Year In Review

I was a very different person when I entered the Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars compared to the individual I have now become. I remember the first day arriving on campus fro the scholars welcome week festivities. I was very shy, unsure of myself and had no idea about the journey I was to embark on in the next two years. I came to college with very little self-awareness. I set myself out to be an athletic training major. As someone who hates sports, this was a problem as you might imagine. The Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars Program helped me take my interests, passions, and strengths and develop me into a well-rounded individual who is confident of her path in life. I was able to meet with other students within the scholar’s program and talk to them about their majors and career paths. This helped me decide that I wanted to pursue exercise science. DSWS also helped connect me within rec sports and helped me pursue and obtain a job as a personal trainer at the RPAC. In addition, this year I had the privilege of serving on the leadership council as the philanthropy chair. This experience really helped develop me as a leader and an individual. I was able to turn ideas and dreams into reality with the help of our graduate student and student coordinators. Their confidence in me and assistance to do anything I wanted to really helped me. I was able to organize the new Scholars Day of Service and see my peers share my love for serving others in the Columbus Community. Overall, participation in this scholars program has changed my life and I am a better person because of it.

Year in Review

My most memorable event from the beginning of my first year would be the time I met my best friend Laura Ginn. Thanks to Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars, we were all able to move in a few days early, and participate in many team building activities in those first couple days. These events really helped me to get to know the many members of our scholars program. We were split into “families” and competed against each other in numerous fun challenges. However, I never thought I would meet my best friend here in those first couple days. On this particular day, we were participating in an outdoor team building course off campus. We were put into random groups and instructed to work together to complete many challenging tasks. I didn’t know anyone from my group, and was very timid. After finishing the activities for the day, I began to talk to some of the girls from my group before our trip back. Laura and I instantly discovered that we had so many things in common. We were enrolled in many of the same classes, both loved to run, we are both extremely dedicated to our studies and have very similar personalities. I was so excited I had found someone that connected with and shared many of the same interests as me. We spent the first of many days together and it was the beginning of the most amazing friendship ever. Laura is the reason I have had the most successful and enjoyable year and I am so thankful to have an amazing friend like her in my life. I am also so thankful for scholars for bringing us together and creating an environment for our friendship to flourish.

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc .
Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]

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.]

Artifacts

An artifact that represents my most memorable experience would be my blue tennis shoes. While at the team building event, Laura and I first bonded over our shoes. It is quite humorous to think back on our first conversation because of how awkward and shy we once were towards each other. I complimented her bright pink shoes and I thought it was funny because I had the exact same ones in blue. This initially similarity serves as a foreshadowing of sorts for our friendship. Our other friends describe us a twins because we just have so many things in common. We have begun to adopt some of the same mannerisms from spending so much time together. However, these shoes have done so much more for me than serving as a conversation starter. These shoes have allowed me to walk to and from class when it seemed impossible to get out of bed. They have sustained me through the heat and blizzard storms we have experienced in the past year. Also, they have suffered through the many grueling workouts and the RPAC and the countless runs Laura and I have attempted to run. These shoes have inspired me to change my major to Exercise Science, which I can now say is the second best decision I have ever made (behind choosing Ohio State). During the most difficult of exams, my lucky shoes have provided me with a sense of comfort and security. Although they may not smell the best, every time I see these shoes it is a reminder of all the challenges and blessings I have experienced during my first year at this amazing university.

About Me

Hello, my name is Lauren Marcotte. I am from Northville, Michigan (Its not as bad as you think, I promise). I am an Exercise Science major her at The Ohio State University and am also working towards a minor in Human Nutrition. I am pre-Physical Therapy and intend on pursuing a geriatric specialization. Nutrition as long as health and well being has always been a passion of mine. I also have always loved school and learning, since I was a little kid. I would love to one day implement my passions to help better others quality of life. My family and friends are also extremely important to my life and contribute greatly to my experience here at Ohio State. I have made most of my closest friends through the Dunn Sport and Wellness scholars program. This program allowed me to live with my best friends and I am fortunate enough to continue to live with them next year as well.