The intricacies of my STEP signature project entailed a plethora of things, including enrollment in a course to discuss the history of science, a week-and-a-half long trip to Europe to be immersed in the experience of science history in Europe, and completion of a class project detailing our experiences while abroad and what we learned. While in Europe, we completed a combination of proposed and paid for activities by the university, and activities on our own that allowed us to focus on the parts of science that we were not interested in from the time we spent learning about science history in Europe. We explored the few cities we got to visit, ate food that showed us how different the world is from home, and saw things that transformed our understanding of how different branches of science formed throughout time. 

At the start of the STEP transformational program, I was a much different person than I am today, and I think that’s due to the experiences I had both on that trip, and during the class I was enrolled in as a part of the program. In the beginning, I entered the STEP program as a naive and quiet sophomore, unsure of what I would use my fellowship for, and how that experience could be life changing for me. Over the time period of the STEP course, I realized that studying abroad sounded much more appealing to me than spending my fellowship on a research study. Hearing the pitch from OIA and the possibilities of the places I could go was enough to sell me on wanting to travel because I had wanted to do it my entire life. Further in the future, when the time came for me to actually travel to Europe and experience all that London and Edinburgh had to offer, I was extremely excited, but I was also nervous because I had never traveled outside the country before. Little did I know, my friendships would change, as well as my views of the world. 

My time in Europe was transformative for my friendships because of how much I learned about myself, what I value, and what is important to me. I wasn’t completely sure who I was prior to this experience, and I still am not completely sure who I am now, but I have a clearer idea of the parts that were fuzzy after my time in Europe. I made friends on this trip and I lost them too, and that was a difficult experience for me. Our differences began to emerge when we realized we wanted different things and valued different things. I valued clear and honest communication, and healthy relationships, and openness with the people I love, including my friends. My time in Europe presented me with an independence I had never quite experienced before, and that allowed me to understand so much more about who I am as a person and what I want to do with my life, and who I want surrounding me while I do it. It taught me that change and exploration and not knowing the answer all the time is completely okay, which completely opened up my mind to a new way of thinking. 

One of the specific activities that prompted this realization was the day we spent going to Cambridge or Oxford to see the schools that we had learned so much about in our quest to understand the history of science in Europe. My friends and I did not see eye to eye that day, or on the rest of the trip really, so that was the catalyst moment for how I would see things change both within our friendship and within myself. I proceeded to choose my own path for the rest of the trip when we had free time, and that was where the new sense of independence I previously mentioned came from. Finally giving myself the chance to really make all of my own decisions for myself in a new environment that I was not entirely familiar with was exhilarating. 

Another interaction that helped my sense of independence develop was the constant advice and kind words given to me by my advisors on the trip while I was experiencing these friendship troubles and finding my own sense of self in a new place. They were kind and helpful and intentional in their advice and guidance when I went to them for advice on how to approach being in Europe, and what the best experiences to have would be, as well as with my own friendship troubles. Dr. Cogan and Dr. Bird were absolutely wonderful, and so pivotal in my learning during this experience. They shared thoughtful recommendations that truly helped me see the most important parts of what the history of science in Europe really looked like, especially with such a small amount of time to explore the scope of history there. 

Lastly, the friendships and memories I made along the way were ingrained in my development throughout this experience. I met so many wonderful people within my cohort that became lifelong friends, and I lost some friends along the way, and I came to realize with time that that was okay. The memories will be some I never forget, like my friends meeting sheep in a random field in Downe, Bromley, or Dr. Cogan buying his dog treats in tesco while we waited for a bus. The group dinners and London eye rides, along with figuring out the tube and how to navigate London streets to get around, I gained a new sense of independence as well as camaraderie with the beautiful people I got to experience this trip abroad with. I learned so much from them, and those memories will forever be salient in my life as I move forward and navigate the developments within my own life. 

This experience of realizing more about who I am as a person, and what losing friends feels like in adult life was incredibly transformational for me. Not only because it taught me so much about my own identity that I had yet to discover, but it also taught me how much I still have to grow as a person. One of my biggest goals in life is to become the best version of myself I can be for whatever era or time period in my life I’m in. This personal goal was furthered incredibly by this experience because I learned so much from the people around me both in positive and negative ways. They gave me things to think about that allowed me to really do some introspection and further myself into becoming that best version, and I am forever grateful to that. Becoming the best version of myself allows me to be the best version for my future clients and patients as a Clinical Psychologist, which is my ultimate goal in life. Knowing myself allows me to know how I can best interact with others to make them comfortable and help them in the way I know how, and that is incredibly valuable in my career. 

