My STEP signature project involved a study abroad trip to London to learn about the history of science. Throughout the trip, we visited multiple museums and sites of historic scientific discoveries. We then put together a video presentation where each student in the course described a scientific discovery that we learned about during the program.

One transformation that took place during my STEP signature project was I became more flexible. Throughout the trip, I learned how to go with the flow and become excited about last minute changes. I also learned to find the good when things in the world were uncertain. This trip forced me to face my anxiety about uncertainty and make the most of every day.

Another transformation of myself that occurred during this trip was that I became more confident to ask for what I want. I realized that the only way to get something is to ask for it. I used to be very nervous asking for things, but I learned that the worst that can happen is someone says no. This trip provided me with more confidence to continue to chase after my desires. 

My STEP Signature project took place at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. The original plan for the program was to spend four days in England and six days in France. However, during what would have been our final day in England, we were informed that we could not travel to France due to the COVID-19 outbreak there. At first many of us were disappointed, but the result was that we got to see things in England such as Stonehenge, Cambridge, and Westminster Abbey, that we otherwise would not have visited. This experience made me look for the good things in what would otherwise have been a negative situation. 

The change in travel plans also resulted in a change in the itinerary. OIA and our professors had to work hard to determine what we would do while in England. This meant that I had to learn to be flexible and to go with the flow. We were all uncertain of what the next day might bring both in terms of the schedule for the day and the next COVID-19 regulation. We were unsure if we would stay in England or be sent home early and we awaited news from back home every day.  This forced me to make the most out of every day in England, because I was unsure when the trip would end. I decided to stay positive and enjoy my time instead of worrying about things out of my control. 

Part of making the most of my experience was asking for the things I wanted. One example of this was while we were outside Buckingham Palace taking photos. I thought it would be very cool to take a photo in a police hat. I decided that it wouldn’t hurt to ask the officer nearby if I could pose in his hat. I was extremely polite and apologized in advance, but he found the request amusing and let me borrow his hat. Although this was a minor interaction, it gave me confidence to continue to ask for things. 

The ability to adapt to change and remain optimistic in times of adversity will be invaluable throughout my life. We are currently living in uncertain times and the lessons that I have learned throughout this experience have allowed me to tackle them head on. I believe that the ability to be flexible and remain calm will be important throughout my academic and professional career. My future career goal is to be a physician. The field of medicine presents many uncertainties and doctors need to be able to work under adverse conditions. The confidence to ask for things will also be valuable throughout my life. In an academic setting, it may be necessary to ask for clarification or an extension on an assignment. This used to fill me with anxiety, however I am more confident and am able to ask for the things I need. In a professional setting, I may have to ask for a salary increase or new office etc. I can use my new found confidence in order to gain what I need throughout my career.

I participated in an education abroad program in Sevilla, Spain for two months (originally four months, but cut short due to COVID-19). I lived with a Spanish host family, attended language immersion classes, traveled throughout Europe, and got the opportunity to see and appreciate the culture of Spain as more than a tourist.

The primary objective of COWA for Ohio State in Seville: Hispanic Studies in Multiple Disciplines is to expose students to a different culture, while improving their Spanish speaking and writing abilities. I can certainly say that I developed my abilities in the Spanish language. I am so much more confident in my speaking and listening. Before my time in Spain, I was often nervous talking to native Spanish speakers. However, my host family didn’t speak any English, so I was challenged and forced out of my comfort zone. Now, I love speaking in Spanish and go out of my way to find native speakers to practice with.

I also believe I have returned from this experience with more maturity and knowledge about myself and the world around me. After living and interacting with a different culture for a full semester, I acquired a new-found respect in regard to diversity and global citizenship. I see that the world is so much larger than I thought with many more problems, ideas, and perspectives. It was an eye-opening experience in so many aspects and I can’t wait until they day I can return to Spain. I gained much more from my time in Spain besides class credits, such as appreciation of cultures, sense of self-awareness, communication skills, and confidence.

This project directly aligned with my aspirations and passions because I was able to dive into a culture I have great interest in. I have been taking Spanish classes and learning about Spanish culture since first grade and I am so grateful to be able to experience it first-hand. One of my greatest passions is connecting with and learning about those different from me. During my time in Spain, I built relationships that will always be valuable to me.

La Palacio Real de Madrid

I am so grateful for the relationship I developed with the host family I lived with. I would say that I learned the most from them and observing their daily life. I was taught how to be accepting and welcoming to people different from you. From the moment I walked in the door to their home, they welcomed me as part of their family. I also discussed Spanish politics and society with them, and I believed I learned so much more from them than my actual classes in Spain. It is such a valuable thing being able to connect and learn from people that have a completely different culture and way of living.

