Month: October 2015

Finding Fit

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Hey everyone!

One thing that I feel is very important in deciding which school you go to is determining which place you feel is a good fit. Now everyone may have different ideas of what “fit” means to them. Here is what fit means to me:

  1. A place that feels like it could be home. Because let’s face it, pharmacy school isn’t going to be rainbows and butterflies. Having a place that provides comfort and support really helps with the (frequent) times of stress.
  2. A university that is more than just a pharmacy school.  I wanted a university that had more to offer than just professional school. Having football, other professional schools, a huge medical center, and so much more was so important to me. OSU has so many organizations outside of pharmacy! All you have to do is explore. 🙂
  3. Students and faculty that are warm and inviting, yet experts in their fields (for faculty! Students will get there one day!). Knowing that students and faculty reach out to new students and are willing to interact and help students in any way was really important to me. I wanted to know that the students and faculty here are people I could really mesh with. Gauging this at your interview day is important. I loved the casual, laid-back nature of my interview here, but professionalism was everywhere and within everyone.
  4. Location. Fit to me was being in a location that offered the same things my hometown did. I am from a large city, and so I wanted to have access to all the conveniences that cities have to offer. I knew a good place for me wouldn’t be in a small town. Plus a city like Columbus has so much to offer! There are constantly festivals, food, and so much more. Check out some of our other blog posts about Columbus!

My best advice for deciding which school to attend is this: go with your gut. What school makes a good fit for you and can feel like home to you? For me, I applied to schools and based everything off logic for applications. But my decision to go here was that it truly felt like it could be my home for the next 4 years. Honestly, I was not expecting to fall in love with OSU COP before my interview, but it was the best decision I could have made.

At the end of the day, you need to determine what fit means to you. Stop looking at schools like they are just numbers and look at fit during your interviews. You won’t regret going to a school that feels like a home away from home! And remember that your interviews are just as much as you interviewing the school as the school interviewing you.

Good luck!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at sakai.22@osu.edu.

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Fall Fun in Columbus

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There are lots of fun things to do in Columbus in the fall!  Here are just of few of the things going on in and around the city:

  • Highball – Oct 23-24, 2015
    • “HighBall is the nation’s fiercest costume party. Staged in the fashion capital of Columbus, this yearly event for the Halloween season bridges runway style with the culture of the Short North Arts District. Be a part of the HighBall street spectacle and model yourself on High Street. At HighBall, you are what you wear.”
  • Circleville Pumpkin Show – Oct 21-24, 2015
    • Circleville is just 30 minutes south of Columbus!  The famous Pumpkin Show offers “Amusement Rides, Games, Two Parades Daily (except Saturday), Exhibits, Arts & Crafts, Food, Food & More Food!”
  • North Market Flea Market Sundays – Last one Oct 25, 2015
    • “North Market and Columbus Flea present Market Flea on Sundays starting June 7th, running through October. Market Flea is located at North Market’s outdoor pavilion and will showcase the best-in-class artisans, vintage sellers, jewelry designers, crafters, artists and furniture makers.”
  • Leeds Farm – Sept 19 – Oct 31, 2015
    • “We feature fall family fun on the farm. Spend the day getting plenty of fresh air and having fun as a family in our many barnyard and outdoor activities for the young and young at heart. Select the perfect pumpkin from the thousands we grow right here on our farm. Marvel over blue pumpkins, fairytale pumpkins, exotic shapes of gourds and more.
    • Don’t miss feeding the goats and visiting the pigs. Listen for donkeys to bray or feed the fish from our pond dock. We’ve got enough farm and fun activities to keep your family moving all day, including our Back 40 barnyard activities, hayrides, farm animals, and farm pond.
    • Educational school tours and private parties are available. Leeds Farm is located in Ostrander, Ohio, between Marysville and Delaware on State Rt. 36.”
  • Pigeon Roost Farm
    • “This year we celebrate our 35th year of Farm Family Fun in Hebron, Ohio!  PumpkinFest is open every day, from September 12 through November 1, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Lots of great fun for the whole family, with giant slides, challenging mazes, a new fort, and some of the most fantastic displays of pumpkins you’ll ever see.”
  • Ohio Renaissance Festival – Sept 5 – Oct 25, 2015
    • “Thrill…Feast…Watch…Shop…Explore…Enjoy!  Forget your cares and step back in time to this 30-acre re-created 16th Century English village and enjoy over 400 years of fun in a single day! The festival offers something for everyone featuring nearly 100 shows daily on 11 stages, over 135 unique arts and crafts shops, hearty food and drink, games of skill and human-powered rides to amuse all ages.”
  • Cedar Point Haunt
    • Fridays: 6pm – Midnight
    • Saturdays: 11am – Midnight
    • Sundays: 11am – 8pm
    • Open 11am-10pm on October 11th
  • Columbus International Festival – Nov 7-8, 2015
    • “The 2015 Columbus International Festival will continue a 60 year tradition of bringing together the diverse cultural community in Central Ohio. We are proud to present many new and exciting features such as:
      • Live cultural entertainment and fashion show
      • Ethnic foods and cooking demonstrations
      • Free festival “Passport” and global activities for kids
      • Parade of Nations, Sat & Sun, 3 p.m.
      • Free flu shots, eye, dental and other medical screening free of cost
      • Children’s activities and arts & crafts, free of cost
      • Naturalized Citizenship Oath Ceremony by a federal judge at our CIF stage”

