As a global citizen, I have found myself developing my global awareness by being involved in classical Indian dance, even while in school. Staying in touch with Bharatanatyam, a form of traditional South Indian dance, has allowed me to maintain a connection with my culture and heritage while also interacting with other people my age that can relate to the difficulties and benefits that being an Indian American has today. In addition to dancing, I have also increased my awareness by taking sociology. In sociology we not only discuss patterns and trends across gender, social class, wealth, and inequality in America, but we also look at how these trends compare to worldwide trends and the implications behind those as well. As I continue my undergraduate career, I plan to continue to work toward this goal by taking more classes that push me to think past just the small bubble in which I live in, but to instead consider the lives of those across the world that are less fortunate and how my future choices can work to positively impact them.
As a student research assistant on campus in the medical center, I have had first-hand experience with the challenges and rewards that the research process offers. I have witnessed the brainstorming process, the experimentation stage, the data collection, the revision stage, and finally, the results stage. After going through this long process, I now understand the time and dedication that it takes to seeing a project through until the end. As an undergrad currently studying pulmonary fibrosis, I plan to continue researching this disease and hope to write my thesis on this topic as well. Writing my thesis will require lots of time, dedication, and a commitment to the scientific process.
My Honors Contract displays a commitment to the goal of academic enrichment because it not only contains a diverse array of general education courses and my challenging upper-level microbiology courses, but it also displays my interest in pursuing Spanish and learning more about Spanish culture. As an aspiring doctor I believe that my selection for Microbiology as a major will prepare me for the rigors of medical school while also teaching me about important concepts such as immunology or virology that will be highly applicable in the health care field. In addition, my selection of Spanish as a minor will allow me to improve my Spanish speaking and writing skills, and therefore will allow me to communicate with a broader group of people in the future. My GE selections also demonstrate my commitment to broadening my horizons by learning about a multitude of disciplines as I have taken a classics, sociology, philosophy, and religious diversity class already in my first two years.
On campus, I am involved in undergraduate research investigating pulmonary fibrosis and I am also on the staff for College Mentors for Kids, an organization that pairs up a college student with an elementary school child from a low-socioeconomic area in the Columbus community. I am also a member of the Chimes Junior Class Honorary, an honorary whose goals include academic excellence and service. In addition, I am the treasurer for Project C.U.R.E., an organization that works to send medical supplies to developing nations. My involvement in these organizations on campus has not only allowed me to further my public speaking skills, but it has also taught me how to be an effective communicator when building relationships among a diverse group of people.
Currently, I serve as a volunteer at the James Cancer Hospital and have been volunteering now for over one year. In addition, I served as the Site Leader for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in 2017, and have been involved with Community Commitment on campus as well. As a member of the Chimes Junior Class Honorary, we will be selecting a philanthropy shortly to focus our efforts on so I will be engaged in that service as well. Moving forward, my increased involvement in College Mentors for Kids will serve as my main time commitment towards service as the program is completely free for our little buddies and their families and the entire purpose of our organization is to get these kids to see the opportunities that higher education can give someone.