Author: Arpita Saha

Columbus Adventure

by at

To kick off the new semester (better late than never!), our peer group for HES traveled to the Short North on a cold winter’s day for some classic grilled cheese. However, it turned out that Melt does not create just your classic grilled sandwich with American cheese; there were a myriad of creative options to choose from. As a meat lover, I ordered a grilled cheese with smoked turkey and hickory bacon — the flavor with provolone created a delectable meal. Over the delicious meal, I was able to connect with people that I have not had a chance to talk to. I was able to learn more about my peers and I enjoyed getting to know them.

Afterwards, the group split and a few of us spontaneously decided to pop in a nearby coffee shop for some much needed caffeine. Mission Coffee Co. is well known for brewing specialty beans and its modern industrial setting. The craft coffee did not disappoint, as the caffeine fulfilled its purpose without being too strong.

As I am not a big fan of grilled cheese, I would not return to Melt; however, I would recommend it to someone who does favor the crispy sandwich. As for the coffee shop? I will definitely return with my books to study and drink artisan coffee.

 

 

Columbus To-Do List: Part 2

by at

Continuing the Columbus To-Do List project, a few friends and I decided to take a trip down to Katalina’s as a late-birthday brunch. We decided upon this quaint, yet bustling venue from the recommendations from our peers. In the end, we were glad we decided on the eclectic cafe — the breakfast tacos were unique and fulfilling, and the pancake balls with pumpkin apple butter were a perfect warm treat for the fall season. Also, the fun side wall made for an ideal place to have a quick photo session with friends.

To fulfill my craving for tacos that Taco Bell possibly couldn’t fulfill, I took a trip with a few friends from my dorm down to the Short North to Condado Tacos. We used our Buck-ID’s and took advantage of the awesome COTA service, which is easy to use to get around the city. Once we got Condado’s, we were encouraged to experiment and build our own tacos, which added to the unique experience. The modern music and tasteful food made for an exciting meal at Condado’s, as well as the friendly and eccentric waiters!

After experiencing different tastes around Columbus, I decided that Katalina’s was my favorite of all of the restaurants and cafes I visited. I enjoyed the unique palate that was created from traditional dishes. The little cafe gave off big-city vibes because of its individuality from the bright artwork decorating the walls and tables. This cafe, along with the others that I visited, made me open my eyes to the diversity in Columbus. It is increasingly clear that the city of Columbus is making an effort to be inclusive and welcoming, and that an easy step in that direction is to have a diverse food industry, as most people are willing to explore different cuisines unlike their own. I am curious to see how appreciation of different cultures is spreading; perhaps a new aspect of the city I would want to explore next would be the art museum and art galleries. For anyone who is striving to expand their cuisine and minds, I highly recommend trying new restaurants that are inspired by global influences.

 

 

 

 

Top Five Strengths

by at
  1. Restorative — As a restorative person, I am someone who concentrates on improving and fixing myself and situations I am in. In a group setting, I am the team member that can pinpoint weaknesses and suggest improvements to polish the final product.
  2. Developer — As a developer, I am willing to help others develop a skill and search for personal strengths and goals to accomplish. I love to interact with kids because their ideas are true and pure; I am interested in considering the thought processes of children and adults when trying to come with a solution to a problem.
  3. Connectedness — As a person who connects, I strive to find a link in all things that I do. Although I do not have a set plan for the future and am setting myself as a person who can adapt to change, I like to have a purpose and reason behind my plans. I connect with people and ideas to come up with rational processes during group work as well.
  4. Learner — As a learner, I definitely pride myself in learning from experience. More so than learning course content/skills, experience also provides a way for me to stay grounded and connected to a purpose. I also enjoy working on my weaknesses because I find a greater sense of accomplishment when my hard work pays off.
  5. Discipline — As a person who is disciplined, I love keeping everything in my power in order. That includes my schedule, my belongings, and most importantly, my thoughts. Discipline helps me to think rationally rather than emotionally. The structure helps to keep everything set so that my goals feel like they can be accomplished.

