- 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.