1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.
For my STEP Signature Project, I participated in the study aboard program called The Danish Institute of Study Abroad (DIS): Copenhagen. Within this program, I was able to take a three week course in Copenhagen, Denmark called Human Health and Disease: A Clinical Approach. The course was taught by physicians, who are currently working within Denmark.
2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?
When choosing my STEP Signature Project, I realized that I wanted to participate in a study aboard program that would not just count towards my major, but would challenge me to venture outside my comfort zone. I had never traveled by myself before. Initially, I thought I was independent. However, as I reflected before my final decision, I noticed I was very dependent on my friends, family, and the community at OSU. This realization made me decide on a program I knew little about and none of my friend had participated in.
After completing the three-week course, I now understand more about different cultures within Denmark, other students’ perspectives, and myself. Originally, I was very hesitant on leaving my community I had built at OSU to journey to a very different environment and construct a whole new one. However, my hesitation turned into excitement when I arrived and everyone was just a nervous as I was.
Within the three-weeks, I had made so many new friends from different US and Danish universities. However, I still wanted to learn more about myself, so I went to grocery stores, restaurants, metro stations, and tourist attractions all by myself. In all of my solo adventures, I never once used my cellphone online mapping service. Without using an online mapping service on my phone, I relied only on my own intuition from other adventures I had taken in Denmark to get me to my next destination. I discovered I can indeed be independent. My new understanding of the world is that I can conquer and explore it freely and independently. I came back to the US appreciating my community, but knew that I can do things on my own as well.
3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you?
During my experience to Denmark, many of my interactions, new relationships, and activities led me towards my transformation to my new found understanding of independence. The first transformational event was meeting my amazing friend, Aleah Rogalski. Before meeting her, all I knew about her was that she was my roommate, who was from The University of Michigan. Coming from OSU, it made me laugh that DIS housing placed a student from OSU with a member of our biggest rivals. However, she was very nice and a great travel partner. Also I learned a lot about the Copenhagen architecture from her because she was taking a course that worked with urban development. As a science major, I rarely find myself learning about the other majors within OSU, so talking to Aleah about her public policy major helped me also broaden my horizon.
Aleah and I walking around Copenhagen
Before I arrived in Denmark, I tried to learn some of common and helpful phrases in Danish. I wanted to become immersed into the new culture I was about to live in. However, it was not until I arrived that I learned that there was no word for “please” or “excuse me.” The Danish culture is a lot about being quiet and minding ones own business. If you look lost, the locals will not come up to you and ask if you need any help. They assume they are being polite by giving you the chance to figure it out; however, if you initiate and ask for direction, they will gladly help you. Many of my experiences getting lost helped me explore new places as well as challenge myself to ask for assistance from a complete stranger.
Continuing my quest for discovering more independence, I became known as the walking map in the course I took. Many of my peers looked to me if their internet mapping service was not working. This was a new role and skill I never really knew I possessed. Without having an internet international cell phone plan, I was able to be more observant to my surroundings. I learned how to use the metro, train, and bus system without assistance. Therefore, when my friends and I wanted to travel to Frederiksborg Castle, I aided in organizing and finding our way there.
Fredericksburg Castle
While creating new friendships, discovering a new culture, and navigating a new territory allowed me to become more independent, I also learned more about myself as a student. Human Health and Disease was a fast-paced course with three exams, three papers, and a presentation, within less than three weeks. Much of the information was new and I had to take a lot of time to read and study. However, this course was beneficial. As a science major with aspirations to go to medical school, I never thought studying abroad was going to fit in my busy course schedule. This course gave me so much information in a short amount of time that has prepared me for the rigor to medical school. I learned that I can keep up with the heavy course load outside of class, while continuing the intellectual conversation within class. Overall, this experience has allowed me to uncover new aspects about myself as well as grow as an individual.
Human Health and Disease: DIS Summer 2017
4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?
My signature project transformed my view on myself. I am a more confident and independent person. Meeting amazing people from around the world and learning their stories has broaden my boarders as a more cultured and understanding individual. Exploring new territories without an online map has increased my confidence in my decision making and will continue to provide with a useful skill throughout my life. The fast-paced course prepared me for my future endeavors as a medical student and later a physician. This influential experience has helped me academically, personally, and professionally. By participating in this project, I know I will be able to live on my own and stretch my comfort zone. I will continue to use, develop, and reflect on the skills that I have acquired. Being a science major, I never thought it was possible to travel abroad. But thanks to STEP and the DIS program, I have been able to grow and discover more about myself.