My 2nd Year HSS Service Project

For my service project, I volunteered at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. At NCH my main role was to interact with patients in developmental play. I would go room to room on my inpatient floor, playing with, or simply talking with patients to make the hospital environment more comfortable and familiar.
The target population of my work was patients at NCH (ages 0-20)
I have been volunteering in this role for several years now, and I am always amazed by how simple gestures can change a patient, or anyone’s mood and improve their day, and I try to apply this in everything I do.
To get involved in volunteering at NCH, apply on their website: https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving/ways-to-give/volunteering/college-volunteers
And feel free to contact me with any questions! Email: rajan.69@osu.edu


A

My First Year

My first year started out pretty smoothly, I was getting good grades, taking quality notes, and still finding time to hang out with new friends and stay in shape. Then the worst thing happened: I aced my first Gen Chem midterm. While this seemed like a positive at the time, and it definitely was, this opened the floodgates for complacency. My attention in classes following that first midterm went down, the quality of my notes and my attention to deadlines also suffered. Eventually, I was able to realize I had made a mistake and correct my course, but that realization came later in the semester than it should have. In the spring semester, I began the same way, rejuvenated from vacation and ready to perform in Gen Chem 2. I once again got an A on the first midterm. This time I knew it was only the beginning of a long semester. I still found Gen-Chem 2 to be challenging, with a much greater emphasis on outside of class learning. This is where most of my study habits got solidified, and where I did the most growing as a student. Admittedly, my second semester had many fewer fun excursions, partially due to the weather, as well as the impending chemistry midterms every 3-4 weeks. To an incoming freshman, my number one piece of advice would be to seize as many opportunities as possible at the start of the year. Commitments are much easier to work into your schedule before classes begin to move at full speed. I would also recommend that once you identify a study strategy that works for you, to always fall back on it as a habit. This will serve as your safety net when different study methods can’t apply to a certain context. Most importantly, make time for yourself, find an outlet for your feelings or even just a constructive way to relax and unwind. You will stay sane, and thank yourself for it.

Service

In order to fulfill my 20 hours of community service this academic year, I used a plethora of resources, both at The Ohio State University and at home. Through Community Commitment along with fellow health science scholars, I got to restore a butterfly garden for a local elementary school. Through Health Points, a student organization with a focus on health-related volunteer work, I volunteered at the Star House, a shelter for homeless teenagers, where I helped with the stocking of donated clothes. Occasionally, when I returned home for the weekends, I would visit the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Urgent Care where I volunteered in high school and helped out at the front desk with making copies. Finally, my high school club rowing team hosts a regional fall and spring regatta each year, and with my latest trip home, I was able to help set up the event. My times serving others this academic year have only reinforced my passion for lifelong service, and I’m looking forward to using many more Ohio State resources to advance this goal in the future.

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

Hello! I’m Pranav Rajan. I am from New Albany, OH, a close Columbus suburb. I’m a 1st year majoring in Economics on the Pre Medicine track, and I am also a member of the Health Sciences Scholars Program. I am fascinated by the topics of sociology, evolutionary psychology, and neuroscience, and I’m hoping to add a neuroscience minor during the spring semester. My current goal is to pursue a career in medicine. I spent my high school volunteering with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, so I’ve grown a passion to helping and working with children. I love rowing, and I rowed throughout high school. This summer I travelled to Rancho Cordova, CA to row at the USRowing Youth National Championship, and it was definitely the highlight of my summer. I love the outdoors, and my favorite things to do in my free time are hammocking, kayaking, and fishing. I also love to meet people, and improve my fitness.