Global Awareness

At Ohio State, I have learned that you don’t have to travel outside of the country to learn about the world. When taking general education classes, I was drawn to those that would help broaden my understanding of the world. For example, last spring, I took a class that looked at the relationship between literature and society. We didn’t focus just on American society, but rather, societies around the world. This semester, I am taking Cultural Anthropology, which has taught me a lot about the diversity of cultures around the world. And though I’ve learned so much here, it has always been my goal to study abroad. That’s why I will be traveling to Italy and England this May, on the Psychology and Culture in Europe program. I have already been doing research about these countries, and I know being immersed in the culture will be greatly impactful in growing in my global awareness.

Original Inquiry

As a psychology major preparing for graduate school, research is essential for success. At the end of my freshman year, I applied for the Honors Psychology Research Mentorship Program and was accepted. This is a program that will help me to complete an honors thesis, defending it at the end of my junior year. I began working in Dr. Sederberg’s Computational Memory Lab at the beginning of autumn semester my sophomore year, and have started my thesis. I feel like I already have a strong understanding of the research process, but completing a thesis will make me even more confident in my research abilities and provide me with invaluable tools that I will use in graduate school and beyond.

Academic Enrichment

When scheduling my classes, I never look for what I think will be the easiest course, but for something that I think will be challenging and interesting. I’ve tried to take GE courses in a wide range of subjects, so that I can have a well-rounded education. In my major courses, I choose classes that interest me most, and take honors versions of those classes when I can. I decided to pick up a neuroscience minor because I am interested in becoming a neuropsychologist, and this additional neuroscience education will be helpful to me.

Leadership Development

One organization I joined at the beginning of my freshman is a club called I Am That Girl, which is a local chapter of a national organization. This year, I am on the executive board as the social media chair. I will be running for a co-president position for next year. I have already learned a lot about who I am as a leader, and have grown in many ways. If I am elected as one of the co-presidents, I will learn even more about what it means to be a leader and how to handle the responsibilities that come with it. Also, I will be a Peer Mentor in the Arts and Sciences Honors program in the fall for the first time. I want to one day work with undergraduate students, and this is a great way to get an idea of what that will be like.

Service Engagement

During both my freshman and sophomore year, I participated in Buckeyethon, where I helped raise money for Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Both events were extremely rewarding experiences, and I plan on participating in Buckeyethon for the next two years. I would like to get involved in more service next semester. Ideally, I would like to volunteer at a place that focuses on mental health, as that is something about which I am passionate.