Month: May 2021

Research & Service

I am part of the Kokiko-Cochran Lab at Ohio State studying the effects of stress on recovery after traumatic brain injury as well as Alzheimer’s Disease development. My duties in the lab include assisting with brain slicing and imaging, handling mice, and supporting graduate students and the PI with publications and posters.

The SOAR Initiative is a nonprofit that works to prevent overdoses and save lives through harm reduction. I am a part of the outreach and expansion team. I distribute fentanyl test strips at local syringe exchange sites and educate the public about our overdose surge / deadly batch text alert system. Additionally, I am expanding our services throughout Ohio, currently focusing on Southwest Ohio.

2020-2021: Freshman Year

I cannot believe that my first year at college is over. It was very different than I anticipated, and hopefully will continue to evolve as the world returns to normal. Despite classes being almost entirely online, I wouldn’t trade my first year at Ohio State for anything.

Academically, I have never been challenged as much as I was this past year, but I am proud of the grades I achieved. I’m very happy with my selected major of Neuroscience as I am still fascinated in the subject. Last month I joined a research lab studying the effects of stress on traumatic brain injury recovery. It has been so exciting to contribute to new scientific knowledge and learn firsthand how the brain works. I am on the pre-med track, but I’m still keeping my options open. 

The college life has been a time of tremendous growth and happiness for me thus far. I’ve been able to continue my volunteer work through Buckeyes Against Alzheimer’s and SOAR; this summer I will be doing lots of outreach and expansion work in southwest Ohio for SOAR.  I feel so blessed to be a part of this community and can’t wait to enrich myself further over my next three years.