I also believe that I was transformed through my experiences of weekend traveling. This was the first time I had ever been to Europe and I had never travelled by myself. I came across many challenges with flights, tickets, trains, etc. and I was forced to figure out solutions on my own. My confidence in myself grew tremendously because there was no one else to take care of me, except myself. I learned that I am capable of so much more than I would have ever imagined.

Plaza de España

The transformation I experienced will open many doors for me in the future. I now know that I want to interact with diverse cultures and people in my career. I also can use this experience as proof for future employers that I am an effective problem solver and not afraid to take risks. With the improvement of my Spanish language abilities, I would be confident to use my skills in my career.

As far as personally, I believe that I have grown exponentially in just two months. I will never forget the beauty of various countries and cities and the awe I felt. I developed a strong travel bug, with an urge to never stop learning about the world around me. I feel that there are so many opportunities and adventures out there for me that I would have never known without my experience in Spain.

Puente de Triana

My STEP Signature Project was a study abroad program in Florence, Italy. I took classes at Accademia Italiana. I lived in an old but quaint apartment in the city with 3 roommates. 

My roommates and I on our last night together.

My study abroad in Florence was unfortunately cut short to COVID-19. But even so, I learned and experienced more in 2 months than I ever have in my life. I traveled around Europe and saw beautiful scenes, monuments, artworks, that I would never see in my everyday life. I met and became close to people I will never forget and that I now consider my family. I tasted foods that created fireworks in my mouth, unmatched to food in America. And most importantly I experienced culture and memories that I will remember forever. Every day in Italy and Europe was a learning experience. I went through a culture shock when I first arrived. I was very overwhelmed, I missed home, my family, and especially my friends. I wasn’t used to not having simple everyday things like a dishwasher or a dryer. I didn’t even understand how to grocery shop in Italy. There was no easy mac or Goldfish. I couldn’t read Italian, let alone speak it, and I certainly did not know my way around the city. But as time went on, I learned more and more. I slowly became immersed in the culture of Italy. I became better at navigating and suddenly I knew how to get anywhere in Florence. Florence is a small city and many of the businesses are local. There is so much to do and see. The narrow streets are made of cobblestone, the buildings are tall, there are Vespas left and right, and the people drive like maniacs. I learned how to say hello and goodbye. Buongiorno! Ciao! I learned how to walk to class and the store. I learned that Italians love pasta and boy do they know how to make it right. I learned that it’s weird to drink coffee after 11 am and the right order is either a cappuccino or espresso, none of that frappuccino nonsense. I learned to dress nice to class, almost no one wears sweatpants in Italy, and in return, I felt more motivated to do work and run errands. 

My Italian teacher, Giulia was a big help in helping me adjust. She not only taught me Italian, but she taught me the stereotypes of Italians, the hand gestures of Italians, traditional Italian foods, Italian music, fashion, and so much more. 

Another big help in adjusting during the culture shock was my roommate Mia. I knew Mia before abroad and we had decided to room together before going to Italy. If I didn’t have her I don’t know what I would have done. I am so thankful to have gotten close to her during this experience. She made the adjustment so much easier because I knew I could talk to her about anything. We were going through the same motions of trying to find our way and it helped to have each other during this process. 

My other roommate in Italy, Maddy, taught me to be positive and openminded. She always had such a positive attitude towards life; I swear there was always a smile on her face. She is the best at making me feel better and making anyone feel included. She’s also a theatre major so she has the best impressions and can always make me laugh. In Italy, Maddy met an Italian. His name was Tommaso. The first time I met him he told me how he loved J. Cole. We bonded over this and during these two months he taught me so much about Italian culture and in return I taught him about American culture. He told me he learned English by listening to American music and artists like J. Cole and Drake. He is one of the sweetest, funniest, kind-hearted people I have ever met. One time he came over and made his grandma’s special bolognese. It was unreal. 

My other roommate, Sarah, taught me confidence and how to be unapologetically yourself. I envy her a lot because Sarah came into the program knowing no one; she threw herself into a foreign country with strangers. She was very shy at first and when we became closer she told me she was terrified when she got to Italy, just like the rest of us. Once we opened up to each other we realized how much we had in common, whether it was music or just our sense of humor. She is so goofy and always speaks her mind.

I won’t ever forget the nights I had with my roommates. We made so many dinners together, and we would try and “do our homework” but just end up talking, dancing, and laughing all night. 

On February 28, I received an email notifying me that my abroad program was ending. I had under a week to buy a flight and go back home to America. I was heartbroken. We were all heartbroken. During the last week, my friends and I did all our favorite things in Florence. We went to the best restaurants, saw our favorite monuments, climbed the Duomo and saw our city, and of course, ate as much gelato as possible. On my last day, my friends and I went out to the steps of Michelangelo and watched the sunset on the beautiful city we now called home. We drank wine and reminisced about our time in Europe together. We laughed until our stomachs hurt and cried until our tears were dried out. Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. 

