Artifact #1

Flight Team has been a pivotal experience in my college career so far. It has help me grow from a wandering student lost in campus into a hardened freshman confident in my abilities to navigate through the maze called college. It has also helped me develop myself into an aviation student, allowing me to excel in aviation studies and connect with fellow aviation students and aviation alumni.

This video was created to introduce the 2016 Nationals Flight Team who will represent The Ohio State University at the 2016 National SAFECON competition. This video clearly shows my growth from my first days in college. Back when I first tried out for Flight Team, I barely made the regional team, landing only an alternate spot for one event. This video represents the hard work that I have put into Flight Team, going to every weekend and weekday practices and studying hard for the events I want to try out for. As a result, I became a competitor for two events and was given a chance to compete for the Flight Team and for the university. Being in Flight Team and experiencing the ups and downs with them have helped me grow into an effective aviator even before I even sat in the cockpit.

Resume

Click here for resume (Updated as of 4/3/2016)

As an airline pilot, many skills can be taken from what I’ve learned in Scholars, academics and extra-curricular activities. In Scholars, I learned how to work as a team and connect various STEM careers with each other. Teamwork is especially important as for an airline pilot, as coordination in the cockpit is crucial for the safe operation of the airplane. Skills learned from the aviation courses have practical applications to my career, as they create the foundation for my pilot certifications and later airline career. Other skills such as studying skills from Scholars and ethical practices from engineering will also aid in my flight training and critical decision making when flying.

My Five Strengths

As part of my STEM EE Scholars curriculum, I took an assessment called StrengthsFinder. It analyzed my responses to 100+ personal questions and determined that my five strengths are communication, learner, input, responsibility, and harmony. After looking at these five strengths, I found out that they play a big part in my current life, both personally and academically. I use my communication strength to engage in conversation with my friends and even use them to make new friends. Communication also helps me in getting help from my professors whenever I am stuck on a subject, which also uses my second strength, which is learner. All of us are human, and humans make mistakes no matter how careful we are, and that’s where my strength as a learner comes in. Being a strong learner means learning from my mistakes, which allows me to avoid making similar mistakes in the future and move forward. Input is a big part of my everyday life, because I always crave to learn new information pertaining to my interests. One thing that interests me is aircraft accidents, and I usually read at least one article (Wikipedia or elsewhere) about an aircraft accident every day (Yeah, real aviation nerd right here). Responsibility and harmony goes together in my case, especially when I work in groups. Since my fifth strength is harmony, I don’t like it when members of my group disagree or argue over aspects of a group project. Because of this, my fourth strength of responsibility makes me feel the need to keep everyone engaged, on track, and in agreement.

The five strengths that StrengthsFinder gave me fully support my current future goals. Airline pilots usually work in pairs, one acting as captain and the other as first officer. Working in pairs in a highly stressful work environment requires precise communication, emphasized by a training concept called Cockpit Resource Management (CRM), which stresses the importance of pilots communicating to each other clearly, and forcefully if necessary. Pilots also have a lot to learn when becoming airline pilots, and mistakes are inevitably made along the way. Being a learner helps aspiring pilots to learn from their mistakes and move along with their training more quickly. Pilots with input are more likely to be engaged with their training. They would read manuals and textbooks outside of training and progress through training faster due to their faster intake of knowledge. Responsibility is a big part of any piloting career, as pilots are responsible for many tons of cargo and hundreds of people’s lives every time they fly. Pilots with a strong sense of responsibility are able to do their job more safely and not take any unnecessary risks. Pilots with harmony never engage in activities such that conflicts arise in the cockpit. Teamwork is critical in flying big airliners and the last thing a pilot needs is an uncooperative co-pilot or captain.

In the future, I see myself using my five strengths frequently. I will likely use my communication skills to network with more people in the aviation industry, which will increase my odds of getting a job out of college. My strength as a learner will allow me to turn mistakes into lessons and use them while progressing through my training to become an airline pilot. I will use my input strength to research about flight training, allowing me to find the best yet cheapest way to complete my training. Responsibility and harmony will help me once I get into the cockpit. They will help me keep a friendly atmosphere in the cockpit and conduct my job as professionally and as safely as possible.

Year in Review

Reflecting back on my freshman year, I have definitely changed quite a bit, both personally and academically. Coming into college, I was sort of still in that “high school senior” mentality. This was exaggerated by the fact that I graduated high school a year early, meaning that I should be graduating high school by the time I’m writing this. I was expecting academics to be harder, but not so much as I have experienced in high school. My studying skills were horrible, and my public social skills were mediocre. But now, thanks to Scholars, I’ve evolved from a new student knowing nothing about college life to a freshman with the knowledge and skills to continue on with college and make the best of it.

