My First Semester at OSU

I cannot believe my first semester at The Ohio State University is almost over! I am happy to say that most of my initial fears and worries have subsided, and that I am beginning to find my place here at OSU. I have made some great friends, and am looking forward to get to know them better. One of the fears that I had was being able to manage my time. I have found that keeping a planner is very useful. I did not realize how much studying exams required, especially finals, because they are worth so much of your grade. However, I have found out that stressing about them only makes it worse. One way I have dealt with stress about exams in particular is by studying for them in advance, and not waiting for the last moment.

One issue that I have faced that I didn’t initially foresee, is the amount of stress I would have, especially about the future. During my third neuroscience survey, my instructor told us about the recommended GPA, volunteering hours, and research for getting into medical school. I knew that medical school required the three, but I was very overwhelmed when they actually presented the information. I did like however, that in my neuroscience survey, they had us create a four-year plan. This allowed me to assess what I need to do in order to achieve my goal of getting I to med school. It also helped to alleviate some of my stress because I not only had a plan, but could see that it was possible to do. I have also enjoyed getting involved in a few different organizations and volunteer groups, but I hope to get even more involved next semester, and possibly get a job on campus.

I am very appreciative that I chose the Humanities Scholars Program because I have met some incredible people and have had some amazing experiences. One of my favorite experiences thus far was visiting the Cartoon Museum right here on OSU’s campus! If I did not visit it during the one of my survey classes, I do not think that I would have even known that it existed! I also enjoyed going to the Wexner Center. I took AP art in high school and I always enjoying viewing art, especially with my friends. I am excited to go back and check out the next exhibit that they have, and to also attend the various events that are held there. I hope to get even more involved next semester and to really take advantage of the various opportunities that this program offers. I intend on doing more volunteer work, and planning ahead so that I do not have conflicts on the days that volunteering is offered. I am appreciative of my mentors, as they have made an effort to get to know me and are always asking how my semester is going. I think there is a lot of value in having a mentor that can also be your friend and I cannot wait to be a mentor myself.

 

My First Week at OSU

My first week at OSU has been amazing. When I arrived on Saturday I was anxious and nervous, but all of the welcome activities have been incredible. I am very grateful that I am in the Humanities Scholars program. I am majoring in Neuroscience which mainly consists of hard sciences, but the Humanities Scholars will allow me to also learn about the soft sciences. I am looking forward to many of the activities that Humanities Scholars offers, such as going to downtown Columbus to attend festivals. I am eager to learn about other cultures and to get involved in the community. Service is very important to me and I appreciate all of the opportunities that the Humanities Scholars offers.

I am very thankful for the diversity at OSU. I attended the Involvement Fair and it was unbelievable. There is so much going on all around campus, and there really is something for everyone. I am excited to get involved in a few different organizations and clubs. I also appreciate all of the free gear and food! Additionally, I have already met so many amazing people. Everyone has been so welcoming and kind. I have not fully adjusted to the lecturing styles of some of my professors, but I am not too worried. All of my professors offer office hours and have thoroughly explained what is expected of me. Although I have a couple challenging classes, I am excited to start taking classes that correlate directly with my ultimate goal of becoming a doctor.

The OSU app has been very helpful, especially for navigating where my classes are. However, I have begun to recognize buildings which is exciting. OSU has made the transition to college very easy and I cannot wait to see what the future holds!

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.]

Artifacts

[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 is a reflective description of the artifact that attempts to communicate its significance.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

About Me

                                      

Katherine is a first year undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is part of the Humanities Scholars Program. She is majoring in Neuroscience and is on the Pre-Med track. She also plans to minor in Spanish. This past summer, she traveled to Spain and Portugal with her high school Spanish teacher. In the future, she hopes to study abroad and participate in service abroad as well. Katherine enjoys meeting new people and is very excited to get involved on campus. She was very involved in high school and plans to continue that involvement at The Ohio State University. As Vice President of Student Council and the captain of both the soccer and swimming team, Katherine has leadership experience. She is passionate about service and helping people in the community. Feel free to contact Katherine with any questions!