Not only has my abroad experience taught me so much about the culture, people, art, of Europe, but more importantly this experience has taught me about myself. Mia, Maddy, and Sarah taught me confidence, positivity, the importance of friendship, and most of all that I can’t take any moment for granted. If I knew from the start I only had 2 months, there’s no question I would do things differently. But it doesn’t change how special my days in Europe meant to me. And although my time in Florence was cut short, I will never forget the people I met and the amazing times I had in Italy and around Europe. My story with Florence is not over just yet. I know for a fact I’ll be back soon and experience it all over again and this time with no regrets or fear. 

My step signature project was a study abroad trip based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The original trip was planned to take 5 months but less than half was able to be completed due to the global pandemic caused by Covid-19. The Presidential announcement around March 13^th saw a deadline set for the following Monday allowing for only 3 days to evacuate before travel from the UK was restricted. I will give a detailed account of my last 72 hours in the country as I think they were some of the most stressful and yet transformative events which I encountered abroad. Besides the evacuation, my study included getting a sense of Scotland by trying to see as much of the country as I could in the limited 2 months I had.

The main transformations I had thought I would encounter before leaving on this trip would mainly be on my world view and in gaining a global mindset. While I definitely did accomplish this, I learned a lot about myself and my strength as well as about relationships. I endeavored while abroad to take every chance and every opportunity there was for adventure. Often times there were a shortage of people interested to do all of these with me, so I found the strength to adventure on my own. I backpacked and toured all of Ireland by myself and then took off to the middle of Poland one time since a travel companion didn’t want to go on an adventure with me. These may be strange but on these individual adventures I learned that I don’t need reassurance from others constantly and that I can make friends in the most unlikely of places. Through solo adventures like the ones I mentioned or just picking up and hiking in the highlands on a random Thursday, I learned a lot of resilience and that I am stronger than even I thought.

Relationships and friendships are another area I really grew perspective in. Originally, I fell into the trap of staying close with solely Americans and this is perhaps my greatest regret. After I learned to branch out and not be shy, I made friends from Singapore to the Netherlands and around Scotland and these were the true friendships I developed that have lasted past the evacuation. I learned that friendships which are initially the easiest to form doesn’t mean they are the strongest and in fact, I really didn’t keep those friends which I made at the beginning. The reflection afforded to me on this trip allowed me to dive into what makes a reliable friend, what is it that identifies someone as a person you can rely on and contact after years apart. I found it tended to be people I could relax and laugh easiest around. My Dutch friend Elly is someone I met on a random bus to Inverness and even though we have opposite politics, opposite priorities, we can talk and simply laugh. This trip also put to a test relationships I had back in the United States. People I thought would stay in touch with, never really called. While others I would not have thought were as close to me, texted me randomly to see how I was. This, I think, was an important area to grow in because being able to recognize true connections lasts past my time at Ohio State.

Gaining a global mindset came through some of my classes. I had Gaelic, Greek, Chinese, and Italian professors who really opened up the world through their experiences. I may be biased but my favorite was my Scottish bagpiping professor, I’ve never seen someone so excited to listen to an hour straight of the international bagpiping championships. The global perspective expanded onto listening to my friends who were from around the world and hearing how they saw the world. Often times in the US we consider ourselves first so it was different to hear outside thoughts on our politics and economics. I had a talk with someone from Yorkshire where we discussed British politics and how they were set up so differently from anything in the United States. This person probably thought I was at the level of a third grader for the understanding I showed since I struggled to understand the setup because I would try to compare it to the systems we have in the States. Business from a UK perspective was something I found incredibly exciting since seeing the shift in focus when talking about markets or supply chains. This is my area of study and something which I continued to love to learn about in Scotland. On the ground working in teams and seeing the frameworks that they fall back on and comparing them to methods in the US was something I found entertaining.

I only had classes on Mondays and Tuesdays which left some time to explore during the rest of the week and I tried to take advantage as much as I could. Mostly, I spent time doing all the mountains of academic readings which seemed required. I took a crusading class which I absolutely loved and which I took because for my spring break I had planned to travel more or less the route of some of the crusades through Eastern Europe to Istanbul. Unfortunately, this adventure was unable to occur, but I still loved learning all of the drama which comes with History. From the Fiasco in Damasco to the intensive series of unfortunate misunderstandings which resulted in the sacking of Constantinople in the Fourth crusade or even the epic rivalry of Richard the Lion Heart and Saladin. All of this, I found such adventure in. Then there were my more technical classes like Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructuring, where I learned more about structuring international deals and the considerations needed.  Given that I am on track to be an investment banker at Lazard in New York after graduation, I loved this class. I developed a friendship with the professor who was visiting from NYU and will stay in touch. In this class I did a lot of academic research and readings to debate and try to find how firms actually create value in the M&A process. Then there was my Corporate Strategy class which had a number of in class experiments where the entire class had to compete for their grade! It was definitely an immersive class and one where I met one of my closest friends. Lastly, was my bagpiping class. Without a doubt the greatest experience of my life. I learned about the origins of the bagpipe and how there are over 130 different types of bagpipes across Europe. On top of getting to listen to hours of bagpiping, I don’t know what more a person could ask for in Scotland.

