Year in Review

Coming into college, I was just like any other 18 year old kid making his first steps into the real world. I was naive and confused, but at the same time excited. I was walking into one of the largest universities in the country with nothing but my intuition and a drive. My parents always told me the world was my oyster, but at this time, I knew that before I took on that challenge, I first had to conquer this school. This, however, was a more difficult task than expected. With so many people and opportunities that were presented to me, I did not know where to begin. There was no doubt in my mind that I needed help. Fortunately for me, the Biological Sciences Scholars group provided me with that help. By allowing me to familiarize myself with and closely befriend the select few who were also apart of this group, along with providing me the chance to meet faculty, staff, and professors to capitalize on any opportunities that can provide for me, I finally can say I have found who I am as a student.
Socially, I do not have a doubt in my mind that I had an extraverted personality. As it would turn out, when considering the new system of learning in college, my way of learning matches and was built upon this extraverted was of thinking. This scholars group provided me with more friends than I could ever imagine. These friends who I study and live with have provided me a study group that I know I can come back to every night with any questions or needs for help in my studies. This is a weird dynamic for me as in high school I never really consulted others for help in my work, rather I just did it all myself in the comfort of my own home. Now I look forward to going out and exploring new ideas with others. As of right now, I thoroughly do believe that the Biological Sciences Scholars group has changed me for the better academically. I will continue to use this group as a base of my ventures academically and socially to better me both as a student and person. After all, that is what coming to this university is about, developing oneself to be an intellect and, in my case, a gentleman and friend. With this scholars group, there is no doubt in my mind that I am on my way to this status, and I will enjoy every step going forward to that goal with the friends and opportunities given to me.

2nd Year Reflection:

This has been such a wonderful year! For starters, I have progressed in many of my classes, which had lead to me not only getting into my major, but also completing a good chunk of it. Aside from this, I had obtained a good position volunteering in the Wexner Medical Center, a position I had been wanting for a long time. With this I had also secured a good research position for the summer as to continue being productive even when not on campus. Academically speaking, it has been a very productive and successful year. Aside from this, when looking at my personal life, I had roomed with two of my roommates from last year – Alec and Riley – with a third new roommate, and couldn’t be happier with the choice. I had also stayed fairly active in my community, participating in multiple clubs as well as staying active in local campus events, exampling voting, attending events like Ben Shapiro and Terry Crews, and so much more. Needless to say, my life inside and out of the classroom had been filled and exciting! To simplify my development, I would have to stay I have grown to become better about my study habits as well as now being fully adjusted to campus. Throughout my first year was a learning curve, but now almost every detail about the day-to-day life on campus as well as the overall scheme of the university is becoming clearer. The adjustment was hard at the beginning of this past year, but the excitement of coming back helped to speed up the process, and I was quickly back on my feet. To stay on my feet, I plan on continuing to study with those who keep me productive, as well as keeping a schedule that allows proper breaks for food and rest as well as leaving enough time to get work done, something I have been very good about this year. Conclusively, I have locked down study tactics and schedules, increased my participation in volunteering, expanded my social life, and so much more! Hopefully I can transfer this energy and productiveness into next year!

G.O.A.L.S.

It is undeniable that cultural diversity is an important factor that should be urged in any university or environment that encourages progression. That being said, it should be an expectation that I perform some form of activity that promotes this idea. I try to progress cultural diversity in a couple of ways thus far into my academic career here at Ohio State, but my favorite way is helping my hometown friend set up and run activities for the Pilipino Student Association. Since he is a Pilipino-Canadian student here, this club means a lot to him, and he does all he can to help the club. So much so that sometimes he needs help. Whenever this help is needed, I provide it even if I am not remotely Pilipino. If anything the group had realized this and accepted me as part of the group anyway. Conclusively, this is a fun example of one way I progress global awareness in the university.
In regards to original inquiry, I am turning to my older brother for help with this. He is currently a second year student studying Neuroscience at the University of Notre Dame and has a lot of help and resources to offer. One being a research opportunity to help in a psychology study at the National University of Singapore. Although I have not engaged in research to a high degree thus far in my career, I intend on capitalizing on this idea and utilizing its benefits to the upmost degree in learning from the experience about psychology and psychological studies, building up my resume, and simply traveling the world by visiting a new country and culture.
If I do not push my academics while here at the university, then I have truly failed as a student. That being said, I am pushing myself to my limits without completely obliterating all of my free time and becoming miserable. I currently am taking the maximum amount of credit hours allowed by the university, which is eighteen, so that I can stay on track with my neuroscience major. These majority of these classes are science classes, which will help push my knowledge of the sciences and therefore help that much more on my goal of getting into med school. On top of this I am involved in the pre-med club here and am actively looking for clubs that will help enhance my academic planning and studies. Currently one of them that I have my eye on is the neuroscience club, which is convenient considering my major. Hopefully by staying on this path and having this kind of effort continuously will correlate with great academic success in the present and future.
There is a fine line between realizing you are a leader, and becoming egotistical in your attitude toward others and thinking you know better. Throughout my time here, I constantly have to remind myself not to become the latter when trying to help others. With that always in mind, I try to become a leader around the clock by helping others whenever they need with homework. They always say that two minds work better than one, and I always ensure to others that I can be that available second mind. I wish to become a friend that pushes others to take their academics as seriously as they can, and help them in whatever class I can. But in order to do that, I have to lead by example. By studying in Barrett and around my fellow classmates, I express to them my efforts to get better grades in hopes that they will take now and in a way become that much more motivated to do the same for themselves. If I can do this, in my own eyes I would believe that I am a successful leader in my own little community in Barrett.
Service has always been a huge part of my life, especially considering I came from a Jesuit high school that placed a heavy emphasis on service in one’s daily life. That being said, I definitely plan on keeping the trend up in my collegiate career. I intend on keeping up this trend by applying to work at the Wexner Medical Center in my spring semester, and if that does not fall through, to apply to volunteer at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The latter will definitely hit home with me though, mainly because I volunteered with second grade students for a wealthy majority of my high school career, which has placed the kids at a special place in my heart. Hopefully by getting into one of these programs, I can help out those in need, build up my resume, and fulfill my desire to put service in my lifestyle as I did in high school.

