Journal #5

Woah! In a blink of an eye, my first semester at OSU has flown by. It’s absolutely mind-boggling to think just 4 short months ago where my life was versus where I am today. The OSU Scholars program was the first way that OSU became small to me. It was my first introduction to community, and as an out-of-state student who came to campus not knowing a soul, I am forever grateful. I hope to be able to be a leader and role model for other students who are coming to campus as freshman next year. I hope to be a mentor to younger students just as my mentor has been so good to me. Next semester, I will begin taking classes in the French department in hopes of possibly acquiring a French minor over the next four years as well as continuing in my journey to receive my BS in architecture. I am hoping to study abroad during Spring Break of 2018 with Aimee on her London trip which relates to the “Global Awareness” of G.O.A.L.S. I am also hoping to run for an office in the Undergraduate Student Government in the Spring which relates to the “Leadership Development” of G.O.A.L.S. In addition, after taking my yoga seminar class next semester, I am hoping to possibly become a yoga instructor through the Rec Sports organization at OSU which relates to the “Academic Enrichment” of G.O.A.LS. Though time management and lots and lots of hard work, I hope to be able to achieve these GOALS! Hopefully, by striving to reach these goals, I will be well prepared for life in and out of the classroom in the future.

FAVORITE memory of the 1st semester!

FAVORITE memory of the 1st semester!

 

Columbus To Do List Part Two

Pistacia Vera

Pistacia Vera is a little gem known to those of downtown Columbus and German Village. With a storefront in the North Market as well as in German Village, it is a popular spot for high-end sweet treats and is known for their delectable macaroons. With slightly steep prices, this spot is definitely one to visit when the parents are in town or for a special occasion. My absolute favorite treat is a buckeye macaroon from Pistacia Vera after eating lunch at the North Market. This special shop is a must when making one’s way through the city as well as German Village.

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Greater’s Ice Cream

Greater’s is a sweet shop full of delectable ice cream and other floats, malts, and milkshakes. Being that my family is from Cincinnati, Greater’s has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember! Living in Columbus for a semester now, I have found that one is either Team Jeni’s or Team Greater’s. I must say… I am a Team Greater’s fan! The ice cream is extremely rich, and the Buckeye Chocolate Chip ice cream not only satisfies my peanut butter obsession but also seems fitting being that I am an Ohio State Buckeye. I had to bring a pint home to share with my roommates. Additionally, Greater’s is easily accessed due to its location in Upper Arlington which is simply West of Campus. I definitely recommend checking out this Ohio favorite!

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Pattycake Bakery

Pattycake Bakery is a unique twist on a traditional bakery being that all of its products are 100% vegan and made from all natural ingredients. Being that my sister is a vegan, this shop was particularly interesting for me to visit. I have found that many “vegan” sweets are simply not tasty, so when I tasted Pattycake for the first time, I was floored. My friends and I tried a variety of things as well as bringing home a few treats to my sister over fall break. I definitely recommend visiting this spot, but if one is not a vegan there are many other bakeries that might offer cheaper treats and are just as good.

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Whit’s Custard

Whit’s Custard is another alternative to Jeni’s in the Short North. Not as high end as Jeni’s, Whit’s is a simple ice cream shop offering a variety of traditional flavors. I am rather bias toward’s Greater’s and Jeni’s, so Whit’s was not necessarily my absolute favorite but simply alight. I enjoyed spending less money on my ice cream than the other two shops, yet what one gains in the price breaks one loses in quality. This shop is more of a regular spot for one rather than simply a special occasion treat. I would recommend Whit’s if one is simply looking for a sweet treat on a weeknight or so!

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Reflection

My favorite experience of the Deserts and Sweets to-do list was definitely Jeni’s and Pistacia Vera in the North Market because it forced me to explore the North Market and also broaden my Columbus knowledge by exploring other Columbus pop up shops in the Market. Most importantly, I learned through this project that Columbus has so much to offer outside of Campus. This to-do list forced me outside my comfort zone and forced me to explore so many places that I didn’t know existed and showed me places that weren’t even on the lists. I also found that I would definitely like to explore German Village further. German Village is neat little area, but I unfortunately didn’t have time to explore as much as I would have liked to. I recommend that one who is exploring this list might spread out their explorations because a sugar tooth will only last so long, and a stomachache might set in if one attempts to taste all of these spots within a short period of time!! 🙂

Columbus To Do List Part One

The Columbus “To Do” lists are a unique way to experience the city of Columbus. Being that I am from Indianapolis and had only been to Columbus twice before moving to Ohio State, I am so very curious about all the city has to offer. I am hoping that this list gives me a repertoire of places to visit once again with friends and be able to take advantage of the many sights and amenities provided in Columbus, Ohio.

