G.O.A.L.S.

I would really love to study abroad, there are a lot of new programs being offered in the German department that really excite me. In addition to expanding upon my German language and cultural knowledge, I am going to try to become more versed in some more foreign languages that I am interested in studying. Right now I have basic knowledge of Arabic and Chinese, and I have my sights set on Spanish as well.

I started doing research on low-temperature electrocatalysis this semester, and spent a few weeks in an applied protein engineering lab over the summer. My main goal with my chemical engineering degree is to get involved in the development and application of sustainable energy and resources. Over the course of this year, I want to move closer to that.

Like I mentioned earlier, hopefully I have some space in my schedule to take another Arabic class, or a music theory class. They don’t really have anything to do with my major, but are two areas of study that I am really interested in.

In my scholars program, we are really involved in community service and social justice. I am currently completing my Year of Service, which is 75 hours with a designated service site, as well as involved in the Alumni Advancement and Relations committee. I also play the viola in the Buckeye Philharmonic, and we have some really cool concerts with great repertoire coming up.

Career

As a chemical engineering major, science, research, and development are at the forefront of my interests. I’ve worked in a protein engineering lab and an electrocatalysis lab. My main goal is to use my degree for positive environmental change. I would love to work on ecological or energetic sustainability. I believe one of the greatest challenges in our future is the reckoning we have to face with natural resources and the climate disaster. If I could leave the world a little bit more in tact than it was when I came into it, I’d feel like my purpose is fulfilled.

 

Artifacts

The summer before my junior year, I went on a school trip to Germany. We saw Berlin, Erfurt, Nuremberg, Prague, Munich, and a few other cities. While we were there, I also stayed with a family for a few days. This experience was very meaningful to me, as something I really enjoy is learning foreign languages and experiencing different cultures. Being able to put my passions into practice, including the fact that my host family didn’t speak English, was incredible. I learned so much about how other people think, live, and act, and had to wrap my head around the fact that billions of lives actually do happen outside of the city of Columbus. This trip inspired me to delve deeper into studying languages and actively trying to appreciate cultures outside of my own. I now hope to either get a major or minor in German and started taking Arabic classes. I will definitely study abroad at some point in my time here at OSU, and hopefully have the chance to travel to many other parts of the world throughout my life. Me and my host brother, Elias, hiked to see one of three famous castles part of a group known as “Die Drei Gleichen” in Erfurt.

 

During my junior and senior year, I was lucky enough to represent central Ohio at the Ohio Music Educators Association conference in Cincinnati and Cleveland. The organization selects students from across the state to participate in various different ensembles, and then to perform repertoire at the end of the event. I got to live with 4 random guys from across Ohio with completely different musical backgrounds and aspirations, and we rehearsed for at least 8 hours a day with an established conductor. It was an amazing experience; I met so many peers and formed many friendships over the course of the weekend, as well as created musical connections with people across the Midwest. Music has been a very important part of my life for as long as I can remember. So many of my closest friends and role models to this day were met through summer camps, ensembles, and music trips. I constantly stepped out of my comfort zone through performing in front of people, learning to not be afraid to make mistakes, interacting with countless peers and adults, and most importantly realizing that there will always people who can do it better than you–but by no means should that deter you from doing something you love.

 

The viola section of the All-State Orchestra ensemble in Cleveland, January 2020. The recording below is from our performance of Rachmaninoff Symphony 2 Mvmt 2.

 

 

 

On October 13th 2022, my baby sister Violet was born. I dropped everything going on on campus to go back home for a few days to spend time with her and my family. In a moment where the stress of year 2 was really starting to pile on, and questions about who I am and what I want to do with my future constantly plagued my mind, being able to take a step back and really appreciate life and the beauty of it all was a blessing. I felt renewed and inspired to work for a better future for all the people coming after us.

Me and 3 of 5 of my sisters

 

About Me

My name is Patrick McFarlane and I am a first year Mount Scholar from Powell, OH. My intended major as of now is chemical engineering, but that could change to almost anything else. I love science and math, but also really enjoy the humanities and music. I’ve played the viola since 4th grade and was involved in a few orchestras around Columbus up until the pandemic hit. I did competitive trampoline, tumbling, and dive in high school, and was a member class cabinet and of the German club. In my free time I like to run, watch Netflix, learn languages, mess around with my siblings, and hang out with friends. Here at OSU I am a part of the club gymnastics team, Engineers without Borders, and hopefully the Buckeye Philharmonic after COVID.