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Year in Review

Global Awareness: The first half of my freshman year provided wonderful opportunities to develop my Global Awareness. I was hired as a student assistant in the Office of International Affairs and learned about the inner workings of Ohio State’s collaborations with institutions around the world. I have also taken some highly interesting classes which have focused on art from around the world. During my first semester, I took a theatre class which discussed how theatre has developed in various parts of the world in response to human rights issues. Since I plan to study trauma in graduate school, learning the history of human rights in other countries and the responses of their artistic communities was fascinating to me. I have also spent time studying world cinema and how film techniques have developed in various cultures in response to colonization, war, or religious practices.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 put a halt on any plans I had to study abroad during my time at Ohio State. This past summer, I was also supposed to travel to Hungary with my mother to assist her as she collected data for her dissertation. Despite these setbacks, I plan to apply to graduate school in Europe to continue developing my global awareness after my time at Ohio State.

Original Inquiry: I have had ample opportunity to develop my understanding of research and the creative process. To earn credit for Psychology 4998 I have worked and continue to work as a research assistant in the Cognitive Development Lab where I have had the opportunity to collect data in person with children at local preschools and daycares. In terms of my more traditional classes, during my first semester, I spent the term writing a short theatrical performance with other classmates on the stigmatization of people affected by the opioid epidemic in Appalachia, my home. In one of my favorite classes to date, I learned about the development and application of various techniques for shooting and editing video, specifically in terms of framing, lighting, and sound. During this time, I was able to shoot my first short film, something I have wanted to do my entire life.

As a psychology student in graduate school, I will have ample opportunity to continue doing research in the field. At this time, I am unsure if I will pursue a PhD, but the idea of conducting my own professional research excites me to the point that I am sure I will eventually apply to a doctoral program, but perhaps after I earn my Master’s degree. I also plan to continue producing short films as it is my favorite form of art.

Academic Enrichment: My Honors Contract demonstrates my commitment to academic enrichment through the sheer variety of classes I have taken. I have enrolled in classes I never thought I would be able to experience. For instance, my general education classes alone have provided experiences I never thought accessible: I have been shown films from the Middle East and Africa, none of which I had ever heard, and all of which I enjoyed immensely; I have learned about the Civil Rights and Black Power movements in such depth that my public education never acknowledged; I have been able to have class with highly-published psychologists, which is particularly thrilling since that is the field in which I study.

In terms of my major, I was inspired to study psychology by my mother, a trauma counselor who will be graduating from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology this spring with her PhD. My psychology courses at Ohio State have allowed me to become intimately familiar with the process of understanding how to interpret psychological research and data. This has not only allowed me to better understand the field but also communicate more effectively with researchers, including my mother. The content and experiences in my major courses have affirmed for me personally that I have chosen the field with which my passions most align.

Leadership Development: Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made participating in many groups virtually impossible. However, the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement has been something in which I have tried to be as involved as possible. During my time in my hometown during the pandemic, there was a lot of buzz around the social change occurring in our country: my town is very small, the kind of town where citizens say racism “does not happen.” I have spent many hours the past few months having conversations with people in my life, trying to help people develop understanding and empathy towards people in situations vastly different from their own. I have been fortunate to attend peaceful protests whenever possible and see change occur in the hearts of people in my life. These experiences have also been crucial for my own patience and compassion towards those with whom I do not agree. The Black Lives Matter movement is necessary to combat the centuries of generational trauma minorities have experienced at the hands of American society, and if I am to work in the field of mental health, I need to be aware of the struggles of all people, not just those to which I can relate.

 

Service Engagement: Most of my service engagement overlaps with the ways in which I have experienced leadership development at Ohio State. However, many of the physical service groups of which I am a part, such as groups through my church, have been put on hold due to COVID-19. Most of my more recent service engagement has been in my personal life. My family are the primary caretakers of my grandparents: my grandmother is struggling with an on-going battle with cancer while we are simultaneously losing my grandfather to Alzheimer’s. I have spent hours during the pandemic taking care of my grandfather while my grandmother is at the doctor and staying over to help with household chores they simply are unable to do on their own- all while working full-time and tending to my own mental health. The pandemic put a damper on plans I had to serve the greater community but has allowed me to serve my family in the time we have left together.

G.O.A.L.S.

  • Global Awareness: Coming from a small town, I am eager to experience all the diversity Ohio State has to offer. Quite frankly, simply being at Ohio State opens doors for interactions it is unlikely for me to experience in my small town. During my time at Ohio State, I have been able to work in the Office of International Affairs where I not only gained valuable office experience but learned about our University’s interactions with the rest of the world. I have also taken advantage of the wide variety of classes offered at Ohio State and have been able to spend time studying world cinema, African literature, and forms of theater practiced around the world.

 

  • Original Inquiry: as an Honors student in the psychology program, I will spend time working in the Cognitive Development Lab for class credit but also for general lab experience. Developmental psychology is fascinating to me but is also practical for an understanding of emotional trauma, the field in which I plan to work as a counselor. I have not taken on a minor, but since I have completed so many G.E. requirements prior to attending Ohio State, I have many open options for the classes in which I can enroll. I have taken a few theatre and film classes which has allowed me to write short scripts, discuss the traditions of various cultures, and shoot my own short films.

 

  • Academic Enrichment: My planned curriculum as well as my work study position are necessary for achieving the goals I have set for myself. Honors psychology classes are challenging and are important in that the quality of work will prepare me for graduate school, and that I am making connections with professionals in my future field. I also have vast opportunities to take classes which explore my other interests, such as music and film, with students and faculty who are just as passionate about and invested in these areas as I am. My work study position was an exciting way to network and meet faculty who helped me learn professionalism as well as gain office experience.

 

  • Leadership Development: An important part of being a leader is enabling others to also become leaders themselves. My work study position allowed me to practice collaborations on projects and taking initiative with my own work. The abundance of group projects in which I have participated for class has also been valuable in my developing patience and understanding the necessity of making sure all voices are heard. Since I plan on becoming a clinical counselor, it is important for me to develop effective communication skills, and that as a leader, I learn not to simply tell others what to do, but act as more of a guide while not excluding the input of others.

 

  • Service Engagement: In my hometown, I was involved in the community through service projects at my church, as well as through programs such as the Gallia County Youth Coalition which provided helped to spread mental health awareness throughout the community. Ohio State has plenty of service events and organizations, not the least of which is BuckeyeThon in which I am participating for the first time this year. The work I do in the cognitive development lab is focused on how young children make decisions and process information, and this data is vital to our understanding of how to properly educate and care for children. This year in particular during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the reassurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, I am doing my part by taking the necessary safety precautions to protect my community as well as supporting the fight for social change in any way I am able. I believe that to effectively serve people in my career I must make a practice of doing so in my personal life. Empathy is crucial to effective counseling.

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.]

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 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

My name is Brett Sisson, and I am a first year at The Ohio State University. I am a native Ohioan from Gallipolis, Ohio, a very small Appalachian community. During my time in high school, I was able to participate in the College Credit Plus program at the University of Rio Grande, through which I earned an associate degree in psychology. My ultimate goal is to be a trauma counselor in my home region which is lacking in mental health resources.

I love playing music and creating art, and I spent many hours in high school playing percussion in Rio Grande’s ensembles and bands. I enjoy drawing and shooting and editing video. Since I am from a small town, I am excited to explore what Columbus had to offer in the world of music, art, and film!