Sophomore Year In Review

As sophomore year comes to a close, it is a great opportunity to take some time and reflect on how the G.O.A.L.S. of the Honors Program have been experienced at the halfway point in my undergraduate career, and see what experiences are yet to come in the second half of my undergraduate career. I would like to take some time to examine each of the five components of G.O.A.L.S. individually as they pertain to my experiences thus far.

Global Awareness:

Global Awareness is what initially brought me to the decision to attend The Ohio State University. As a recipient of the Morrill Scholarship and a member of the Morrill Scholars Program, diversity has always been important to me. I have enjoyed getting to know some of my fellow scholars that all come from very different backgrounds and learning a little more about them and their worlds. Additionally, I have enjoyed learning about Hispanic culture in my Spanish courses. Also, my theatre course has introduced me to the world of theatre and the rich history of plays that go along with it. Looking forward into the next two years, I hope to continue to meet new people from different backgrounds and gain a glimpse into their worlds. Also, I am planning on taking courses that will help me continue to grow in global awareness such as the Greek Civilization course that I am planning on taking this fall.

Original Inquiry:

            Original inquiry is something that I enjoy, but however have not experienced in a large capacity yet. I have had the opportunity to attend several creative performances produced by the Theatre Department at Ohio State. Through attending these productions as well as taking the Introduction to Theatre course, I have been able to learn a great deal about the process of how plays are brought to life all the way from how they are written on paper to when they are then produced as live performances. I have not had much experience with research yet however I plan to pursue this area during the next two years. I hope to be an assistant in a research lab on campus and gain some experience and knowledge on the research process. Hopefully, this summer I will be selected to have the opportunity to partake in a Health and Science Internship with Fluor BWXT of Portsmouth, OH and observe and participate in the application of science to real life.

Academic Enrichment:

Academic Enrichment has always been important to me. I like to challenge myself to be better and to do things that seem impossible. Although, the path to graduating with honors will be a difficult one, it is one that will be full of rewards. With the completion of my honors contract, I am committing myself to finish out my undergraduate career through a more rigorous, yet enriching path. This path will help me be prepared to take on the academic challenges that may be presented as I one-day hope to continue on to medical school and become a doctor. I chose the Biology major as stepping stone to my path there, as I saw it to be both interesting and beneficial for my future goals. The GE courses that I have chosen, were selected to broaden my academic experience, and gain insight and knowledge into areas that I am genuinely fascinated by, but not necessarily directly pertaining to my future career goals. The academic challenges that I have overcome in the past two years have helped me to grow to be a better student and I hope to continue my commitment to excellence in academics throughout the remainder of my undergraduate career.

Leadership Development:

            Leadership Development has meant to me not only growing in my own ability to lead others, but also to empower others to become great leaders themselves. This past year I have truly found a passion for mentoring other students. I am involved in a Chemistry 1210/1220 Peer Mentoring Program, where I have had the opportunity to mentor a group of primarily first year students. I enjoy getting the chance to share my experiences with them in the hopes that they may not have to overcome obstacles to the same degree that I had to myself. Through becoming a mentor, I have developed a stronger sense of confidence in myself to take charge and lead others. I hope to continue enhancing my leadership skills throughout the next two years and throughout the rest of my life. For me personally, being a leader is something that is important to me in that it allows me to become more aware of myself and my abilities as well as help me build a sense of confidence in myself. Leadership will be a very important skill in my career on a daily basis, as a doctor has to take charge of the situation and guide their team members, the medical staff, to ultimately save someone’s life.

Service Engagement:

            Service has been a passion of mine since high school. I absolutely enjoy using my talents and abilities to serve others in need. During the past two years, I have been able to participate in several service activities. I have been a dancer in Buckeyethon, Ohio State’s 24-hour dance marathon. Also, I have volunteered as a worker at the blood drives around campus. The mentoring program that I am a member of is not a paid position or requirement, but rather I volunteer my time to help other students. During the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I was a volunteer at Southern Ohio Medical Center for the entire summer, and found great satisfaction in serving the people there. I plan to continue to seek out service activities that I can pursue throughout the remainder of my undergraduate career as well as during the time after the completion of my education in any opportunity that is presented to me.

The G.O.A.L.S. of the Honors Program have been wonderful aspects of my life to focus on to allow me to become a well-rounded individual. I hope to continue to pursue my development in each of the five components throughout the next two years of my college education.