When not studying I went on trips around Scotland and to a few places in Europe. I hiked to the top of the extinct volcano which overlooked Edinburgh one day for sunrise and it was breathtaking. Another time, I visited Sterling Castle and Dundee with friends for a weekend. Randomly, I felt cooped up in the city and caught a train the next day to hike around Loch an Eilein deep in the highlands of Scotland near Avimore. These trips around Scotland offered a closer look into the less touristy side away from the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Despite this, I loved Edinburgh for all it had to offer. From sketchy cow gate and the grass street market area that housed Greyfriar Bobby’s to the meadows where I lived. Every night when I’d walk back from some adventure with friends or classes, I could see the castle lit up and every night I thought of how blessed I was for that view. I went to local plays and tried all the fish and chips. I even found so much joy at the church I attended in Edinburgh. In the short time I was there, it truly was a home for me. There was no heat and only single paned glass, so the weather which was as cold as Cleveland’s, was an eternal sticking point. However, my flatmates also suffered and that somehow made it bearable and even funny. I lived with a guy named Sebastian from Poland who had the driest humor and made for the best RA, Alti, from Finland, who would go skydiving on a whim, and Laura, who was from LA and in the same program as me. Our little flat was always up to no good and that was the best part of living there. From our mouse to the cold we could just laugh and attempt to cook without setting off the alarms.

Outside of Scotland, I backpacked all of Ireland getting to see some of the most spectacular sights in nature I’ve ever seen. From the cliffs of Moher, the ring of Kerry, the giants causeway Blarney Castle and the folk music at night, I loved Ireland. It was intimidating to travel alone but I actually made friends in my hostel in Galway and still am in touch with them. We spent a night laughing and dancing and then ran into each other on the cliffs which caused some fun bonding. On Valentine’s Day, I found myself in a pub listening to traditional Irish music the whole night and then befriending the musicians after. I ended up getting hit by a wave while overlooking the Giant’s causeways and ended up learning the legend which gave the causeway its name. I visited far too many Game of Thrones filming locations, but it was all beautiful and made for one of my favorite weeks abroad. Following that adventure, I met up with my flatmate Laura, in Barcelona. There, I was surprised to meet up with so many friends, as I saw a family friend, one of the girls from Galway, and a girl from a finance program I was in the summer before and everyone converged in Barcelona. This was the best part of that city for me, but also drinking wine with these friends and watching the sunset over the city from the bunkers. This was all done over our reading week off.  Before this I had done a short excursion with someone to Poland where I spent four days exploring in and around Krakow. The castle at sunset is gorgeous and the mountains in Zakopane are stunning even in a blizzard.

The self-reflection, relationships, and growth in a global mindset from all of these encounters were life changing. Although I am left mourning how much more change I could have encountered if I had been able to stay for the second half of my program. Up until March 11^th, I had been a bit in denial of the severity of the Corona virus. I had a flight which left for Switzerland planned at 6 am on the 12^th. The night of the 12^th the President announced travel bans for all of Europe except for the UK. I stayed up that night discussing with my parents till 4 am and called off my trip a half hour before leaving for the airport. If I hadn’t, there is a chance I would have been stuck in Switzerland unable to return to Scotland. The 14^th, the travel ban was announced to extended to the UK and Ireland, and with that announcement the last 72 hours began ticking down. After the deadline on midnight Monday the 16^th all flights cancelled so there was a panic of getting a flight in time. My family was able to get me a spot and I was told to try and live to the fullest my last few days so, that’s what I did. I went to a ball I had been invited to which previously I wouldn’t have been able to attend since I was supposed to be in Switzerland visiting a friend. My Dutch friend and I went shopping and got ready together only to have a blast at this event which was put on by my investing club. We danced till 4 am and then I woke up at 8 to run and catch a train to Glasgow. There was a place called the Devils Pulpit which I had wanted to hike to before even stepping foot in Scotland and in my last day I was determined to see it. So I took the train and then caught a bus in to the rural middle of nowhere Scotland which only ran twice a day. After this, I walked for three miles with no sidewalks to where I hoped to find this incredible gorge. Once there I thought there was no way down but I found a “staircase” which was actually just me repelling down using vines and rope to see one of the most stunning views I encountered in Scotland. I ran back to make the bus and then raced against the setting sun to return to Edinburgh. Once my train got in, I kept running to make it to Calton Hill to see the view of Edinburgh I had put off, in time to see the sun set over my home. Then I returned to pack and then just didn’t sleep because I would have to leave for the airport at 2 am. Instead, after I was packed, I met with some friends at my favorite pub, the Golf Tavern and we drank our favorite Whiskeys and just talked until it was time for me to leave. That was a great  night, followed by an incredibly stressful day of flying, where it seemed like a scene out of contagion with hazmat suits all around. When my flight got into JFK it was boarded by the CDC and caused me to panic. Then I had to run through customs which were crazy as I was on one of the last flights in before the deadline. I had to sprint in my heaviest rain boots to catch my flight home to Cleveland. When I finally saw my family, I was just relieved to be out of the danger which New York indicated was about to hit the US in full force.

