Global Awareness
I am part of the Morrill Scholars Program, a scholarship program that celebrates diversity through dialogue and thought-provoking activities. Through MSP, I have learned that diversity is defined by one’s personal experiences, from race and ethnicity to sexuality to religion and so much more. I have also learned that since we all have unique perspectives, we must all serve as social justice ambassadors. When these unique experiences combine, we can all better understand and improve the world. Through my general education courses such as Sociology 1101H, WGSST 2230, and Anthropology 2202H, I have learned techniques that allow me to learn about others through their lens rather than my own. By learning about others without my own bias, I can better understand others in a respectful manner. To continue to learn about others, I plan to do a study abroad in Europe and a Spanish speaking country. The former will allow me to learn about European culture in Cologne, Germany; Ghent, Belgium; and London, England through a psychological lens, while the later will allow me to utilize my Spanish minor to connect with people via language.
Original Inquiry
In WGSST 2230, I created a poster criticizing rape culture, specifically the tool of victim blaming to excuse perpetrators. In Sociology 1101H, I worked with a partner to develop a research project about the walking behavior of college students as they cross the street on campus. Together we researched background information, developed a hypothesis and methods, collected and analyzed data, wrote a paper, and presented a PowerPoint about our research. Within my psychology major, I have ample opportunities to engage in research. I am currently enrolled in Psychology 2300 Research Methods. This course delves into the research process as it applies to psychology, from developing research to publishing it to understanding it. I can apply content from this course to other psychology courses. For example, for the final project in my Sensation and Perception course, I will again develop my own research question and write a paper. In addition, I will write a paper directed at adolescents because it is important that everyone understands scientific research, not only other researchers. I will also take Psychology 4520 Social Psychology Laboratory to explore social psychology research.
Academic Enrichment
It is amazing that humans are all 99.9% genetically like one another; however, that 0.1% accounts for an incredible amount of variability and diversity. In my opinion, psychology goes beyond genetics to explore what makes each human their own individual self. For this reason, I chose to major in psychology. I also chose this major because I am not sure what I want to do for a career; psychology lends itself to a variety of career paths, so I should be prepared no matter which path I choose. I am minoring in Spanish because it is practical. The United States becomes more diverse every year. I am learning Spanish so that I can communicate and thrive in this more diverse world. I especially expect to utilize Spanish in the workplace as I work with diverse populations. I selected GE courses that aligned with interests I had outside of my major and minor, such as European history and the intersectionality of different oppressors.
Leadership Development
I am involved in Rotaract Club, which supports my personal goal of engaging in community service. Also, good leaders are servant leaders who are willing to put the interests of the community above their own. I am involved in Psychology Club, which allows me to explore topics related to my major and network with psychology professionals. I am involved in Humanism in Medicine. I can apply lessons about humanity in the medical field to a potential career in occupational therapy. I am also a Service Committee member for this club. As a part of the Morrill Scholars Program, I am a Student Leader on the Community Service team. As a Student Leader, I mentor five freshmen students who are also members of MSP. I also work with a group of other Student Leaders to coordinate meetings and develop a project focused on community service in the Ohio State and Columbus communities.
Service Engagement
My service-oriented activities include: Morrill Scholars Program Distinction Weekend Host, BuckeyeThon, and Rotaract Club. I plan to volunteer at the Wexner Medical Center and in other medical settings. I also plan to continue to participate in BuckeyeThon by raising funds and dancing in the dance marathon.