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Month: August 2016
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.
Coffee & Tea
It is hard to walk around Columbus without a cute little coffee shop or peaceful tea salon catching your eye. After having previously established favorite coffee and tea shops back home in Michigan, I was eager to go explore new places to find a new coffee shop I could hold close to my heart here in Columbus.
What is the remedy to a long, stressful day for a pair of sisters looking to wind-down? Zen Cha. Ever since tea was discovered in third century B.C., its calming effects have crossed country lines, spreading its benefits to the masses, including my sister and I here in Columbus, Ohio. After a walk to the Short North, Samantha and I entered Zen Cha already avid tea lovers. With its warm interior sweet aroma, we were both already feeling more relaxed as we took our seats. Back home in Michigan, my favorite tea shop was a little place called Chocolatea where the loose leaf teas were self-serve; Zen Cha eluded a much more professional vibe. Your order, consisting of food or tea (or both) was taken and delivered. After surveying the tea menus, Samantha decided on the “Stress Relief” tea, while I opted for a German tea entitled “Black Forest” which was flavored with apple, sunflower petals, passion flowers, rose petals, raspberry pieces, and strawberries. Being a veteran of Zen Cha, Samantha was sad when the tea was not delivered in beautifully crafted tea pots, rather to-go cups due to the influx of customers from Art Crawl. Regardless of the less than appealing cups, the tea was amazing. Too hot to drink, I took the lid off, let the steam escape, and a deep ruby tea was exposed. The fruity aroma wafted through the air. All my senses felt calmed. My surroundings were warm earthy tones pleasing to the eyes; there was light instrumental music softly playing in the background of hushed conversations; the tea was rich in flavor, sight, and smell, and its warmth immediately soothed. I had only tried one tea, but I already know Zen Cha is a place I can rely on at the end of a rough day. Not only will I be returning, but I hope to bring along some fellow tea enthusiasts to enjoy the relaxing nature of Zen Cha. My recommendation can only go so far, so I encourage everyone to go for themselves rather than simply listen to a tea lover spew over-emotional words at them.
Coffee & Tea: Part 2
Columbus is teeming with specialty coffee shops serving everything from the “Roald Dahl” to the classic con panna. You can’t venture far without a cute or intriguing coffee shop catching your eye. For those who seek a coffee shop with a little more character and spunk than Starbucks or other chain coffee shops, Columbus’s coffee scene definitely does not disappoint.
Kafe Kerouac, located on N. High Street, eludes the chill, laid-back vibe. It could be described as indie and hipster being filled with records, video games, and books available for purchase. The workers sport botanical tattoos, edgy piercings, bushy beards, and friendly attitudes. Although the atmosphere may be a bit overwhelming at first, it is worth the visit for the creative character of the place. All the specialty drinks are named after famous writers such as Jane Austen and Roald Dahl (a coffee drink with vanilla and peach flavors – highly recommended). Come for the coffee and stay for the entertainment – whether that is live music or poetry readings on Wednesday. Kafe Kerouac offers an alternative setting where students can become involved in various activities, or simply enjoy interesting coffee drinks. It is definitely a place I will be returning to, especially to see my friend Mary Kate read her poems again.
In addition to Kafe Kerouac, I also visited Stauf’s one chilly evening. Although the iced mocha was delicious, the place was crowded, loud, and there was barely a seat available. I probably wouldn’t spend too much time here, especially if my goal was to get some studying done. If I were to go back, it would be for the coffee. On the other hand, One Line Coffee was much less crowded, and the atmosphere was enjoyable, with open seating spaces and soulful music playing in the background. The baristas were full of personality and have nearly perfected their coffee-making skills. The only downside to One Line Coffee is the price, because the coffee is such high quality, the prices are equally as high. My fellow ENR friend, Jessie, opted out of buying anything, and instead decided to simply take in the vibes.
My last coffee stop was marked clearly by the giant coffee cup on the roof: Cup O’ Joe. Cup O’ Joe was a really pleasant shop to hang around in. The Mojoe Cool was composed of coffee and chocolate milk, and it is safe to say it didn’t disappoint. The barista was always open to explaining and recommending drinks, which was very helpful when trying to decide between so many delicious sounding drinks. I had a really fun time here with my mom and sister. Unlike many of the other places, I can see myself returning to possibly get some work done. Cup O’ Joe is probably placed higher than most coffee shops if I were to recommend a place to go to a friend.
It was nice to venture to all the different coffee shops around Columbus and the Short North to try to find the one that fits best with my lifestyle and personality. My favorite aspect of this experience was feeling like a professional coffee connoisseur after visiting and tasting so many unique coffee beverages. Although I knew Columbus had a big coffee scene, it wasn’t until I explored all the various shops that I truly grasped how large the coffee community is. I feel like nearly every coffee lover can find that one coffee shop that they can show favoritism towards. After experiencing the coffee atmosphere of Columbus, I feel like I may try to explore another passion of mine: desserts.
To anyone attempting to dive head first into the coffee scene of Columbus should not be afraid or intimidated of the possibly strong vibes given by many of these coffee shops; you may find that you fit with a coffee shop atmosphere you didn’t think you would. Proceed with an open mind and eager taste buds.
