This past year has been a lot about learning, both inside, but more importantly outside of the classroom. I made mistakes my freshman year, but I came back to school ready to improve. I learned how to better balance everything in my life, and how to take better care of myself while also getting everything done for my classes. I improved my study habits and learned how to better manage my stress, especially during tests. My grades over the past year have really reflected these changes, and I am very proud of the improvements I have made and everything I have accomplished. It is amazing to look back and realize how far I have come since my freshman year.
Global Awareness
Learning about the world through travel is something I have always dreamed about doing. Right now, I am focused on everything that Ohio State and the city of Columbus have to offer me. But Ohio State has an amazingly diverse community, as I have learned first hand since being here. I have been working in a lab since spring 2016, and throughout my time there I have met people from all over the globe, especially from South America. The postdoc I first worked under is from Brazil, and returned last summer. We still make sure to stay in touch, and I hope to be able to visit him there one day. I have met people from Puerto Rico and Colombia, and I am currently working under another postdoc that is originally from Russia.
I am happy to say that while working with all of these people from diverse backgrounds, I have made many friends and have learned a lot about the places where they come from. Many of my classes also talk about the diversity that we see between groups in different parts of the world. I hope that future courses will continue to help me understand more about other places and cultures. While travel is still a dream that I plan on pursuing after college, I realize now how much I am able to learn about the world even while here at Ohio State.
Original Inquiry
In the past year, I have put a big focus on research. Working in Dr. Andrea Doseff’s lab, I studied macrophage infiltration into breast cancer and adipose tissues. I was included as an author on a recent paper published in Cell Reports, called “Lipidomic Adaptations in White and Brown Adipose Tissue in Response to Exercise Demonstrate Molecular Species-Specific Remodeling”. With Dr. Doseff leaving in the fall of 2017, I was able to get into Dr. Weisleder’s lab, and apply for summer research funding with this lab. I was awarded the Mayers Scholarship for the summer of 2017, and will be starting work on my own research project.
I hope to continue with my research until graduation. After having the opportunity to work in Dr. Weisleder’s lab over the coming summer, I plan on continuing that work and pursuing a thesis, so that I am able to graduate with research distinction in molecular genetics. I am also looking forward to presenting posters on my research in the near future. I know that with the help of my new lab, I will be able to further my research and gain very valuable experience.
Academic Enrichment
Another focus for me this year has been on finding where my interest lies in the field of genetics. I have most recently been looking into genetic counseling. I met and shadowed genetic counselors in the area, and added a psychology minor as a way to learn more about the counseling side of the job. I took intro psychology (PSYCH 1100H) in spring semester 2017, and found the topics extremely interesting. I am definitely looking forward to completing the rest of the minor classes. These additions to my original academic path will really help give me a better understanding of this possible career path and propel me towards my goals.
I also am looking forward to some of the other classes I have added to my academic plan to fill some of my GE requirements. Classes in areas such as classics and photography will give me a chance to look into things that I am interested in while allowing me to focus most of my time on my major and minor, the things that I am most passionate about.
Leadership Development
One of the big ways that I have seen myself develop as a leader is within the research lab setting. This year, I was able to take on a project and as a result, I was published on a paper in my lab. I have learned to rely more on my own intuition and skills, and how to ask my own questions to further my research. I hope to continue to develop these skills with my own project over the summer and coming year.
I also have seen myself progress as a leader in a classroom setting. Although I am naturally shy, I have been able to find the courage to speak up and lead class discussions, as well as explain topics to my classmates. I have also learned how to lead study groups outside of the classroom, which have proved very helpful when studying for exams.
Service Engagement
With all of my involvement in research over the past year, I will admit that I haven’t done as much volunteer work as I would have liked. My schedule has had very few gaps, with much of my free time being spent in the lab. However, I have started looking into things that I would like to get involved in for the next year. Having a car here in Columbus will make many more volunteer opportunities available to me. I have volunteered a few times at the Ronald McDonald House and with Habitat for Humanity, and these are things that I really enjoyed doing.
In my future involvement, I would like to focus on working with people face to face, which is something I haven’t been able to do much of with the volunteer experiences I have had. I have been looking into volunteering with programs such as SARNCO or volunteering at The Center for Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. These programs will give me the opportunity to volunteer on a more consistent basis and to work with people, something that I also hope to have in a career later on.