My first year of college was nothing like I imagined it to be. Not only was I one of the first people to start college in the middle of a pandemic, but I am also the first in my family to attend university in the United States! However, I am so grateful for all the people and opportunities that made it happen like my family, the Eminence scholarship, supporting mentors, and other Eminence fellows!
Academically, this year was tough for me as I was taking a heavy course load with science and math heavy classes such as organic chemistry and calculus 2. However, I believe I successfully overcame those classes with decent grades further confirming my career pathway in science. I honed my study skills and strategies by implementing active recall and spaced repetition through using a productivity management tool called Notion. I even shared my successes with this tool with my fellow peers who also enjoy using this tool! Not only did challenging classes help me with this, but also a class that I took spring semester called “Learning and Motivation Strategies for College Success” where I learned about metacognition, setting goals, and planning out commitments. However, I still have a lot of room to grow and recognize that I have to adapt my study skills for the type of class and teaching style of my professor.
I am so grateful for the support network that I built with my peers this year with my floor mates in Bradley and people in Eminence. Their support and time have helped me immensely transition from living at home in high school to living on campus in college. I have also found ways to be engaged and stay connected with family back at home. Also, I visited home several times during the year since I live 30 minutes away from campus.
Outside of academics, I found several ways to get involved on campus. Firstly, I started taking lead on my research project investigating Arginine mutations and cancer genetics in Dr. Husbands’ and Dr. Petreaca’s lab. I am so grateful for their confidence as well as the opportunity to continue my research and learn lab techniques such as PCR, mini-prepping, and gel extraction during these uncertain times. While doing my research project, I have learned new data science techniques, python programming to implement automation, how to work with APIs, and continue to hone my skills in Excel.
I took on the position of Vice-President of Research in SmileChild after hearing from Sarthak and Anand in our freshmen Eminence seminar class in the fall. I have been learning more about the organization, its team, and goals. I have been heavily involved in finalizing and revising IRB protocols to launch 2 randomized control trials at Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. I have also been drafting and filling out grant and applications to fund the randomized control trials. I have been researching about other organizations and institutions that we can partner with to further our impact and reach.
I have started volunteering at Physician’s Care Connection which is a free clinic near Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a phlebotomist every Monday night. I received my phlebotomy training in high school at Columbus State University, and love that I can put it to use as well as gain patient experience. My interest and passion towards successfully completing a venipuncture procedure while comforting patients has solidified my interest in the clinical aspect of medicine. Additionally, I have gained much valuable insight into how nurses, nutritionists, pharmacists, medical assistants, and physicians all work as a team to deliver proper care.
Lastly, I am part of both the Eminence Service Projects that our group came up with: ArcGIS group and Prison Tutoring group. The ArcGIS group is in the process of developing a website that includes a user-friendly, multi-layered ArcGIS map that depicts factors such as businesses ‘ level of compliance with environmental regulations, drinking water quality, land use, and super funds. We hope to incorporate an advocacy component by providing tools for the public to voice their opinion effectively and systemically. The purpose of this entire effort is to increase the accessibility of environmental issues to the general public. Within the ArcGIS group, I have been involved in the technical aspects of retrieving the data and displaying it on dynamic and user-friendly maps using APIs.
This summer I am continuing my research at Dr. Husbands’ and Dr. Petreaca’s lab. I will also be starting my position as the Head Teaching Assistant at Mechanisms of Human Health and Disease at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. I am continuing to volunteer as a phlebotomist at Physician’s Care Connection and start at Columbus Free Clinic as well. In late July and early August, I am planning to do partake in a medical service trip to Cusco, Peru where I will be able to help take vitals at a medical camp, shadow physicians, and learn about the local culture.
I am looking forward to my in-person classes for the fall semester of my Sophomore year and hopefully network with professors in my classes as I feel that was lacking this semester. Also, I am excited to flesh out the service projects with the Eminence class and continue my involvement in the various extracurricular that I am part of.
