My First Year

I hate looking back on old times. That bittersweet feeling in my gut- I just simply don’t like it. So, I have learned to try my best to fight the urge to dwell on nostalgic and melancholy memories. In writing, talking, and simply thinking on the past academic year, though, this task seems very near impossible.

I came to Ohio State a very nervous outsider and an apathetic academic. To be sure, I am in large part the same searching kid that I was around the time of my high school graduation: searching for meaning in my life pursuits, for purpose in my studies, and for answers to questions about my role in the larger world.

Strange and perhaps cliché as it may sound, I think this academic year taught me the value of community within these pursuits. Being surrounded by fellow IA scholars, OSU students, and Columbus citizens certainly taught me many invaluable lessons, and gave me more memories than I could ever begin to recount in an infinite amount of blog posts. But with it all, I look back, and a see that the journey I am traveling is one I travel with fellow learners beside me, with mentors ahead of me, and with God above me. Bittersweet, no doubt. That hard feeling in my gut? Yep.

But a smile, nonetheless. It’s certainly a blessing to have had something worth missing.

 

An Evening Understanding Snowden

One of the most interesting nights of my entire freshman year featured a Skype interview with the world’s most infamous whistleblower: Edward Snowden. He discussed his story, the then-looming election, and resolutions he has reached in his time of asylum in Moscow.

Whatever your opinion of the man and/or his actions, Snowden has undeniably unleashed an issue that our country, along with the rest of the world, will have to address in the coming years: the surveillance state. Snowden’s story is one worth hearing, vitriol, controversy and all

Swinging Out of My Comfort Zone

My first semester at OSU has taught me the value of friendship- especially friendships that force you out of your comfort zone to experience something that will last well beyond a flustering moment or a frustrating failure at a dance step.

I don’t think it would be fair to reflect on my freshman year of college for any length of time without mentioning my completely unpredictable and newfound love for swing dancing. When a few people began to suggest we go to a jazz club to swing dance, I was entrenched in the “yes man” mentality that I immediately was on board. I didn’t have time to worry about potentially making a fool of myself; I just went. And I couldn’t be more glad that I did.

I got to know people that night that I otherwise would never have known. Sure, I knew them all by name. But now we all had an experience together- one of laughter, flustering and awkwardly shifting across a floor- that I may never have enjoyed if not for great friends and the willingness to be simply atrocious at something. The latter is something I’ve lacked far too long in my life. I’m beginning to understand that being a novice at something makes life a bit more exciting. And that’s what college is for, right?

 

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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.]

About Me

My name is Matt, and I am at once a Kentucky kid, a Columbus college student, and a world citizen. My major here at OSU is linguistics, and I am on a pre-medicine track. I also participate in the International Affairs Scholars program at Ohio State. When not stressing over Chemistry problems or sticking my nose in a book, I might be playing guitar or napping after one of my 8 am’s.

img_2160Generally, I enjoy studying foreign cultures and interacting with people and ideas that are new to me. For these reasons, I am excited to be enrolled as a freshman at The Ohio State University, particularly in the IA program. I hope to work abroad with medicine in the future, and I believe IA events & programs will help to enhance my global perspective and equip me for an international career.