Vision Statement & Statement of Action (End of Second Year):

My new goals for the upcoming year are few, yet complex. First of all my schedule class-wise is going to be quite full. I am taking five different classes and this on its own will be a huge weight on my shoulders. However, with enough hard work and determination, finishing the next semester with a good GPA is definitely an obtainable goal. Another goal will be to continue my volunteering services with the Wexner Medical Center. Even though acceptance into the program is limited, my past experience with them should give me a nice edge when applying once again. The next goal of mine is probably the one I am most excited for – trying to get into a research position on campus. Even though I am performing research over the summer in Toledo, the ultimate goal is to get a similar position on campus. Hopefully my experience over the summer can help propel my application when trying to apply for different positions and I can end up with a good lab for the year. My final goal will be to enjoy the year on my off time. I do not think enough people appreciate this school while they are here, and the ultimate fact is, I only have two more years until graduation. During my free and break time, I want to enjoy Columbus while I am here. I want to enjoy my friends while I can before we separate for our futures. Simply put, while being productive and hopefully successful, I wish for this next year to be a fun and enjoyable experience simultaneously.

 

 

 

Artifacts

When considering my academic interests, I always have to remind myself where I come from and why I do this. Personally, my academic goal is to eventually become a doctor. I wish this achievement for so many reasons, but the original and most important is to repay my family for everything they have done for me. My parents had immigrated here twenty years ago to provide their children with the unlimited opportunities that the United States has to offer. Working nonstop to invest in our education and future, the least I could do to repay them is put an effort. It was my parents and grandparents dream that one day their son and grandson would be a doctor in the states, and it is my full intention that they one day see their dreams. That being said, I always carry around pictures of them to remind myself why I am doing this when I become stressed and question my motives. They had always guided me in life when I had lived at home with them, and I do not want this to change simply because they are not with me in person now.

 

The picture above is of my three roommates and I in a study session in the Barrett House lobby. There is no doubt that the Biological Sciences scholars group puts a strong emphasis on academics and ensuring that all students that are a part of the group fulfill their duty as a student. My roommates and I, along with the entirety of the scholars group, recognize this expectation and strive to fulfill that duty as often and as best as we can. We help push each other in our studies, and expect nothing less than our best efforts from each other on any given day. Sometimes the opportunity to simply study is taken for granted, however, we find much reward for doing such a simple task.

This was definitely a highlight of most buckeye students present that day. This was my second Ohio State – Michigan game, but first one in Ohio Stadium. Not only did we win, but we scored 62 points on Michigan, who was ranked the #1 defense in the country. This set a record for the most points Michigan had ever allowed in a regulation game. We witnessed history that day. Of course academics is important, but football is a huge part of the culture here at the university, and to witness such an important piece in such an electric environment is something I will never forget.

This picture probably either brings back bad memories for certain people, and frightens others. It is simply a page from a finals study guide, but it is actually so much more than that. It is part of an Organic Chemistry study guide. This class is dreaded by many and has proven to be such a challenge. However, it is not completely impossible to achieve a good grade in this class. Through perseverance, hard work, dedication, a lot of group work, and many tears later, a B or higher can be all yours! This class had ultimately taught me a lot. Not only Organic Chemistry, but what true group work and dedication means as it refers to a class. If anything toward the end I was beginning to enjoy it a little once I had the routine of studying down. Simply put, insisting on learning through repetition, attending every lecture, and working with others will only lead to good things. This specific lesson can be applied to any college course, but on a larger scale, the preparation and work that went into this class can be a lesson for almost any task!

About Me

Marino Markho is a third year undergraduate student at the Ohio State University. Coming from St. John’s Jesuit High School in Toledo, he is majoring in a topic he is very passionate about – Neuroscience. He comes from a high school that is very involved heavily with the sciences. The teachers had influenced him to strive to be involved in areas such as biology, psychology, anatomy, and physiology. After extensive work doing experiments, dissections, and research with said teachers, Marino had developed a passion for this kind of work. With the neuroscience path he had chosen, he plans on taking a course load that he knows will fulfill this excitement for the sciences. Aside from this, he is also involved in the Biological Sciences Scholars Program, is a volunteer at the Wexner Medical Center, participates in research, and works at his family store whenever he is at home.. When he has free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, listening to new music, and cooking only the most delicious food. If you have any questions for Marino, or simply want to talk to him for whatever reason imaginable, feel free to contact him at Markho.2@osu.edu.