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National Mental Health Awareness Week: Dealing with Stress

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Are you stressed?

A recent American College Health Survey found stress, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, interpersonal concerns, death of a significant other and alcohol use among the top ten health impediments to academic performance.

Being a pharmacy student can be exhausting!  There’s a lot of pressure to be exceptional academically, personally, and professionally.  Taking some time for yourself each week is incredibly important so that you don’t burn out.

What can you do?  Set aside time to relax and recuperate! Create a positive state of mind to foster creativity, stress relief, and connectedness with your support groups.

Try these stress management tips:

  • Recognize the warning signs of stress, such as anxiety, irritability and muscle tension so that you can step back if you have too much on your plate
  • Learn problem-solving skills so that you can anticipate challenges and cope with setbacks
  • Practice relaxation skills, such as yoga, stretching, massage, deep breathing or meditation
  • Engage in regular physical activity or exercise
  • Eat well and limit alcohol and caffeine
  • Get adequate sleep – make it a priority!
  • Get encouragement from supportive friends, family, and mentors
  • Don’t be afraid to take a break and breathe
  • If you ever feel like you need help – please reach out!

If you are experiencing personal problems or situational crises, please contact:

  • The College of Pharmacy Office of Student Services: Room 150 Parks Hall (614-292-5001)
  • OSU Counseling and Consultation Services (614-292-5766) for assistance, support and advocacy (this service is free and confidential)
    • Visit www.ccs.osu.edu for additional information on their services, including group counseling and workshops
    • Open 9a-4p M-F
    • CCS services are free up to 10 sessions per academic year, and those with student insurance are eligible to be seen with a co-pay thereafter

Each student has a student mentor that is specifically trained to help you cope with all the stress that being a pharmacy student might bring.  Also, all the faculty at the College of Pharmacy are caring and understanding.  They really want students to be healthy and happy so that they can perform at their maximum potential.  In the Office of Student Affairs, Joe Orozco (orozco.5@osu.edu) and Kelly Crum (crum.159@osu.edu) are available resources.  We also have an on-site counselor at the Student Affairs office, Shawn Levstek, Psy.D.  Shawn presents programs geared toward improving stress management, improving coping mechanisms, and overall wellness, and is at our college on Tuesdays and Friday, located in 138B Parks Hall. If you are interested in counseling or have any questions for him, contact Dr. Levstek by email anytime at levstek.4@osu.edu.

The Ohio State University College of Medicine has a list of Columbus Community Mental Health Resources on their website.

If you need immediate assistance:

  • Life threatening emergencies
    • Go to nearest ER or call 911
  • Suicidal Ideation
    • Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255
    • 24/7 suicide hotline at 1-800-784-2433
    • Columbus hotline 614-221-5445
    • OSU Emergency Dept. 614-293-8333
  • Netcare Access Crisis Hotline: 24 hour mental health and substance abuse intervention 614-276-2273

Special thanks to Kiersten Pasternak for the mental health resource information.

And as always, I’m here and happy to help.  Email me at zhang.1177@osu.edu!

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