Kafe Kerouac
Stauf’s
One Line Coffee
Cup O’ Joe
Career
The RIASEC “test” aims to help students like my myself explore different characteristics of ourselves that we would like to also apply to our future career. The letters in RIASEC each stand for a different attribute: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional. Although not completely sure with what my future career will be, I am exploring careers that are heavily related to my major Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife, such as a wildlife biologist with an undetermined specialization. Although I realize that this career is difficult to earn a high salary, it is not just about the money you make. At a certain point, various reports and surveys have shown that there is no correlation between salary and happiness. After the RIASEC discussion, my code was ARI: artistic, realistic, and investigative. Artistic occupations favor creators, and promote self-expression, sensitivity, and emotion, but they tend to be less organized and without clear, defined rules. Having an occupation that falls in line with being realistic involved hands-on, practical problems and solutions. Realistic careers tend to be individualistic, physical, and entail outdoor work with different elements of nature. Lastly, investigative occupations encourage problem solving, and require copious amounts of in-depth thinking. My code consisted of these three characteristics because I can envision myself engaged in a career that has me exploring various issues, using creative aspects to find a solution, and working primarily in an outdoor environment.
The attributes social, enterprising, and conventional were not as appealing for me personally due to them favoring organization, public speaking, persuasion, data, details, and working with people. Although these are all important skills, I don’t consider them strengths or passions of mine, and therefor would most likely not enjoy a career that heavily focuses of those aspects. The code ARI suggests many different careers that fall in line with these specific characteristics. The suggested careers range from flight attendant to housekeeper, and include careers such as police detective, kindergarten teacher, and railroad conductor. Many of the suggestive careers I have never thought about pursuing, and even after seeing them match the ARI code, I still can’t imagine myself enjoying such careers. What was interesting was the presence of detective. One possible career that I’ve had a heavy interest in lately is detective work and behavior analysis. Before taking this test, I had no idea that such a career fell into the ARI code. Although this was interesting, it also worries me that perhaps I am pursuing the wrong career. I have many interests that are all very different and would require very different paths. Although the RIASEC discussion was meant to help students confirm or find the right career, it only made me feel like perhaps I wasn’t chasing the right career goal. The class discussion has opened many new doors for me, but I don’t think I can effectively walk through each door to explore these different careers. I can’t quite figure out how to investigate these different interests without falling off the Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife path. I am worried that if I investigate different degrees or career opportunities, I will be falling behind on my career goal as a wildlife biologist. Becoming a wildlife biologist has always been a career goal of mine, but without taking time to explore various elements of other career interests, I can’t be sure that a wildlife biologist is thee career for me, especially with such a wide variety of interests and passions.
I think it is important to consider other interests and try to find a way to explore them. It may be hard to choose which one is right for me, but ignoring these inklings completely would leave me questioning and wondering if I missed out on my true passion. Abandoning a Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife degree is not something I plan on enacting; however, I have much contemplation to do to determine how to approach engaging in other interests and passions. I believe the sooner I rule them out, or decide to pursue them the better because then I can start the journey sooner rather than later. I will continue to do some exploring of various careers, both wildlife biologist and detective/behavior analyst to better understand the requirements, courses, degrees, internships, etc. that are most beneficial. I plan on taking advantage of faculty and staff who are well versed in the various careers and degrees I am interested in. Learning about the careers from people who have first-hand experience and knowledge would be an immensely beneficial to gaining a better understanding of which path to take. As for now, I will explore, ask questions, and seek answers.
Artifacts
Mentor Interview: Connor Lang
Connor Christopher Lang, commonly referred to as Connor, moved to OSU from Canton, Ohio. As a sophomore here at OSU, Connor has come to learn many things in his first year of college. From what direction he wants his life to go, to how independence has shaped who he is, Connor has welcomed both enlightenment and challenging obstacles, both of which have helped him grow as a not only a student, but a human.
Becoming a doctor hasn’t always been Connor’s goal in life. For many years, Connor was engaged in an engineering program in his high school. It wasn’t until he shadowed his mother, who works in primary care, that he cultivated his goal of becoming a doctor. With this newfound passion, Connor has decided to major in the biological sciences with the pre-med distinction, with future aspirations to attend med school. Although set on becoming a doctor, Connor still has some contemplation to do when it comes to what specialization he hopes to achieve. Although he is not completely sure, he is interested in fields such as pediatrics, orthopedics, and primary care. Biology appealed to Connor because of its all-encompassing nature. A major such as biology allows students such as Connor to have plenty of open doors, such as PA school if med school doesn’t work out.