I view this trip as an extraordinary opportunity. I just wish I had been able to complete more of it. The growth I had through reflection and adventure; I view as useful to all parts of my life. Personally, professionally, and academically I think the lessons I learned are applicable. Being better aware of how relationships work and knowing when to tell you can count on a person is crucial for getting far anywhere. The global perspective I learned, especially where business is concerned will help me with assessing problems in the future and taking into account the far reaching effect we have here in the US. Being more aware of my own strength I think is huge because it gave me more confidence to go after more of what I want when returning to the States. I am equipped with so many fun stories and experiences, from getting attacked by birds in Krakow to almost falling off a cliff of Moher, that I believe I will be able to connect more and entertain people, which is a gift.  This study abroad while not going quite as I had planned, it still left a lasting impact on my life and I can’t wait for the next time I’m able to see more of the world. Because living has proved to be quite the adventure.

Among the many study abroad programs that are offered here at The Ohio State University, I am ecstatic I have had the opportunity to not only be apart of one, but to be part of the Dance Brazil tour group specifically. Even though emotions were heightened and concern did wash over our group due to the pandemic that began to seriously affect the world, specifically our nation and travel in and out of the country while we were in Brazil, through the work of  Ohio State and its Office of International Affairs we were able stay updated giving us the security we needed to overcome our worry and truly enjoy the opportunity in front of us. Looking back, Brazil became an experience I would not have traded for the world. Through the well designed partnership between the Office of International Affairs, the Department of Dance on campus, and the brilliant ICR Brazil staff, an amazing opportunity was crafted for us to learn, experience, and capture. During the wonderful two weeks spent in Bahia Brazil, I was able to gain knowledge about the similarities and difference of what is like to be a professional in the performing arts in Brazil versus the United States. Moreover, I was able to experience the major social dance forms of Brazil in both a formally lead class structures, and informal community gatherings for sharing movement and knowledge. Designed and molded for our particular group, the schedule did change spontaneously and often. However, this made the experience that much more personalized and cultivated towards our particular educational interests; capturing our attention at every moment—feeding our desire to learn more. Providing a distinct cultural experience, I engaged with a way of life much different from my own. For instance, time is such a structured concept in the United States; if a class or event is scheduled for a certain time it happens at that scheduled time. However, in Brazil, an event can be scheduled for a certain time, however people can and will show up hours after the scheduled time with no consequence. Furthermore, as a student studying the art of dance at a colligate level, leading up to the trip I was very interested to see what opportunities and experiences would be offered to gain more experience as a performer, but also to learn more about my craft as a scholar. To say the least, I am extremely satisfied with the results. Challenged to mold each performance to the space, audience, and slotted time, was invaluable to learn and experience as a performer. Furthermore, this program encouraged my exploration as an aspiring professional performer, choreographer, and artist through the introduction of new movement generation activities, new perspectives on already acquired knowledge, and constant celebration of movement. Moreover, this program allowed me to network within the professional dance community in Brazil—making genuine connections with people who mostly do not only work in Brazil, but have credentials that have accumulated internationally. Unrelated to dance, a personal goal I aspired to before this program and still aspire to now that the program has ended, is to see has many beautiful places the world has to offer as possible. The beautiful country of Brazil allowed me checks off one more beautiful place. Ultimately, I returned from this program having gained more experiences, knowledge, and perspective than I could have ever imagined.               

The purpose of this trip was to learn more about the pharmaceutical industry overseas as well as visit popular sights in London. While on the trip we visited the Green Light Pharmacy, the King’s College Hospital, as well as University College London’s School of Pharmacy. As far as sightseeing, we got to see Stonehenge, the Changing of the Guards at the Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey.

The STEP Signature Project really helped formulate my view of healthcare in other parts of the world. When I decided I wanted to go on this trip to London to learn more about their pharmacy system, I wasn’t expecting much of a difference than the way pharmacy is in the United States. I was very surprised to find out that although there are some similarities, there are also many differences in how the pharmacies run as well as how pharmacists become pharmacists.

