Putting London into Context

I’ll be honest and admit that I doubted the program’s capabilities. I assumed that the surreal pictures and videos shown on the travel abroad’s website did not accurately reflect the program. While I hoped that London Honors would change my life, I did not expect it too. However,  I could not be more satisfied with my experience on my trip. This program was the perfect balance of guided activities such as our tours of Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Oxford, and Westminster Abbey, as well as an ample amount of time for us to go explore and experience London in whatever way we choose. Those ten days could not have flown by faster. One minute we were arriving in London Heathrow Airport, tired and jet-lagged, and before we knew it, we were saying our adieus to our newly made friends.

Traveling has always been something I aspired to do, yet I felt I lacked the resources to truly go and experience a new world. Enrolling in the course is the best decision I have made so far in my freshman year. I realize now that if I can travel that easily, what is stopping me from studying abroad? I now want to and believe I can before I graduate. This course was more than just a 10-day vacation. It was a weekly class, packed with interesting lectures. I was exposed to a side of London’s history that most people are unaware of. I guarantee that the average American could not tell you the history behind the miasma theory in London during the cholera outbreaks; however, I know all about John Snow and his tireless efforts to discredit it.

Finally, this program made it clear that traveling abroad and rowing are two fundamental parts of my life that bring me joy. The first is obvious in itself. I am finding myself becoming a travel-junkie and I look forward to my next opportunity to travel with Ohio State. The second is much less obvious. However, I can tell you exactly why. While touring Exeter University in Oxford, I noticed a chalk drawing on the sides of many of the buildings. Many had oars or boats drawn on the top, with the university seal, and then the names of all the rowers. It was their form of trophies, as I learned that they would place a new drawing on a wall to represent their most recent win. Nearly everyone looked past these murals, yet I was mesmerized by them. I could have looked at them for hours and I realized that I want to obtain a similar glory with Ohio State’s Rowing Team. In retrospect, this program is the best opportunity available to freshman and I am grateful I was able to be a part of it.

Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

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.]

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.   For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Artifacts

[Artifacts are the items you consider to be representative of your academic interests and achievements. For each entry, include both an artifact and a detailed annotation.  An annotation is a reflective description of the artifact that attempts to communicate its significance.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]