Connor realizes that involvement is a key component to success in college. Although he hasn’t done much in the realm of internships, Connor has enjoyed his time as a volunteer nurse at Mercy Medical, a hospital back in Canton. Once a week for four hours a day, Connor volunteered with the nursing unit checking on patients and taking care of basic needs. This patient care experience helped further develop Connor’s passion to help and make a difference in people’s lives. Being involved with the Environment and Natural Resources scholars program has also provided Connor with an abundance of opportunities for involvement. Connor recalls working with local parks to remove invasive species, such as multi-flora rose, to ensure the health and enjoyment of the parks for the people. Phi Sigma Pi, an Honors Fraternity, is lucky to have Connor as a member. Although not technically a service fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi encourages work with Habitat for Humanity and various animal shelters, both of which Connor has actively taken part in. With time, Connor hopes to expand his list of involvement to internships, research, and more volunteer work.
Participation in the ENR scholars program is something Connor is very grateful for. Many students that come from various parts of Ohio have friends who also attend Ohio State University; however, only a handful of students from the last three classes of Connor’s high school have decided to join Buckeye Nation. As a result, Connor was thrown into a new environment with no old friends to fall back on. Being forced outside of your comfort zone was something Connor was ultimately grateful for because it has allowed him to meet new friends and cultivate amazing connections. Being part of the ENR scholars group has forged friendships for Connor that he will never forget. It has allowed him to grow as a person alongside some people he has truly grown to love and appreciate.
Although pursing a medical career, Connor often envisions himself working outdoors, whether that’s as a river tour guide on the Arkansas or Colorado river, a park ranger in one of the beautiful state or national parks, or a wilderness researcher. Connor’s love for outdoor adventure leads him to believe this would be one of his dream jobs, in addition to his desire to become a doctor; however, Connor believes this passion for the outdoors can be enjoyed as a hobby and not necessarily a career.
The growth Connor as experienced in the past year of school has taught him many things, both about himself and about how to handle life when it gets crazy. The transition to college is challenging for many reasons. Many students struggle with the new sense of independence college grants. Students must learn to balance their bank accounts, manage their time, and ultimately find what type of schedule works best for them. Even when faced with such a daunting task, Connor has managed to feel confident with this new independence. College has taught Connor that he can handle himself in a new environment and that he can rely on himself to get what needs to be done, done. Even when faced with trying times, such as Chemistry 1220, Connor allows himself to learn from his mistakes and better himself from them. Nearly everyone that comes to OSU has done well in high school, but when college comes around, “things get real,” Connor states. He’s experienced this feeling many times, but through the nerves, panic, and occasional defeat, Connor has learned how to make improvements to better handle similar situations next time. When asked how he manages time for academics, friends, involvement, and the various other aspects of life, Connor offers advice, stating, “make the most out of every hour.” Connor believes that dedicating blocks of time each day to the events at hand can help students stay on top of things. He admits it is easier said than done, but Connor sees the benefits of sitting down, completely focusing, limiting distractions, and trying your best to finish work in a timely manner.
Connor already has formed valuable skills and ideas on how to make the most of college that students such as myself should listen to. Whether is it coping or overcoming procrastination, learning how to get involved with things you are passionate about, or discovering new aspects to yourself, Connor has experienced it all.
Questions Asked:
- How did you decide on the major you have chosen?
- What type of volunteer hours, internships, etc. have you done since you have been a student at OSU?
- How have you grown because of your participation in the ENR Scholars?
- What is your dream job and why?
- What is one of the most important things you have learned thus far at Ohio State?
About Me
Adrianna Pollee is a full time student at The Ohio State University. Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Adrianna graduated from Mattawan High School in 2016. Prior to attending OSU, Adrianna was heavily involved in environmental and biological issues. As a member of her high school’s Environmental Team, Adrianna sought to make her high school more sustainable while raising awareness about issues such as pollution and conservation. Adrianna has also participated in multiple envir
onmental marches around the city of Kalamazoo. Here, Adrianna and her fellow activists demanded local politicians acknowledge the truth about climate change. One of Adrianna’s favorite memories was attending a lecture from the notable biologist, ecologist, and conservationist, Dr. Daniel Janzen. Lastly, Adrianna enjoyed working with the local Department of Natural Resources to help with the removal of invasive species from some of her favorite state parks, including Warren Dunes State Park and Fort Custer State Park. It is this passion for the environment and its well-being that encouraged Adrianna to pursue a degree in Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife from OSU. Aside from the natural world, Adrianna loves to paint, draw, and sculpt. She was involved with the Paw Paw Art Association for nine years, crafting her skills and creativity. During her senior year of high school, Adrianna entered a miniature sculpture series to the Kalamazoo Institute of Art. Her sculpture series w
as one of eighty-four piece
s accepted out of over three hundred entries. While studying Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife, Adrianna also hopes to further her artistic abilities by pursuing a minor in Studio Art. Adrianna hopes that a connection can be made between the natural sciences and art. She strongly believes that creativity and ingenuity can make one a better scientist. As a scientist, Adrianna plans on specializing in wildlife biology with sub-specializations in either entomology or pathology.
Traveling is something Adrianna hopes her degree will allow her to continue to take part in. She has been to fifteen different countries, from Costa Rica, to Turkey, and Iceland. Some of her favorite places to explore, however, are U.S. National Parks, such as Acadia National Park in Maine and The Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Adrianna hopes to take her studies global to expand her cultural horizons and knowledge of outside environments.