My second year at Ohio State was even more amazing than the first. I feel that one of my biggest accomplishments as a second-year student was making the Dean’s List both semesters. I worked extremely hard in all of my classes this year and feel that I really grew as a student. During my first year, I struggled to adjust to college level classes and was following what everyone else was doing to study and learn the material. I felt that I could do so much better in my classes. Coming into my second year, I was determined to make a change in my study habits to really excel in my classes. I knew that my classes were going to be even more difficult this year and was afraid that I wasn’t going to do as well as I wanted to. I was especially scared to take Organic Chemistry because it had a reputation for being a very hard class that many students struggled with. I am proud of myself for not letting these fears get to me and working hard to achieve my goals. I learned the best ways for me personally to study and did not focus so much on what other people were doing. Instead, I focused on myself and the way I learn. I finally began to understand the type of student I am and what I need to do to learn and understand class material. This was a huge accomplishment for me this year. Outside of my classes, I also joined the Doctors Without Borders club at Ohio State and feel I have found a group on campus that I am passionate about working with. I have had so many fun and exciting experiences with the club already and have met amazing people. I remained very close with the friends I made my first year in the BioSci Scholars dorms, and I am so thankful for them and for the memories I have made with them the past two years. I have found that having a good friend group in college is so important because they serve as your support system and escape from the stress of classes and studying. I also got a job this year working with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as a lab assistant for student research projects. I am glad I got this opportunity because it taught me a lot about what it is like to work inside a lab and work with lab instruments. This job made me realize that I would love to work in a research lab on campus, and I plan on pursuing a position in a lab next year. Overall, my second year was great!

My first semester at Ohio State has been a whirlwind, but I have enjoyed every second of my time here. Every aspect of college life was different than what I had expected. My classes proved to be one of the biggest adjustments for me. This semester I took calc 2, general chemistry, Spanish 1, a freshman survey, and a seminar for my Bio Sci Scholars program. The amount of homework and studying was overwhelming at first, but I got into a routine with each class by the end of the semester. The set up of college classes taught me many time management skills that I previously did not have. Overall, I think I did well in my classes, but I would like to improve in my classes next semester. Along with classes, dorm life was another new and exciting thing that I had to become acclimated to. I learned how to live and cooperate with my roommate in very close quarters while also getting to know her since we had met for the first time on move in day. We have gotten closer as the semester has gone on, and I would now consider her one of my closest friends. I also made so many amazing friends on my floor who I spend most of my time with. I enjoy living in Columbus, and I love the campus which I have finally found my way around.