One day that really helped me see and learn about the differences between pharmacy systems was the day we all visited King’s College Hospital. We each got assigned to shadow a clinical pharmacist for a couple of hours while being able to watch what their day to day looks like as well as ask them questions. The pharmacist I was shadowing worked in the neurosurgery ward and therefore monitored the medications the patients were on before, during, and after surgeries. She explained to me that instead of going to 4 years of undergrad then another 4 years of graduate school, in order to become a pharmacist over there they just do 4 years of pharmacy school then 1 year of paid rotation. It was also interesting to learn that she was able to prescribe medications. She had told me that they have the opportunity to take a 6-month training course which gives them prescribing power to all medications except 2. This is much different than the States where pharmacists have little to no prescribing power. However, one of the most interesting aspects of visiting the hospital was the fact that laws like HIPPA were never even mentioned or brought up. Right when we were assigned a pharmacist, they provided us with a sheet of paper with all of the patient’s information on it from their name and birthday to their diagnosis and treatment plan. In order to have access to this information in the US and to shadow in a hospital, you have to complete HIPPA training and sign a couple papers saying you will not share the information you may see.

Another day that I found to be rather interesting was the day we got a tour and inside look at the Greenlight Pharmacy. This is one of London’s community pharmacies and while it had some similarities to America’s community pharmacies it also had differences. The major difference I noticed visually was the lack of pill bottles in the pharmacy. In America nearly every medication in the pharmacy is kept in large ‘stock’ bottles and the pharmacy technicians count out the prescribed quantity and put it in another bottle to be sold. In the United Kingdom however, there are no pill bottles. Each drug is packaged in a box for a 30-day course. They do not offer different options such as a 2- or 3-month supply like we do in America. While at this pharmacy visit we got a presentation where the pharmacist answered the questions that we had. One of them being: how does the NHS (universal healthcare) control medications? The answer was quite simple, yet complex. He had told us that some people get free medications while others have to pay. The elderly, unemployed, students, and people under 18 don’t have to pay for their prescriptions. However, those that have jobs do have to pay for their prescriptions. In the United States, prescription cost varies widely on which private insurance you have. In the United Kingdom, each prescription costs £9 which translates to $11.25. While this is a great deal for some prescriptions, it is a rip off for others. While most people over there just use the NHS as their health insurance, some citizens have bought their own private insurance.

Seeing as I am a student in the College of Pharmacy and will be attending The Ohio State University to obtain my PharmD degree, I found it very interesting that we were able to see inside another college of pharmacy. While we were at University College London’s School of Pharmacy, we got a presentation from one of the school’s professors in which he told us about the curriculum of the students. I talked about the process of becoming a pharmacist above so I won’t repeat that I did find it very interesting that in order to get accepted to the School of Pharmacy, you had to do rather well on a post-high school exam as well as interview for a spot. To me, I am actually happy that pharmacy school was not right after high school because I feel like it is a lot of pressure to have an 18-year-old take a test and interview right out of general education to specialize in pharmacy. The school itself was rather impressive. It was equipped with brand new laboratories, a cafeteria, a game/study/break room, renovated lecture halls with nice seating, and a computer room equipped with new, large computers. This is vastly different from Parks Hall at Ohio State, but I am sure that other colleges of pharmacy in America look similar to this one but it was very neat to see it myself in person.

This experience was valuable for my life because it taught me to appreciate what I have and the opportunities I am given. Like I mentioned above, the idea of becoming a pharmacist with prescribing powers in 5 years sounds like a dream but to know that you have to be ready to commit to that right out of high school makes me not that envious of it. I am thankful for my undergraduate education which allowed me time to make sure pharmacy was right for me before committing to it fully for another 4 years and the rest of my life. This trip was also very valuable to my professional plans because it was based around the pharmacy and included a lot of activities which gave me an inside look. It was my first time being able to shadow a clinical pharmacist and it confirmed my thoughts that I want to work in a hospital one day rather than in a community pharmacy.

My STEP Signature Project included an educational abroad experience in London, England. Throughout the trip, peers and I learned so much about the architecture and development within the city as we traversed it on foot, on the Tube, on a double decker bus, and even a boat. We were able to engage directly in the culture and history of the city as we moved within the cityscape.

London was incredible, and it definitely pushed me to new heights, literally. One of the main transformations that took place as a result of the experience was an increase in confidence and the realization of my own independence. I was able to learn that I am fully capable of traversing a new place. I had thought that traveling to a new place and making my way around would be difficult, but it was not. I was able to become more comfortable with being completely uncomfortable. The trip was extremely transformational in my understanding of myself as I learned so many new things. For example, I learned that I really love transportation, and I learned that it is something I would like to pursue in the future as part of my career. In a more technical sense, my skills expanded. I better learned how to sketch, and as a result, I learned how to simply slow down and really look at detail. This was transformational because technical skills of articulation, assessment, attention to detail, and communication were greatly enhanced through my experiences of sketching and examining the cityscape from an architectural and planning aspect. Furthermore, the trip lit a fire in me of desire to go see all the great cities of the world and soak them in.