For my STEP signature project, I studied abroad in Dresden, Germany for the Dresden Summer Language Program. I stayed in Dresden for two months and took classes both on the German language and the history of Germany with a focus on Dresden.

Before my study abroad program, I had never been outside of the United States except for going to Niagara Falls, Canada for my fifteenth birthday. I have always been fascinated with other countries and their cultures, but I could only ever learn about these places online or in class. I have also always taken a special interest in learning languages, but I never had much of an opportunity to practice the languages I learn in my everyday life outside of class. I had always wanted to study abroad in order to learn more about other cultures and improve my foreign language skills in an authentic environment, and through STEP I was able to do so this past summer.

Going to Germany was an amazing experience that allowed me to see firsthand a different culture and way of life. I was able to practice my German every day and felt that my language skills significantly improved while I was there. Coming back to the United States, I have noticed my interaction with American culture has shifted. It makes me even more curious about other countries even outside the United States and Germany, and I already want to go abroad again in order to continue furthering my experiences outside the United States.

During the Dresden Summer Language Program, I lived in a dormitory with other students which allowed for us to interact with both local Germans and other international students. Living there for two months I feel allowed for me to really get a sense of everyday life in Dresden. I went grocery shopping, used public transportation, even went to the doctor. It was really interesting seeing the small difference between everyday life in Germany and the United States. I feel that even after just a couple of weeks, I started to blend in with others around me and really assimilate to the culture there.

I was also lucky enough to meet many local Germans around my age who were also attending university. I feel that meeting them was incredibly valuable for gaining a more authentic view of German youth culture. They were able to tell me and other students about German customs and show us local places that people our age hung out at. Most of them knew English pretty well, but we were still able to practice our German with them and better our speaking abilities.

One specific day, our study abroad group as a whole met with a class of German students for the fourth of July. We did rotations talking to different students switching back and forth between English and German. I remember feeling pretty homesick that day because I knew my friends were had plans for the fourth of July, but when we met up with the other students, they had set up a barbecue and some decorations for us. It was a really interesting and fun blending of cultures, and I will remember that day for a long time.

Improving my German language skills will definitely help me academically, professionally, and personally. At Ohio State, I am a Russian language major and German language minor. This experience obviously assists me in my German language classes, but I have noticed it improving my language learning abilities in general, and a lot of the skills I gained can be applied to my Russian classes as well. I think my biggest improvement can be seen in my listening abilities which was always a weak point for me, but now I am noticing that in both my German and Russian language classes, my listening abilities have significantly improved.

Professionally speaking, I am currently looking to teach English as a second language once I graduate from Ohio State, and I think that learning languages and having the immersion that I did in Dresden has helped me realize what works best for me when learning languages. I think that this skill will be incredibly valuable when I teach students in the future. Personally, I am also simply happy that I am improving in an area that is of interest to me. This trip has encouraged me to both travel abroad and practice my language skills further, but it has also made me want to study even more languages in the future. I feel even more motivated to seek out authentic, native sources in order to do so, and I am really grateful that I was able to do that through STEP.

Hello, my name is Czyruzze Villanueva. I am currently a senior here at The Ohio State University who has completed my study abroad program with the help of STEP. I studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea at Sogang University through OSU’s Office of International Affairs. I stayed at a dorm there for roughly about 4 months where I was able to learn more about South Korea’s culture and language as well as learn a lot about myself as a person while on this Journey.

During this Trip, I was able to broaden my perspective of the world as well as my view of myself as a person. As I had a lot of freedom, I was able to see how different I was while I was back here in the States. I had assumed that since the USA is the land of freedom, I really had my own freedom, but I had not noticed these shackles that were binding me. These shackles are known as my constant consciousness of other people’s thoughts of me. I had known of it for some time now, however, this journey where I spent an entire amount of time for myself made me realize how lowly I have and still think of myself and that there are many people who think of me as what I am worth.