Scholars seminar taught me how to effectively learn and live as a STEM student, including how to study for exams and how to work in groups, which is to be expected in a typical STEM profession. Back when I was still in high school, (not to brag) I barely studied for tests and quizzes and still managed straight A’s every year. When I realized that I won’t be able to make it through college with that mindset, I forced myself to change. I took detailed notes in every class and asked questions when necessary. I began to actually study at least several days to a week before a midterm exam. I utilized studying and test-taking skills learned from Scholars seminar. As a result, all of that effort I put in turned into a successful freshman year, with academic skills that I can use in my future college classes and eventually in my professional career.

STEM Scholars also provided me with the opportunity to volunteer for the community, helping out kids at nearby schools and exhibiting simple yet exciting experiments to COSI visitors. These volunteering experiences were not only very fun, but it also helped me refine my public service skills. As I haven’t had an opportunity to hold a part-time job or volunteer extensively before, my public social skills were lacking. But helping out kids at schools and interacting with visitors at COSI gave me the opportunity to see how I do well in public and gauge where I need improving. I believe that being good at public service is an important factor in creating a successful career.

Besides public service skills, I’ve also grown up as a student leader thanks to Scholars volunteering. Being the “big kid” in the room whenever I was volunteering, I was automatically put in the situation of leading the kids. This gave me valuable experience and practice in being an affectionate and effective leader. Being part of the OSU Flight Team also gave me valuable leadership experience. Throughout the national team practice and tryout period, I worked with OSU aviators of varying skill. At times, I had experienced members teaching me regulations and performance calculations. Other times, I was the one teaching to people interested in trying out. Being in both a student and teacher role gave me a new perspective into how I should lead. By being a student, I learned how effective teachers/leaders teach and lead. By being a teacher, I gain experience being in that position and utilize skills learned from being a student. Flight Team is all about being a team, a big family, and that close and friendly atmosphere helped me to develop my leadership skills, another crucial element in creating a successful professional life.

Compared to when I entered Scholars, I think that I have evolved into quite a different person. I have matured to the point that I can basically take care of myself without help from my parents and act independently with my judgement and wits. I’ve also become a much more approachable person, as Scholars has taught me how to work with groups and evolve my personal ideas and views with others’ inputs. I can now think outside the box effectively and lead people and students if called upon. I think that being in STEM Scholars has transformed me into a better student and prepared me immensely for the coming college years ahead. I believe that my freshman year wouldn’t have been as successful as it was if I enrolled as a plain old college student. I don’t regret being a STEM Scholars, and I’ll enjoy being a second-year Scholar and the rest of my college career thanks to the program.

G.O.A.L.S. – How Will They Relate To My Future Profession

Although I am only about to finish my freshman year at The Ohio State University, I feel that I have already done many things that have made me grow academically and socially and that I can apply to the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S. Furthermore, my future career ties in to many aspects of the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.

Global Awareness

My future career of an airline pilot literally speaks global awareness. As a professional in the aviation industry, I will be working with people from around the country and eventually from around the world. Aviation is a truly global industry, with thousands of airplanes crossing through the skies and pilots and researchers alike sharing and discussing anything from aircraft design to aviation accidents and everything in between. Furthermore, the amount of networking that I get from being in aviation is immense. As a college student, I get networking in the form of fellow students, instructors, and alumni, who will help me win scholarships and recommend me for internships and job openings. Afterwards, I gain more networking from fellow co-workers and upper management, further increasing my presence in the aviation industry. This will help me move on from a regional pilot to a mainline pilot and accomplish my ultimate goal of becoming a full-fledged airline pilot. Global awareness plays a key role in my quest to become an airline pilot, where networking and knowledge about the industry will give me an edge and make my collegiate and professional career more successful.

Service Engagement

Being an airline pilot technically means you are providing service to the public. That means pilots not only need to learn how to fly a complex airplane, but they also have to be proficient in serving the flying customers. This relates greatly to Service Engagement. Airline pilots not only have to keep the passengers safe during flight, but they also have to provide them with a fast and efficient flight and cater to their needs. I have already experienced service engagement through Flight Team and the Scholars volunteering program, which helped me strengthen my social skills towards the community. I feel that I will use my skills to provide for my passengers’ needs and also volunteer for the many aviation clubs by providing knowledge and free flights to the community. The aviation industry is a tightly-knit industry, with people in the industry lending out hands being commonplace. Likewise, I may provide service by helping out fellow pilots and co-workers, from helping them fix their airplane to giving them a ride to their workplace. Aviation is full of volunteering opportunities, and I feel that I will put in great effort in serving the aviation industry and my local communities.

