First year in review

From the first night in the dorm to the last, a lot has changed over the course of my first semester in college. I have grown in so many aspects of my life and I am proud to see all the progress I have made since move-in day in August. The past year was a whirlwind of new experiences, classes, friends, routines, and expectations. I am very fortunate to be in the Health Science Scholars program as this group of students helped to make my transition easier and ultimately ended up being my closest friends. It also was a perfect springboard to help me find my place on campus and prepare me for my future. Academically, this school year was challenging. The transition from high school to college is hard to prepare for and definitely took some time to get used to. The hardest class for me was Chemistry and I poured countless hours into this subject. I really enjoyed the rest of my classes and felt I had gained a lot of insight out of all of them. My favorite class was Theatre, which was a surprise to me. I enrolled in this class to fulfill a GE credit but gained so much more. Besides finding an interest in theatre and appreciation for the art, the class helped me gain a lot of valuable life skills such as presenting in front of large crowds, stepping out of my comfort zone, learning about other cultures and ideas, sharing my beliefs, and how to listen to other’s opinions. Outside of the classroom, my routine was very different as I adjusted to the “college life.” Living in a dorm and sharing a room with a stranger was definitely a growing moment and took patience. It was a major adjustment and required communication, respect, and awareness of the other’s needs. I made amazing friends this semester and am so thankful for the light they bring into my life. Some highlights of my year include the football win over Michigan, participating in Buckeyethon, going skiing with my dorm, and going to late night Zumba with Brian. If I could go back and give myself advice, I would tell myself to be confident in who you are, cherish each memory because time goes fast, and don’t let life’s little moments get you down. Everyday was an adventure filled with new people, activities, and experiences. I am confident to say that Ohio State was the right school for me and I can’t wait to see all I do here in the next three years and beyond!

S- Service. First year experiences

S- Service

This academic year I participated in over 40 hours of service and volunteering. The first semester, I volunteered in a lot of different fashions for different organizations. The Community Commitment day was the perfect way to start off the semester as helped clean the GEMS elementary school nearby. It opened my eyes to how blessed I am to be attending Ohio State and all the opportunities this school has to offer. During the fall, I also volunteered at the Garden of Hope, created cards for the children hospitalized at Nationwide, and helped deliver food to the homeless for Thanksgiving. I loved being able to get involved with a variety of organizations and the wide range of needs in our community. For the spring semester, I got involved with one organization and completed most of my hours there. I am now weekly volunteering at the St. Thomas Moore Newman center and helping with their children ministry. This program helps to foster children’s relationship with God as well as their own self-growth. I work in the atrium with children ages 3-6 and help watch them, guide them in activities, lead lessons, and interact with the children. Through volunteering here, I have found a huge passion for working with children and I want to continue this for the next three years to come. Watching these children grow and learn puts a huge smile on my face and I have learned so much from listening to them and observing the way their minds think.

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.]

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

Photo by Caitlin Chrisenee Photography (www.caitlinchrisenee.com)

Hello my name is Catherine Richards and I am so excited to be a buckeye! I am a first year undergraduate student in the Health Sciences Scholars Program.  Although I was born in Columbus, I have lived in Mason for most of my life. My intended major is Health Sciences and I hope to continue onto graduate school for physical therapy with a specialization in pediatrics. My goals for the next four years are to learn more about the medical field, get involved with clubs and intramural sports on campus, grow as a person, and meet lots of different people! I also want to continue my love for volunteering and work with children. Getting involved in research is another acitivity I would like to do. I love to bake, travel, hangout with my family and friends, and go on adventures. Volleyball is one of my main passions but I also play a lot of other sports including basketball. I’m eager to see where this path takes me!