One main thing I can say that affected my whole journey on this transformational experience would definitely be the people. I have met so many different kinds of people from all over the world and I am glad to say I had a lot that became my friends. I had arguments with some of them and I was able to earn from some. I realized that each person is different and that I am also different from who I thought I was. Although I am still a lacking person- and have problems, I am also someone who is very dear to other people. I can say this because a friend of mine, although not invalidating my feelings during an argument, pointed out how my emotions are valid and so do other people.

This made me realize how many problems I had. As funny as it is, I start to recall my experiences, and just makes me miss Korea a lot. I miss my late-night walks to Han River at 11 pm-5 am where I would walk in peace without thinking of getting mugged. Appreciating nature made me appreciate what I have and although sometimes I wish to want things that I cannot have, these walks clear my head and help me think through and process my emotions even further as calmly as possible.

I had to emphasize the time frame of my walks because I feel at peace at night, and I am a night owl kind of person. Also due to the fact that if I ever attempt to do these kinds of walks along here in the States, who knows what would happen to me?

This change matters to me so much because I am a person who needs self-healing and self-love. I am a person who would be able to smile. I would like to say that it is kind of a skill that I can just pretend that I do not have a load of problems even though I indeed do have a lot. From each and every category you can think of. Just being able to have this journey made me think a lot and made me appreciate myself more. I liked that. I like that I met many new people that I now can turn my back to if I am struggling. I had grown as a person. And as frustrating as it is to point out that I am still lacking, I feel like I have gained so much from this trip and one of them is that I can now proudly say that I am happy at the moment to where I am in this life.

As for Academics, My Korean still sucks. I had taken a class where I was able to take another beginning Korean course and even though I learned a lot from it, I still suck at speaking the language. I did meet a professor who I am still in contact with and is always there to help me whenever I need help regarding the language. We can think of that as a win-win tradeoff for not being able to speak Korean well even when living there for 4 months.

The main activities that my STEP Project entailed was shadowing physicians at the University of Coimbra in Coimbra, Portugal for 3 weeks. I watched 12 physicians in 12 different specialties in surgeries, consultations, and through routine laboratory scans. Weekend excursions were held as well to learn about the Portuguese culture and healthcare system.

My understanding of myself and my view on the world has changed deeply after completing my STEP signature Project. I gained a lot of independence from travelling alone to a foreign country, meeting completely new students from around the world, adjusting to a new place, and to shadowing in a healthcare system I am not used to. I came to appreciate the small simplicities of daily life as well. Portugal is an amazing country with lots to see, while it is also a country that values culture and exploration. I met amazing people from Portugal, especially in the hospital that made me appreciate the country even more.

My view of the world changed especially from shadowing in the hospital. The public healthcare system there has free healthcare for all. The Emergency room was extremely packed, with beds next to each other and a lack of privacy, yet everyone received free health care. While I was there, doctors were on strike for a lack of pay and for being overworked. Sanitary practices were also different in Portugal as well. The healthcare system is very different there than it is in America. After shadowing in America, I was able to compare what I saw here to there and learned that they see healthcare as a right, not as a privilege.  I learned about what advocacies I want to support and urge as a future healthcare worker in America. I became more open to new experiences and people.

Interactions with healthcare workers taught me the importance of patient care. The healthcare workers I shadowed spent valuable time with patients, listened to them with open-minds, and cared about their health. They also spent time with me translating and teaching through a language barrier, which I greatly appreciated. The kindness shown to me by all individuals in the hospital made me appreciative of the learning opportunity.

A non-healthcare activity that shaped my STEP experience was a weekend trip to Porto, Portugal. In Porto, we explored historical sites important to the country. I went to an overlook where you could see Portugal’s famous sites. My site leader taught me about the history of the churches built there and how the city has transformed over the years. I learned about Portugal’s Fado music and how it unites the country based on the meaning of Fate and soul. I am not a very religious person, but I learned about how religion plays a huge role in the lives of the Portuguese, and it was very inspiring.

