[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
[Your “About Me” is a brief biographical statement that might include your intended major, your academic interests, your goals, as well as the things that make you unique. Definitely include a picture! Also, remember that you can always update this post at any point. 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.]
Welcome to my Honors & Scholars e-Portfolio
[The Home Page will show a running blog of your recent posts, which are categorized and show on that category’s page. Please delete this post or edit with your own information.]
Year in Review
After the completion of my 2nd year here at Ohio State, I am reflecting on how I have addressed each of the G.O.A.L.S areas so far and how I plan to excel in them in the future.
Global Awareness: I was part of the Second-Year Transformational Experience Program (S.T.E.P) last year in a Global Citizenship cohort. I discussed topics related to studying abroad, working in and adapting to foreign countries, and how we can all be better global citizens in college and beyond. My cohort got to speak with multiple people who were visiting Columbus or studying here that were from China, along with a doctor who has worked internationally for the duration of his career. I was planning to study abroad in Lima, Peru as part of a Field Work and Medical Spanish program last summer which fell through due to Covid-19, but I am planning to participate next summer instead. I am also taking a Literature and Global Studies class, WGSS 2702H: Modern Arabic Literature in Translation, that will allow me to study influential Arabic women writers.
Original Inquiry: As part of Biology 1114H: Biological Sciences: Form, Function, Diversity, and Ecology that I took in the fall of my freshman year, I completed research in our lab related to fungal endophytes and their impact on herbs that we eat everyday. As a part of the class, I was able to present a poster to my peers and judges (professionals in the field) and learn from others who had done research on diverse topics. I hope to be involved in a research lab in my 3rd or 4th year here to be involved in more original inquiry.
Academic Enrichment: I have just completed an Honors Contract that details the challenging coursework that I will complete to graduate with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a minor in Spanish. I am also taking pre-medicine classes to eventually go to medical school. I chose neuroscience because I am fascinated by the intricacies of the brain and want to interact with patients as a neurologist, and I chose my Spanish minor because I want to be able to speak with monolingual Spanish speakers to make my practice more accessible to the Hispanic/Latino American population. I am committed to doing well in my classes so I can excel in my future career and learn all that I can while I have the opportunity in college.
Leadership Development: I am currently the Music Director of Majors & minors A Cappella on campus, and I have learned so much about what it means to be a leader through that experience. I was elected my Sophomore year along with a co-Music Director, and at semester he decided not to return to Ohio State. I was then thrown into the position alone, leading peers that were as many as 4 years older than me and choosing and arranging most of the music for the group. I planned and led our rehearsals three times a week, and through that challenge I was forced to grow as a leader. I learned that feedback from the people you are leading is crucial, that you have to ask for attention and respect from the people you are leading, and how to juggle all the responsibilities that come with leading a student organization. I was also a Neuroscience tutor my Sophomore year, where I led review sessions relating to topics in Neuro 3000: Cellular Molecular Neuroscience and Psych 3313: Behavioral Neuroscience. That experience, along with being a great review of fundamental neuroscience concepts, improved my public speaking and teaching skills.
Service Engagement: In April when I returned home to Kansas City I organized a food drive in my community for Harvesters Community Food Network and coordinated with local businesses as drop-off locations. I collected over 500 food and hygiene items in the one-week duration of the drive. I was also a Food Pantry Distribution Volunteer at various food pantries in Kansas City, and I have started volunteering at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank recently. This semester, I am involved in clinical volunteering at Tzagournis Medical Center cleaning Covid-19 test tubes under a Biological Safety Cabinet and verifying medical information. In the past, I have also done clinical volunteering at Children’s Mercy Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital over the summers while I have been back home. I plan to expand my clinical volunteering experiences once it is safe to do so with Covid-19.
G.O.A.L.S.
- Global Awareness: I plan to study abroad sometime during my four years here, hopefully during the summer or spring break. I want to develop a more global perspective, and I plan to travel to a country that speaks Spanish so I can use my knowledge from high school classes in a real world setting.
- Original Inquiry: I plan to become involved in a neuroscience research lab, hopefully next semester, to gain valuable real world experience and techniques I can use in the future. I will email faculty doing research next semester to get involved. I also hope to be published by the time I apply to medical school.
- Academic Enrichment: I will take classes for my major, Neuroscience, and the required pre-med courses so I can apply to medical school and do well on the MCAT. I will incorporate honors classes into my coursework to enrich the curriculum I am taking where I can.
- Leadership Development: I plan to stay involved in my a cappella group, Majors & Minors, for my four years here, and I will run for the executive board in the spring. I also plan to join another club my sophomore year that I can become more involved in and earn a leadership role.
- Service Engagement: I plan to achieve at least 500 hours of community service by my junior spring so I am not only a more competitive medical school applicant, but I am also giving back to my community. I want to volunteer during the summers at local hospitals and food pantries, and during the school year, I plan to volunteer with Buckeye Food Alliance, Buckeyes Against Alzheimer’s, and at hospitals near Ohio State.
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 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.]