Honors Contract Year in Review Reflection
Global Awareness:
In the Autumn 2016 semester, I joined the student organization, MUNDO, which combines service and leadership with community engagement by providing travel opportunities for students to experience different cultures and spaces. I went on a trip to Los Angeles this past winter and got the chance to interact with locals and learn about some aspects of the lifestyle in the city from OSU alumni. I also learned of the relationship between the homeless population and the city’s residents. Learning about other cultures and people has allowed me to grow in my understanding of the differences between people and the importance of being accepting of everyone, even if their views and/or values differ. I plan to use my STEP grant to study abroad in the summer of 2018, mostly likely to travel to Rwanda as a way to learn in greater detail of the genocide which destroyed the country in the 1990s and the tragic implications a lack of tolerance and understanding can have on a society.
Original Inquiry:
In terms of engagement with research, I am currently in my Introduction to the Discipline of History (2800H) class which has detailed the importance of developing an argument and gathering evidence to back claims. We are in the process of writing a research proposal in which we have to locate and analyze sources we deem credible and use them to generate a claim about a particular issue and time period. With the tools I have learned, I may consider expanding this project into an undergraduate thesis as a part of my history major.
Academic Enrichment:
At the start of my career at Ohio State, I was an exploration student unsure of which direction to go when it came to my course of study. I knew the humanities would be where my interests fell though I did know how to narrow down my options with so many choices. I decided on history as my major because I believe it is important to understand the way people have interacted and how conflicts have unfolded as a way to prevent such problems from emerging again. The past is crucial to our understanding of today and learning of specific stories and experiences has sparked an interest in me. Along the same lines, sociology deals with how society functions and the institutions put in place which dictate how it runs. I hope to some day become involved in human rights work and background in the thought processes of people and groups will be essential for such work. My other minor in English serves as a way for me to consume quality literature and learn of the way people create narratives and record their thoughts. Writing and analysis are important transferable skills that I hope to continue to improve on. I want to challenge myself to study a range of topics because of how significant I believe them to be and so I can capitalize on all the opportunities I have here by learning as much as I can. I made an effort to choose plenty of upper level classes as a way to push my mind beyond its bounds.
Leadership Development:
I am currently the service coordinator on the executive board for Allies for Diversity, a leadership position I got this year. I have improved on my group work skills as I am on a team, working towards creating a productive organization. Communicating thoughts and ideas while also pointing out the issues that have emerged have become vital and will serve me well as I assume leadership positions in the future. I hope to work with others and lead initiatives in my career field in efforts to solve problems and do away with injustice in society.
Service Engagement:
BuckiServ Summer 2016 to Immokalee, Florida (Guadalupe Center)
BuckiServ Summer 2017 to Atlanta, Georgia (City of Refuge)
Some service components within student organizations I am a part of including MUNDO and Allies for Diversity.
I plan to get involved with Alpha Phi Omega next semester as a way to take part in service long-term as plenty of readily available service opportunities are provided through them.