During my time thus far as a Buckeye, there is no doubt that it’s been one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my entire life. I have laughed, cried, loved, struggled, smiled, and most of all, I’ve learned. I’ve learned about myself and who I want to become. I’ve learned about my strengths and weaknesses as a student at the Ohio State University. I’ve learned how to become a better leader and how to engage with my community through my service opportunities and through Mount. If there is one thing I can say about my journey thus far, it’s that I have a long way to go and my mind and heart are oh so full of goals for my second year as a Buckeye. Leadership development is a big one. As a second year Mount scholar, my entire year is dedicated to independent service. I have started serving at the Northern Lights Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library as a Homework Helper. This opportunity has truly opened my eyes to the educational disparities that are present in the Columbus area, and I have been exposed to multiple different perspectives through this program. I hope that this experience will further develop my leadership skills and expand my mindset as I am working with children that come from many different backgrounds and cultures. My service site will play a major role in developing my global awareness as I am able to appreciate the uniqueness of the individuals I work with and expose myself to a heavy concentration of diversity. In addition, my academics are by far the most important part of my life as a college student, so one of my primary goals for the year is to really challenge myself and enroll in necessary coursework that will enrich my work ethic and mind. I aim to earn a 3.8 or higher GPA this year which is completely doable and something that I continue to work tirelessly to achieve. In hopes of attending graduate school to become a Physician Assistant, I also plan on gaining direct patient care experience this year by working as a patient care assistant in the Wexner Medical Center. This experience will be beneficial to not only my career but also my academic enrichment as I am challenged daily by the needs of the patients and myself. While these external goals are heavy on my mind, the main thing I want to focus on this year is myself. My first year at Ohio State was honestly a very hard time for me. I went through ups and downs and never truly found what I was looking for here. Like everyone, I had good days and bad days, but the bad ones outweighed the good most of the time. One day, though, I realized that I am a Buckeye and I am SO lucky to be attending the best school in the country regardless of what I am going through. I have grown more in the past year than I ever thought possible, and for that I am so grateful. My ever-present goal is to focus on myself and continue to grow mentally, physically, academically, spiritually, and emotionally. I am so excited to see what my future has in store for me, and I can’t wait to accomplish my goals throughout my time here at Ohio State.