Being that I have a sweet tooth that rivals almost anyone, I have chosen the Ice Cream and Desserts list to explore. Being that I am passionate about organic foods and being aware of what ingredients enter our bodies, I am most excited to explore Pattycake Baker which boasts that all treats are made with 100% natural ingredients. How fun!

I have already gotten a head start on this assignment by visiting Jeni’s Ice Cream as well as Pistachia Vera. Jeni’s is a standard in my household even back in Indiana, and it sure does not disappoint in its hometown of Columbus. I also had the chance to sample Pistachia Vera at the North Market near the beginning of the school year and fell in love with their high-end treats, especially the macaroons! In Arch 4880, we also were able to visit their storefront location where I divulged in some delectable shortbread and a few macaroons, of course! 🙂

 

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Reflection: 10 Buildings that Changed America

10 Buildings that Changed America provides a new outlook on the history of architecture in America. Despite being a relatively “new” country, America has made great strides in becoming an architectural superpower through new innovations as well as building on the rich architectural history of the ancient world. The one building that stood out as one which greatly influenced our build environment is the Dulles Airport. This airport was a wakeup call for many in America by stressing the idea that functionality does not have to come at the cost of form. The Dulles Airport found a way to shorten the walking distance for travelers by eliminating the need for hallways as well as utilizing “mobile lounges” to transport travelers to the airplanes. At the same time, this gorgeous piece of architecture uses the metaphor of wings to sculpt its roof to imitate wings while utilizing natural light through large glass windows. Upon seeing this building for the first time, I was immediately reminded of the Indianapolis Airport. This airport similarly does not sacrifice its form for functionality. Being from Indianapolis, I have seen this newly built structure take shape and become an icon to the people of Indianapolis. We take great pride in the vast, swooping roof which imitates the fluidity of air travel as well as the abundance of natural light which pours into the space as a result of the glass windows which take the place of traditional walls on the outside of the airport. It is almost as if the Dulles Airport set a precedent which the designers of the Indianapolis terminal built upon to achieve a highly efficient, LEED certified structure. The list of 10 buildings might seem brief, for the timeline of American architecture could not be merely exemplified by just 10 buildings, yet the 10 buildings serve as great milestones in the molding of structures in America. The only building I might think to include is the Chrysler Building, for this structure still stands as one of America’s tallest buildings and has been since it was constructed in 1928. The idea that such sophisticated construction occurred almost 100 years ago is quite fascinating. This structure set somewhat of a precedent for the construction of skyscrapers in the US.

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Indianapolis International Airport

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Interior of Indianapolis terminal facing West

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Interior of Indianapolis terminal facing East

First Impressions

Wow! I can’t believe I am sitting here writing a post about my first week of college classes. It’s crazy to think that only a short week has gone by. With all the new experiences, friends, and classes, I feel as though weeks worth of activities have transpired since move-in day last Saturday! Ohio State did such an amazing job of keeping the first years very busy the entire first week and gave us so little time to even think about being homesick. Yet, as the events are starting to slow and a routine is beginning to develop, I can’t help but miss my family back home. Don’t get me wrong, life at Ohio State is absolutely wonderful, but I do miss the comfort of a home-cooked meal and the casual banter amongst my siblings. Despite the expectation that I would finally feel free of my parents’ constant worrying about my whereabouts, I found that my parents do still worry so much about my day-to-day. Yet, I have found so much comfort in my mom’s texts telling me to “Have an awesome day!” or the occasional call from my dad who is wondering how my classes are going. After talking to my dad and telling him how my classes are mostly what I expected college classes to be, I realize his support is something that can be felt despite his being hundreds of miles away. In all, this week I realized that my parents and family are constants in my life no matter where I go or how far away I seem.

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 information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. 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 information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. 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 information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]