G.O.A.L.S.

The University Honors & Scholars Center at The Ohio State University serves high-ability, motivated undergraduate students. While embracing diversity in both ideas and people, the Center fosters purposeful learning communities that enhance students’ academic and social experiences. The Center facilitates impactful, rigorous, and unique opportunities that further student success and involvement in our G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement.

Capitol Hill Days 2017

Advocacy and Lobbying on Capitol Hill

For the second year in a row, I got the opportunity to attend Population Connection Action Fund’s Capitol Hill Days in Washington, D.C. This three-day conference culminates in a lobbying day with our Congress members. The educational sessions and lobbying focus on American global public health policies, especially women’s health policies. Because I am originally from Pennsylvania but go to school in Ohio, I ended up with five lobbying meetings. These meetings ranged in size from eighty people to just myself meeting with a representative of my PA U.S. Representative.

Additionally, because I was a returning participant, I was chosen to lead the eighty constituent meeting with representatives from Senator Sherrod Brown’s office. This meant that I began and ended the meeting in addition to helping run our planning session. I put on the spot, but I really enjoyed this small leadership opportunity. All of my meetings went very well. In addition to learning and lobbying, I got to see the cherry blossoms blooming in D.C. for the first time and explored more of my favorite city!

This incredible experience touched on two of the Honors and Scholars G.O.A.L.S: Global Awareness and Leadership Development. My favorite thing about public health and public affairs is that they work on a small local level or they can work towards making huge global changes. In this case, I was lobbying for increased funding for women’s health internationally. Today the world is so small that something my local Congress member votes on can impact the life of a woman and her family hundreds of thousands of miles away. Increasing this kind of understanding of the significance of our actions will help us to create a healthier, more compassionate, and peaceful world. My experience suddenly becoming a group leader gave me more confidence in my leadership skills. Confidence is key to developing as a leader. Even if you know all of the right things to do, if you don’t lead with confidence, you’ll never be the best leader you can be. I am incredibly thankful for my time at Capitol Hill Days, and I hope to return next year.

 

Ohio Statehouse Internship

During the fall semester of 2016, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at the Ohio Statehouse. I worked in the office of the Senate Minority Caucus.

The Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, Ohio

It was a noteworthy time to be interning with any governmental body, especially one in Ohio. Because of the then upcoming elections in November, the Senate was preparing for “lame duck.” After the election, bills would be rushed through the legislative process, and every legislator and staffer would be trying to make the most of the end of the legislative session. At the same time, Ohio was experiencing a deadly opioid crisis with repeated calls for the state legislature to address it.

As a result of this unique combination of circumstances, I got my first opportunity to do policy research. The Caucus’ Deputy Chief of Staff recognized my interest in public health and policy. Consequently, I spent much of the semester researching anything and everything related to the opioid crisis. It started with gaining a working understanding of what was happening in Ohio and the series of events that had preceded the current crisis. From there, I helped to examine what other states were doing, contacted locals doing great work in their communities, and helped to develop a potential funding framework.

Not only was this internship an incredible experience, it addressed two important G.O.A.L.S. Because much of my work focused on research with a vague outline of what I was supposed to accomplish, I gained an appreciation for Original Inquiry. While in many ways my research was guided by the needs of the Caucus staff, I had the freedom to explore different ways the others had addressed similar policy issues and look at ways in which those potential solutions could be applied in Ohio. Additionally, this internship spoke directly to Academic Enrichment. While my majors in Public Health Sociology and Public Affairs are complementary, there are few opportunities to bridge the gap between them in a class setting. This is partially due to their being based in two different colleges. Yet, in reality, the subjects are closely intertwined. My work gave me the opportunity to see how closely public health and public affairs principles work together to address the needs of individuals and communities.

The most important things that I learned from this internship, however, weren’t from research. Instead, I gained an understanding of what it means to work in an office everyday. It takes internal motivation to keep digging through hundreds of pages of legislation and writing reports. It’s not easy. Yet, I also learned that I love it. The knowledge that something that you find – whether it’s a program, contact, or idea – could be implemented to one-day help someone is incredible. In some ways, it creates a huge amount of pressure. Yet, it makes the sometimes frustrating work incredibly rewarding.

 

Volunteering with Hillary for Ohio

The first presidential campaign that I can remember is George Bush versus John Kerry in the 2004 election. I was in second grade. My elementary school had a table set-up in front of the gym with two boxes where we could vote. We all thought that it was very important even though our teacher had explained that only adults could actually vote.

Fast forward twelve years: George Bush served another term as president, President Obama is finishing his second term, Hillary Clinton is the first women to be a major party’s presidential nominee, Donald Trump is clashing with the Republican Party’s establishment, and I am getting ready to vote for president for the first time. My interest in politics grew out of a love of history and fascination with current events. It was fed by the debates in the kitchen with my grandparents, the my grandmother’s of marching in the 1960s, and the car conversations with my mom about the news on the radio. I’m incredibly thankful that adults in my life gave me the opportunity to discuss politics, express my opinions, and question my preconceived notions. Without that support, I do not believe that I would be having the experiences that I am now.

Last night, I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer with Hillary for Ohio when Hillary Clinton came to speak on Ohio State’s campus. The diversity of people attending the event was inspiring. The kindness and well wishes of attendees towards the volunteers were heartwarming. The enthusiasm of over 18,000 people joined together for one cause was exhilarating.

Hillary Clinton speaking at Ohio State during the 2016 Presidential Campaign

I have a class in which we discuss public service and civic engagement at length. Volunteering last night gave me the opportunity to see principles of civic engagement, particularly political engagement, in practice. I was surrounded by volunteers from all walks of life who chose to take the time out of their busy schedules to advocate for a cause to which they are dedicated. Like the volunteers, attendees also took time out of their schedule to see one of our candidates for president. Everyone at the event got the opportunity to listen to Secretary Clinton without the filter provided by the media and immediately form their own opinions and notions. It represented the importance of creating a positive environment in which people can engage with their leaders, gain information freely, and express their views.

Throughout the event, I spent nearly five hours registering voters, encouraging attendees to volunteer for “Get Out the Vote” campaigns, and taking in the energetic atmosphere. Of course, there were protestors, but the words that truly stuck with me were spoken by a woman in the crowd after Secretary Clinton finished speaking:

As soon as the applause died down, other volunteers and myself immediately started encouraging people to register to vote.

The women said, “You keep doing the good work!”

Keep doing the good work. That is what drives me and so many others who wish to pursue a career in public service. While the world may focus on the negative political climate, scandals, and controversial policies, there will always be people working everyday to keep doing the good work to ensure that everyone in this great nation has the opportunity to thrive.

G.O.A.L.S.

Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc .
Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.