Not only did I personally grow in my understanding of myself, but my assumptions and view of the world was transformed in London. Firstly, as I had never been out of the United States besides Canada, my world view greatly expanded across the Atlantic as I was able to finally lay eyes on a city completely foreign to me. I had assumed that people living in England would be very similar to Americans considering our shared history, but even though there may be similarities, there are major differences. Further, my view of the world changed in my understanding of its development. I have seen some of the biggest cities of the United States including New York City and Chicago, but London was a completely different entity than my experiences domestically. I had assumed that although there was extensive history involved in London, as it is a capital of the world, the history may have fallen to the wayside, but I was quite mistaken. This trip sliced through my world view and assumptions and left a more accurate understanding in its place.

Throughout the course of the trip, we were able to experience so many different things. One of the most incredible things we did was go to the top of The Shard, which is the tallest skyscraper not only in England, but all of Europe. We did it the last night, and being able to look out over the city and recognize sites from each day of exploration was a fitting culmination to a whirlwind trip. One of the main aspects I was able to see from above was a large stretch of train/Tube tracks that ran beneath the building. From the beginning, we were shown the ways of the Tube system. The daily experience of utilizing the Tube to get to our desired destination was one of the key components of realizing how capable I am and fueling my feeling of confidence and independence. There were multiple times I was able to examine the Tube maps and easily make my way back to the hotel or a new location. Not only that, but as were able to traverse the city on foot with additional utilization of the double decker buses and even commuter boats, I realized how much I loved transportation. In fact, I was stunned by the efficiency of their systems and was inspired to think of the possibilities for the United States.

Throughout the beginning of the semester, we were taught lots of history related to the early Roman settlement where London had begun. London has a rich and ancient history that I did not think would be recognized in the landscape. I feel as though in the United States we must go out of our way to find historical markers, but it was completely different in London. I was able to see old parts of the Roman wall that once surrounded London. Not only did I see it at the Museum of London, but as I was walking through the city, we just happened across another section of the wall seamlessly blended into the landscape. A similar feeling occurred when we were walking among skyscrapers and emerged into a large plaza overlooking the Tower of London. People were walking by in their business suits on the way to work, yet there was this major historical location right in front of our eyes. I was amazed by the fluidity between new developments around the old. London has been able to fully recognize their historical places, but new development for the needs of the city hasn’t stopped which creates a unique blend of old and modern that is mesmerizing. These experiences of seeing the old within the new gave me a new appreciation for how London recognizes their history throughout the city, and it also made me realize how closely I really needed to look to see the details within the greater mosaic of the cityscape.

One of the main requirements of the education abroad trip was sketching assignments. Almost every day we would need to find some aspect of what we were exploring to sketch. One such location we were instructed to sketch in was St. Paul’s Cathedral. The cathedral holds much significance in the city so much so that design specifications for other buildings must not obstruct views of the cathedral. The cathedral is simply breathtaking on the inside. Not only is the size unbelievable, but the detail of every single little thing was intricate and interesting. Between the size and detail, it was a lot to take in, but sketching really made me zero in on what I was drawing. This exercise made me pay greater attention to what I was looking at and slow down to a snail’s pace to truly see. People were walking by admiring the ceilings and choir, but as I sat and sketched some of the archways within the cathedral, I began to really understand the construction and effort put into it. Through sketching, I was able to enhance my skills of articulation, attention to detail, assessment, and communication because I had to put what I was seeing with my eyes to a piece of paper which is no small feat in such an imposing place full of intricate features. Further, seeing the city from the top of the dome gave me a greater appreciation for the development of the cityscape, especially as a city planning major.

This experience and change are valuable to my life because as a city and regional planning major, I hope to take these transformations and knowledge into my career to create positive change. Seeing how an ancient city has developed and progressed to efficiently house and transport its people was quite interesting and informative. Although we cannot copy what they have done, inspiration can make major changes. It is a professional goal of mine to become a planner, and although I may not know my exact direction, my experiences in London make me more certain about the aspect of planning I want to involve myself in. Further, a professional goal of mine is to also be more involved in design, and through this education abroad, I gained a much greater appreciation for architecture and design. I will be pursuing it in the future. I was able to see planning efforts there which were unique and interesting that I hope to professionally become as capable doing. Personally, I always wanted to travel the world to understand it better, and the transformations from this trip make me more confident in my independence and ability to be comfortable being uncomfortable as I seek out new places and experiences. The London City and Culture education abroad was an experience I will forever treasure as it has made a significant impact on me, and I am forever grateful I was able to utilize the Second Year Transformational Experience Program fellowship to help me achieve my goals.

