At the beginning of my time as a Health Sciences Scholar freshman year, I came in excited and motivated to get involved but unsure of what direction I wanted to take in healthcare. Although many people come into collage “undecided,” for me it seemed like a very daunting journey to figure out where my passions fell and what educational path I would take. HSS has been one of the main incitements that helped expose me to all the options in the health care field. It provided a great community and hosted events and programs allowing me to explore my interests. Through HSS, I came across Respiratory Therapy. Surprisingly enough, I did not even know it was a major before starting at Ohio State! I interviewed and shadowed professionals working in the respiratory therapy field. The more I learned the more I was drawn into the diversity of the profession and the critical role they play in patient care discovering how well it fit into who I aspire to be. Looking back, it is encouraging to see that I met my goals of figuring about what I am passionate about and deciding on a career path. I have also been reaching out into my interests to get involved on campus such as being a member of Mirrors Sophomore Class Honorary and getting involved with the Newman Center Catholic community. These experiences have help me to grow in leadership, gain confidence, and to continue to develop my passions.
I have recently been hired as a student intern for the Respiratory Therapy department at the Wexner Medical Center. I think this will be a great opportunity to gain experience with patients, learn more about the profession, and become more familiar with the hospital. Reflecting back over these past two years at Ohio State allows me to see the developments that have been made and I look ahead to the future with hope and excitement. This fall I will be starting the Respiratory Therapy program along with continuing to pursue a minor in Global Public Health. I am grateful for my time so far as a Buckeye and Health Sciences Scholar. For the remainder of my OSU experience, I plan to continue developing myself as a leader and remain open-minded to where the Respiratory Therapy profession will lead me.