Freshman year has been one for the books. Navigating my first year in college during the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging, but has also incredibly rewarding; I have been challenged, learned, and grown as an individual and academic.
This year has been unexpected in terms of the progression of my career interests. I came to Ohio State most excited about the possibility of pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology after graduation. Today, while I am still very interested in that option, I am equally interested in attending law school. I have used my experience in Ohio State Mock Trial and the network of coaches and alumni in the program to learn more about this path, and am excited to learn more about the legal field firsthand as I volunteer and intern in the legal area in upcoming years.
I am also finding active ways to learn more about clinical psychology. I am thankful to say I found a fantastic opportunity to do so; I will be working as a research assistant in Dr. Cheaven’s Mood and Personality Studies Lab starting in the fall. I believe this will be an incredible way to learn more about clinical-psychology research first-hand and to gain mentorship by Dr. Cheavens, who is a clinical psychologist herself.
Furthermore, I have honed in on my academic interests throughout the year. I came into Ohio State as a neuroscience and psychology double major, but soon realized that I was most interested in the clinical and abnormal areas of psychology. Therefore, I dropped my psychology major to a “Clinical Psychology and Individual Differences” minor. I also learned that I truly do have a passion for neuroscience. I came into the neuroscience major relatively “blind”, as I had never taken a neuroscience course before and solely knew that I had an interest in the neurobiological aspects of behavior. Over the year, my interest in neuroscience continued to increase. Specifically, I found behavioral neuroscience to be fascinating. I am looking forward to taking “Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience” next semester to learn even more about the area, and ultimately declaring my concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience.
Lastly, the highlight of my year has been being part of the Ohio State Mock Trial team. I came into college never having done mock trial, and tried out on a whim. Trying out for the team has easily been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have developed a strong interest in litigation and law, have expanded my critical thinking, collaboration, and public speaking skills, and have met a life-long group of friends. I am excited to compete on the team for years to come.
My freshman year, while unconventional, has been impactful and memorable. I am extremely thankful for all the lessons and experiences I have gained throughout my first year at Ohio State, and am excited to see where next year takes me.