**Throughout the trip, our class maintained a blog site that can be see here: https://u.osu.edu/london2020/

The Shard is the tallest skyscraper in Europe. Below you can see the train/Tube tracks that run beneath the building.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project.

For my STEP project I participated in a European Equestrian Study Abroad program to England and Wales. While we were in England, we went to different farms that specialized in different parts of the equine industry and compared similarities and differences between the United States and England. We also toured different essential historical places to see abroad like Stonehenge in England, and Caerphilly Castle in Wales.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?

While in England, my view of the world was impacted. I was immersed into the culture of the United Kingdom and was able to analyze the equine industry from a different perspective. Viewing the way horses were cared for in a different culture will aid and enhance my veterinary work here and outside of the states. It has allowed me to be more open to differences in views in care and core values.

In the United Kingdom, I was able to observe the general role that horses play in their society. There, horses are mostly seen as companion animals, similar to the states. This trip gave me a unique opportunity to work specific professors in the Animal Sciences department. Dr. Cole helped to highlight more specific differences between the equine industry in the two places, while Dr. George addressed different welfare practices between United Kingdom and the United States.

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?

In Dartmoor National Park the scenery is so different from home. The comparison to riding a horse through it is like the first time my dad let me ride my pony across the entire farm by myself and as fast as I wanted. It is a once in a lifetime experience, and it is something I will cherish forever. The way there was paved with beautiful winding hedgerows. The bus ride to the facility was a little precarious, but definitely worth it. I was very impressed by the memory of the woman who assigned us horses. She sorted us into levels and assigned us horses that fit us perfectly. Getting to see the horses interact with their natural landscape was different than home, but the care she showed for her horses was the same.

Our next stop, Elite Stallions, was basically a stocking facility for the high-end show industry and specialized clients. They breed mostly very genetically expensive warmbloods, especially the flashy salable ones. The veterinarian on staff had so much equine experience that it amazed me. Other than her accent, which was harder to understand, I could have listened to her talk about reproduction all day. The dentist was even more interesting. I have never watched someone work on a horse’s teeth without any sedation, even the most experienced of equine veterinarians. He told us that he trains the horses from a young age to be used to it and he is very patient and uses positive reinforcement to make it a good experience for the animal rather than negative.

A major difference at White Horse Carriages compared to the United States was the Shires, who were used as wedding and carriage horses. The Gelderlanders, a new breed for me, were used for pulling hearses in funeral processions. It is not as popular in the United States to use horse drawn hearses. The only place I know of that still does it is in Arlington for military funerals. It is very refreshing to see it as a popular thing in their culture to use horses more for that kind of work for therapy and tradition.

Possibly the most unexpected stop was the Glenda Spooner Welfare Farm. I have never seen such a large operation dedicated to the welfare of one species. They seemed to be doing pretty well with different locations across the UK and nine paid staff at this specific facility. They were even able to afford bringing in a physiotherapist to evaluate each individual horse and their needs. I like their stance on focusing on the education of equine care, rather than just taking horses from an owner that might not know they are treating them improperly. They give warnings and advice if the owner is open to suggestions, rather than just immediately removing the animal. This of course depends on the severity of the animal’s condition I am sure. There is also nowhere in the United States that will claim ownership of the animal forever. These animals are just basically out on loan when they send them to a suitable owner, and they come back whenever they need if a situation would change. The employee who showed us around really cares about each and every animal she is assigned to, no matter their issue. Their chute facility was very functional, and I haven’t really seen anything like it designed for horses. I’m sure there are some very large horse facilities in the United States that have similar ones for horses that aren’t completely tame, but I haven’t been exposed to them. Their entire corral system was designed for the health and safety of both the animal and the staff, and it was very oriented towards making the horse feel more comfortable by encouraging the least amount of stress possible. I also asked her how soon they would castrate animals that came in, and it is taken on a case by case basis. I assumed that it would be like in our shelters when a cat or dog comes in, they get castrated as immediately as possible, just protocol. I know it’s not a one hundred percent similar comparison but that’s what I imagined this facility to be like at first.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?

We went to England to study horses, and it is vital to understand the culture to understand how horses fit into life there. England moves much slower than the United States. They want you to sit and enjoy your food in a restaurant rather than rushing you out to make a couple more dollars. They encourage you to take time and see the beauty around you. The culture is so much older that it makes a completely different environment. There are no six-hundred-year-old pubs in the United States, because the United States isn’t even that old.

Not only did this trip allow me to analyze the equine industry in England, but also to scrutinize the horse industry in the United States. The skills that I acquired while on this study abroad will help to have a broader perspective culturally and have an open mind when dealing with different culture’s industry and welfare norms.