[“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
Ever since I checked out my first nonfiction book (A Brief Tour of Human Consciousness) from the library in eighth grade, I have been fixated on a life revolving around scientific research. From then on, I switched from sappy romance novels to books on the human brain and body. The idea that the same atoms that make up a strand of spaghetti also make up a functioning and conscious body has fascinated me, and I cannot imagine myself in a livelihood that does not focus on the science behind this. As soon as I realized this passion, I cracked down on my math and sciences classes in high school, taking all my school had to offer. I knew that in order to give myself the future I want, I would have to be accepted into top research universities. I worked hard in high school, graduating as co-salutatorian, to show my determination and willingness to achieve my goals. And now, here I am at Ohio State.
I am currently majoring in biochemistry with hopes of gaining a PhD and from there, working in neuroscience research, medical research, or drug development. Throughout my education, I hope to gain not only knowledge from classes but experience through research involvement.
Welcome to my Honors & Scholars e-Portfolio
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Year in Review
Global Awareness:
What have you done so far to develop your Global Awareness? How do you plan to continue to work toward this goal?
Currently I am taking classes in Modern Greek to fulfill my language classes. I am Greek in heritage. These classes not only help me refine my skills in the language, which helps me communicate more easily with older relatives, but they also teach me many things about the Greek culture. Further, I am in a Greek Orthodox group called Sigma Epsilon Phi, which connects me to other students who are also Greek. This allows us to maintain the Greek culture even while we are away from home and the families who have given it to us.
Original Inquiry:
What experiences have you had so far that have helped you to understand the research or creative process? How do you plan to continue to work towards this goal?
I currently work in a lab in the Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology department studying Alzheimer’s Disease. I have personally run experiments testing the neural protein levels after application of a protein inhibitor thought to stop amyloid-beta plaque formation in AD affected mice. I have worked in this lab since May 2016 and plan to continue until graduation with hopes to form a thesis in that time.
Academic Enrichment:
How does your Honors Contract demonstrate a commitment to the goal of Academic Enrichment? How does your planned curriculum relate to your future aspirations?
After graduation, I plan on going to graduate school to obtain a PhD and then, go into research studying drug addiction. I currently am majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Neuroscience. Classes in these areas will help me understand the body on a molecular level, which is important when studying a chemical’s interactions with cells. Further, my minor allows me to focus that knowledge of small-scale biology to the human brain, where narcotics have a strong effect. However, my future career isn’t all I need to focus my academic enrichment on. I am also taking classes in subjects that interest me, such as the arts and politics.
Leadership Development:
With which activities are you involved? How does your involvement contribute to your development as a leader? How does your involvement relate to your personal and/or career goals?
I am involved in the Greek Orthodox group Sigma Epsilon Phi, and I work in a lab studying Alzheimer’s Disease. In the lab, I am very independent. I talk to my PI a couple times a week, but I am able to lead myself to do the correct research. I also help other undergraduates who work in the lab and have taught them many necessary techniques.
Service Engagement:
List the service-oriented activities with which you have been involved. How do you plan to continue to engage with the community?
Throughout the past two years, I have done multiple service projects. I did work through the Ronald McDonald House here in Columbus, which houses families of sick children. Through Sigma Epsilon Phi, I have also taken on multiple projects, such as making capes for young cancer patients. I plan to continue these projects until and after graduation.
G.O.A.L.S.
Global Awareness:
Coming from a family of Greek immigrants, I have grown up immersed in a culturally diverse setting. Being aware of the hardships my grandparents went through in rural Greece is a constant motivation to take advantage of the opportunities I am given. I continued my involvement in the Greek community at Ohio State by joining Sigma Epsilon Phi, a cultural fraternity for Greeks. On top of that, I plan to study abroad in Greece over one summer, which excites me because I will get to experience a whole different way of living. I believe it is important to be aware of different cultures because they offer a different perspective on most situations, and for that, I am proud to be surrounded by my Greek heritage.
Original Inquiry:
Since middle school, I have been entranced by the human brain. However, the small suburb of Avon, Ohio does not have much to offer in terms of ground breaking neuroscience research. Due to this, my personal research was limited to hours spent in plopped down in overstuffed library chairs, numerous swipes of my Barnes and Noble gift cards, and nights spent watching PBS documentaries. Now, I am extremely fortunate to attend one of the nation’s top research universities. I finally have the resources I’ve been dreaming of. Since I plan on making scientific research my career, I want to start conducting research on the brain as an undergraduate student. I am aware that I’ll have to begin working at the bottom, but I hope to eventually work on my own independent research project.
Academic Enrichment:
Everyone comes to college to get a degree, but it is important to truly learn along the way. It is easy to slide by classes, barely committing anything to memory, barely thinking about what is being taught. The best way to ensure that this experience is beneficial is to take courses that provide a challenge and interest. I chose my major of biochemistry because it gives me an understanding on how our bodies work on a molecular scale, something that has always puzzled me, and my minor in neuroscience to focus on a subject I really feel passionate about. However, while these classes focus on what is important for my career, I am taking other classes in subjects that interest me. For example, I am taking a couple classes that focus on politics and current events because I am always interested in the news and how our government works. I believe it is important to focus on the classes needed to further a career but also to not forget other interests because those interests are what give people depth.
Leadership Development:
From the start, it is hard to have a leadership role. Instead, it is important to start from the bottom and prove the work one is willing to put in. For this reason, I try my best to attend all my clubs’ meetings and events to show that I am willing to be a part of the group. Eventually, this will hopefully lead to leadership opportunities. Also, when I begin research, I plan on doing all the grunt work necessary while still thinking critically of the project at hand. It is important for a leader to not only get the work done that needs to be done but also to constantly be thinking of ways to better the tasks at hand. I believe that if I show I am capable of doing these things, I will find myself gaining leadership roles.
Service Engagement:
It is important to realize that having the opportunities we are offered on this campus are incredible, and many people will never be given them. For this reason, it is important to give back to those less fortunate. Through Sigma Epsilon Phi, I do a lot of service work with the local Greek Orthodox church, which is something I’ve done my whole life and am glad I can continue doing here. I also would love to have the opportunity to travel abroad on a service trip. It is amazing how easy our lives are compared to others, and it shouldn’t be that hard to take a short amount of our time out to help others.