11/27 Global Engagement Night

On Tuesday, November 27th I attended Global Engagement night. I have been attending these fairly regularly throughout the semester. On this particular night, the topic of discussion was International Education. A lot of the students that show up to these events are international students themselves so for a lot of the time we shared our experiences and listened to others share about their experiences studying in the US. As OSU is a very diverse campus with students from all kinds of backgrounds, learning about others’ experiences and how to interact with them is very important. I learned a lot about the process of studying internationally and about the experiences of others who’ve had opportunities to study in other countries and of students who came to OSU to study in the US. We also shared some funny stories about culture shock and acclimating to life in other countries.

As an IA student it’s important that I’m constantly exposing myself to new things and engaging with others in an effort to learn from their own experiences. I think that this event helped me in that regard and also gave me an opportunity to build new connections.

Friday 11/15 Building Peace: A Conversation Between Academics, Policymakers, and Practitioners

On Friday, November 15th I attended Building Peace: A Conversation Between Academics, Policymakers, and Practitioners. We were in a round room, sitting at long tables that formed a half-circle around the three main speakers. We listened to the three main speakers as they discussed some of the main issues related to peace-building around the world, and then spent some time discussing the issues together in groups. I took many notes, which I will share below.

My notes from the event

I think what I really appreciated about this event was how it incorporated our own ideas of conflict resolution on an international and a sub national scale. We talked about peace and violence as functions of one’s own identity, and about the role of individuals and communities in peace building.

Conflict resolution is an important issue in global politics and in our everyday lives. It applies on so many levels that the idea itself can become confusing and overwhelming very quickly. Fortunately, what I have learned has definitely helped me sort out some of my own ideas and perceptions about peace and conflict.

 

08/24/19 Community Commitment with IA

On Saturday, August 24 a group of IA students and I spent the morning taking part in OSU’s Community Commitment event. This involved us going over to the union together to grab breakfast and sign our group in before loading up on buses and heading to our assigned locations. My group was assigned to the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, a place I had never heard of before then. I learned that these kinds of locations are another one of the ways Habitat for Humanity helps communities like ours, outside of building houses. Organizations like this are known internationally for the work they do, so it was very exciting to be volunteering with them even if our job was just to clear wooden pallets out of the way so new shipments could come in.

I’m glad I was a part of this event, as it gave me the opportunity to learn how work done at a local level can make a difference nation-wide. Doing volunteer work for such a large international organization like Habitat for Humanity right in my home town really helped to show me that my interests in international studies can be applied even at the local level and still have a large impact.

08/27/19 Wellness Center Presentation IA

On Tuesday, August 27th I attended a presentation given by a wellness ambassador for IA students. This academic event was designed to be helpful and connect us with resources on campus. Those of us who attended had the opportunity to get a better understanding of what programs the Wellness Center offers here on campus, and to talk about the 9 dimensions of wellness and how they play into our lives. Resources like the ones the Wellness Center offers are incredibly important for all OSU students to be aware of and have access to, so I was really glad I got to see this presentation.

While this material might not seem closely related to International Affairs, it is relevant to our everyday lives and can be applied to a variety of situations. This event was also an opportunity to meet and form connections with other members of the IA community. Specifically, we were asked to discuss with partners or in groups which gave me the chance to introduce myself to new people and even to make friends. I learned a lot, not only about wellness but also about my peers and I’m glad I took advantage of this opportunity, to learn more about my school and my community.

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 guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. 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 guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. 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 guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. 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 includes both a description of the artifact and a reflection on why it is important to you, what you learned, and what it means for your next steps.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

About Me

My name is Alexandra Phelps and I’m in my first year at OSU. I’ve lived in Columbus my whole life, my home is right by the zoo! I graduated from Olentangy Liberty High School summa cum laude and with five varsity letters for choir and swimming.

I’m pursuing an International Studies major, and I’d also like to pursue a human rights minor, and to take advantage of all the study abroad opportunities at OSU. I’m excited to learn more about my specific interests within my major, but haven’t yet settled on what I’d like my future career path to look like. I’m also looking forward to getting involved with some student organizations and service groups on campus.