that I’ve learned. Coming to Ohio State and college in general, I’ve had to adapt in many ways, including both academically and socially/emotionally. Academically, I have had to learn new strategies in order to be successful and learn the more rigorous material. This included being more independent by taking more initiative in my studies and reaching out to faculty and asking for help in much more extensive ways than I ever had to in high school. Emotionally and socially, living in a dorm with multiple roommates have made me adapt to living with others and their needs. This has included becoming more considerate of others’ needs and learning how to become more flexible.

So far, I have enjoyed the many aspects of college life and being here at Ohio State. I am continually reminded of why I chose to come to such an amazing institution, providing me with excellent and accommodating academics, as well as endless opportunities to make my time here truly exceptional! I am looking forward to many more semesters as a buckeye as I have only just started my journey!

G.O.A.L.S.

Being a member of the Honors Program at Ohio State means so much more than increased academic rigor, as it is often perceived. In order to sum up a totally immersive and all-encompassing honors experience, the university has provided an acronym for all Honors students to strive towards; G.O.A.L.S.. These “goals” are meant to guide Honors students in their quest for academic, extracurricular, and service oriented enrichment, and I am excited to begin my journey in reaching my own G.O.A.L.S.!

Global Awareness: In order to become more aware of cultures abroad and learn of the different lifestyles around the world, I hope to study abroad and participate in service projects abroad. I am particularly interested in medical trips so that I can not only better understand the medical world but also the different medical needs around the world. Additionally, due to my experience with the Spanish language, I hope to visit countries in either Central or South America.

Original Inquiry: As a student interested in the medical field, the idea of research is extremely appealing and is something that I will definitely try to get involved in very soon. Through participating in labs and conducting research, possibly related to my major of biochemistry, I will gain experience in leadership and independent and creative inquiry that will not only help me in future academic endeavors but also in my future career.

Academic Enrichment: In order to enrich my academic career at Ohio State I plan to take rigorous coursework that will not only push me to become more knowledgeable and a better learner but will also expand my thinking and introduce me to new possibilities. In this way, I hope to pursue academic excellence in all areas that I study so that I am more well-rounded upon graduation and am therefore more knowledgeable of cultural, global, and historical aspects on top of receiving a specialized education in the area of my major.

Leadership Development: In the next four years, I hope to improve my leadership abilities the most as I do not have extensive experience in this area. In order to accomplish this goal I plan to pursue opportunities where I am tasked with responsibilities that put me in a leadership position, such as mentoring, club government, and internships.

Service Engagement: In high school, I greatly enjoyed the mutual benefits of service work and volunteering. Due to this past enjoyment and my understanding of the importance of giving back, I hope to find opportunities to volunteer and serve communities here at Ohio State. I plan to find these opportunities by joining service organizations and by taking my own initiative to find domestic as well as global service trips to serve more communities than just my own.

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.   For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

OHSE Scholar

At the beginning of this semester I was accepted as an OHSE scholar as a part of the Choose Ohio First (COF) Scholarship Program which provides scholarships and STEM-related opportunities to STEM majors at Ohio State. Being a member of this program will allow me opportunities such as undergraduate research and science outreach experiences at Ohio State and in the surrounding communities. Additionally, I will be able to utilize my STEM skills learned here at Ohio State in local K-12 schools by participating in mentoring and outreach programs designed specifically for schools struggling in STEM fields.

About Me

Hi everyone! My name is Jackie Looby and I am a freshman here at a Ohio State majoring in Biochemistry. Coming from central Ohio and having parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents who all went to Ohio State, I always knew this was the place for me!

I’m from West Jefferson, Ohio, which is about 20 minutes west of Columbus, where I went to high school and graduated as Valedictorian in May. Many experiences I had in high school have helped me to shape my aspirations and goals here at Ohio State, both academically and in service and leadership aspects. One of the most influential opportunities I had was a shadowing experience at Nationwide Children’s Hospital here in Columbus. I had always known I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, however, I found my passion for neonatology during my experience in the NICU and seeing the roles many of the medical personnel play in the hospital.

Additional experiences I had in high school included various community service opportunities that allowed me to see how rewarding and mutually beneficial volunteering can be. Because of these experiences, I hope to continue to pursue additional service opportunities here at Ohio State. Similarly, in high school, I participated in a mentoring program for local youth and I hope to continue to reach out to youth in local communities through the OHSE Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program.

I am so excited to be a buckeye and can’t wait to the endless opportunities in my future, here at The Ohio State University!