These two facets speak to me the most because they relate both to my current career as a college student and to my future career as an airline pilot. Through Flight Team, I was given a glimpse into the aviation world and gained crucial airman knowledge, skill, and professionalism which will carry on into my professional career. Via Scholars, I was given the opportunity to volunteer and give my time to the local community, allowing me to sharpen my public social skills. By being exposed to global awareness and service engagement, I have gained skills and knowledge needed to help myself succeed in the aviation industry. And those facets will also likely play a major part once I’m in the industry. I will most likely interact with and provide service to the flying public on a daily basis, requiring good public relations skills and techniques learned from my college days. Maintaining global awareness by increasing my networking across the aviation industry will help me move up through the ranks of pilots and eventually help me land a spot as a mainline airline pilot. Without these two facets, I would’ve faced major hurdles that I would not be able to overcome.

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

Senior Picture

I come from the village of Lexington, OH, and I attended Lexington High School for three years instead of the usual four due to family reasons. With four years’ worth of high school crunched up into only three, I took both sophomore and junior English during my sophomore year, taught myself Pre-Calculus the following summer, and took Chemistry and Physics during my senior year, all the while taking Economics and Health as independent study. The workload was practically double the amount, with homework from several different classes being frequently assigned on the same day. I sometimes thought of quitting all together. But thought of gaining the added experience of being an early senior encouraged me to keep going. I eventually graduated with straight A’s and High Honors in May of 2015.

During my high school career, the one thing that I looked forward to every day was marching band. I was honored to be a part of the Lexington Band of Gold for two years as a trombonist. Not only did I enjoy marching band, but it also taught me valuable lessons on leadership and teamwork. I was one of three seniors that led the trombone section during my second year, and throughout the competition season, I was able to learn how to work with a diverse group of people and to lead said group when the time comes. I learned to value the opinions of my fellow band members and to respect their differences. I have come to realize that those lessons are what have made the Band of Gold so successful for over 30 years. Marching band has taught me how to be a leader and teammate, and I plan to use those valuable lessons on my study and activities here at Ohio State.

One may ask, “How did a music person ended up being involved in STEM EE?” My father, who currently works in management at Newman Technologies, graduated from Meiji University with a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. My father was one of the most influential people in my life, and he was the one who got me into science and mathematics. He taught me the wonders of mathematics and science and the numerous possibilities and opportunities that one can gain from them. Throughout my elementary school years, my father told me stories about how he got a job at Honda as an engineer/designer and how he enjoyed every moment of it. What he stressed every time was that he couldn’t have gotten that job and gained that experience if it wasn’t for mathematics and sciences. His inspirational stories eventually got me interested into aviation, which in turn led me into engineering and the associated mathematics and sciences. Thanks to my father, I was able to hone my artistic skills as trombonist while developing an interest in math, science, and engineering.

What I bring to Ohio State is diversity, friendship, and leadership. I am a Japanese who moved to the United States when I was four years old. I understand that I am different, and I value that. It’s that difference that makes us who we are. In terms of friendship, I am a very outgoing person. Because of that, I am adept at making new friends and spreading friendship to others. Leadership-wise, I was a class representative at my high school and, as stated above, one of the trombone section leaders in marching band. I believe that these experiences will allow me to increase my potential as a leader, student, and friend at OSU.

At Ohio State, I will study Aviation at the College of Engineering and learn to become a professional pilot. In the near future, I hope to intern at one of many commercial airlines partnered with Ohio State and eventually become a full-fledged airline pilot.

-Junn Shimizu

Welcome to my Honors & Scholars e-Portfolio

Thank you for accessing my OSU Honors and Scholars e-Portfolio! In this e-Portfolio, you will find everything, from who I am as a person to my personal STEM EE scholar journal. My e-Portfolio is not just any blog. It is a record of my time and experience as a STEM EE scholar. Here, I post about my artifacts (anything that has a significant meaning to me), reflections about G.O.A.L.S., career insights, service experiences, the Year in Review, and anything else in between. I plan to use these posts to keep track of the development of me as a STEM EE scholar and also as a resource of leadership, citizenship, and service/academic engagement that I can reflect back on as I move on with my college and pursue my ultimate goal of becoming an airline pilot. This blog is a “living” website, meaning that it is constantly updated with new posts as I continue to learn about being a STEM EE scholar and experience the many opportunities that it will definitely bring.

-Junn Shimizu