Columbus To-Do List: Part 1

by at

When I was young, I was an awfully picky eater. I’d spend over an hour at the dinner table letting my food get cold as I pushed the food around my plate and grimaced at the distasteful mounds. Luckily, I am a lot older and bolder and I finally enjoy exploring diverse cuisines. Naturally, for the Columbus To-Do List project for my Humanitarian Engineering Seminar class, I chose to explore the Local Food Favorites list. I am most looking forward to trying new foods. Every time I travel, I make it a personal goal of mine to try a local favorite. When my family and I went to France, I closed my eyes and had my first escargot (snail)! I also ate fried gator when down south in New Orleans. I feel as though I’ve experienced a part of a culture when I try a new delicacy of the region. This is something that I am hoping to expand throughout this semester as part of this project so that I can become more acquainted with other cultures through their cuisine.

 

 

 

The first escapade I embarked on with a few of my fellow HES friends was at Eden Burger on High Street. A group of my friends decided to have a bet and became vegan for a few weeks — luckily, we found Eden Burger as a good solution. Eden Burger is a vegan-only restaurant that is known for its selection of delectable veggie burgers and vegan shakes. We took the COTA bus on a Thursday night to take a break from the craziness of college classes. The environment of Eden Burger was quaint and artsy; the burgers and shakes themselves were terrific. This is a place where I would definitely go back and recommend to my friends. It is important to have vegan restaurants around to support the lifestyle choices of those that only eat vegan.

 

 

 

About Me

by at

Arpita Rhea Saha is a second-year student at The Ohio State University. A Humanitarian Engineering Scholar, Rhea is pursuing a degree in anthropological sciences. Paired with her aspiration to continue a career filled with life-long learning and service, she decided to pursue the medical field.

Rhea is looking forward to getting involved in clubs that promote diversity and holistic well-being. In high school, Rhea started a yoga club with the intention of providing students a healthy outlet for their stress. Little did she know that yoga and dance would provide comfort for her in college as well. Additionally, although she was not quite gifted in the production of visual art, she dedicated her time as a violinist in her school orchestras. When she wasn’t scrambling to learn some Bach, she picked up some modern tunes on the classical instrument.

Rhea’s biggest motivation for pursuing her education is the knowledge that she is learning fundamental tools that will allow her to be in a position to better serve underprivileged communities at home and abroad. Along with investing her time in school as a Humanitarian Engineering Scholar, she joined the OSU chapter of A Kid Again, a service organization to help children with terminal illnesses. Additionally, Rhea is involved in advocating for women through the American Medical Women’s Association. With alliances across the school, she is hopeful for her journey ahead.

 

 

Year in Review

by at

[ “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.

by at

[ “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

by at

[“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.]

Artifacts

by at

Artifact #1: Orchestra and my Violin

In elementary school, my parents signed me up for violin lessons and I hated it. Nonetheless, I stuck with it and braved through the practice sessions of sounding screechy and horrible. Once the fundamentals were over, I began to look forward to holding the instrument on my shoulder and felt exhilarated when I placed the bow on my strings to start a tune.

Once high school began, orchestra became a significant part of my day; I made amazing friends who also sought out the thrill of music. With my friends, I conquered the dreaded playing tests and long practices. In my junior and senior years, the hard work paid off and our chamber orchestra scored a 1 during the adjudicated state event. Although orchestra taught me ways to improve myself individually, it also taught me how to work on a team. The skills I learned in orchestra shaped me to who I am today: a music enthusiast and team player.

 

Artifact #2: Yoga

As a first-year full-time college student, I am still trying to figure out how to manage my classes and my time so that I don’t get too overwhelmed. Luckily, I found a release through yoga. On Monday mornings, I go to yoga with my friends at the RPAC to start out the week feeling rejuvenated. Although I currently devote an hour a week to yoga, I am hoping to attend more classes throughout the week. It allows me to take a step away from my life as a student and focus on healing and re-energizing myself.

This aspect is important to me because I have an outlet to keep myself well. It is so easy to get sucked into the amount of work that college requires of us. To be able to keep up with the demands of learning, one must be able to take care of themselves too. Hopefully, yoga will continue to be my outlet for stress throughout my years in college and further beyond.