I became more open-minded and aware of the differences between cultures and countries. Life in Portugal is slower paced, and after shadowing all day, I loved exploring the cities and just enjoying life. Portuguese culture values people and relationships over time, which I feel like America has reversed. Doctors would often show up late when we were shadowing but would then make up for that by spending their time teaching and getting to know us. I really felt like Portugal valued quality over quantity in the way that they make the most of a more limited time. I not only learned medical skills, but I learned patience and how to truly make those around you feel seen both in healthcare and beyond only in the hospital.

My change in how I value relationships and time relates to my personal growth and development in addition to my career and academic goals. I oftentimes find myself rushing through things just to get them done. I felt like it helped me avoid temporary stress and anxiety by crossing something off of a list that I could not fully enjoy life or build relationships in the way I wanted to. Shadowing in Portugal taught me the importance of slowing down and that everything will work out even if I do not rush it. When it comes to personal goals, I feel like I am more prepared to tackle stressful events and that I have become more independent. In regard to my career goals, I always wanted to be a PA because of my love for health and wellness and my passion for getting to know others to help them feel better. Patient care is my number one priority, but I got to see how to deliver it after truly listening and spending time with patients. I appreciated the value placed on relationship building even in moments where the healthcare workers were extremely busy. Overall, this trip and experience has prepared me for the future PA that I want to be and has taught me the value in slowing down and appreciating the beauty of life.

This summer, I completed a research internship through the UAS7 Program at the Münster University of Applied Sciences in Germany. I worked on various projects in an Energy Engineering lab, including using a Laser Doppler Anemometer to measure the velocity profile of a wind tunnel, designing and 3D printing a model wind turbine for experiments in the wind tunnel, and learning Python to connect various sensors to the IoT through microcontrollers such as ESP 32 and Raspberry Pi. This was not only an incredible professional experience for me in my engineering career but also an incredible cultural learning experience, as I met students from all around the world and learned to integrate myself into German culture. My German language proficiency also greatly excelled during this time, and I was able to complete almost the entirety of my work in German. 

I was born in Germany and grew up in a German-speaking household. Since I moved to the United States in 2004, I have traveled back multiple times to visit my family. Even with my German background, moving there by myself, figuring out all the administrative details, working in a German university, and adjusting to a different lifestyle were difficult and character-building. I was the first student to complete this program at Ohio State; therefore, I had to figure out almost everything on my own. I learned to navigate German websites to find housing, register with the city, make payments, and create new contacts with people at my host University. This took a lot of patience and allowed me to develop better professional communication skills. Moving to a different country by yourself is also terrifying when you don’t know anybody there. I had to step outside of my comfort zone to meet new people and learn how to be comfortable traveling by myself. Living in Germany also allowed me to balance the pros and cons of a future of living in Europe; I gained new connections in the field of energy engineering through my internship and found that many American/German engineering companies exist. This option became a lot more realistic for me after this summer. My view of the German population also changed; I realized that the immigrant population has greatly increased over the past few years, and came face-to-face with the disparities that still exist for non-Germans living in Germany. I also learned many things about myself: I can be assertive in making friends when I need to be, I love exploring new cities, I can learn technical engineering German if I set my mind to it, and I can bring people from different nationalities together through empathy and outdoor activities such as volleyball.

After applying to many different housing options in the city of Münster, I got a spot in one of the student dorms for the University of Münster, where I met students of all ages from all around the world: Iran, India, Pakistan, Chile, France, Uzbekistan, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, and more. It was incredible to learn about their backgrounds and compare cultures through stories, cooking together, and traveling together. The dorm complex I lived in had a beach volleyball court in the center where students gathered to play volleyball. I became part of the group that spent every evening on this volleyball court: a group that started with 4 people and ended up with over 30. It was amazing to see an activity as simple as beach volleyball bring together so many people and so many nationalities. It didn’t matter who you were or where you came from, anyone was welcome in this volleyball group. 

Most students that I met left their home country to complete their studies in Germany; therefore, many could not speak much German yet. They told stories about how difficult it was to communicate with employers, professors, grocery store employees, etc. Some also told stories about rude nationalistic Germans who believed that everyone who lives in Germany should be able to speak German. Hearing these stories was sad and eye-opening to me because even though there have been large-scale improvements toward welcoming immigrants, there are also still many residual problems in this aspect. Seeing these students work hard to earn respect in German culture and the university exemplified the privilege it is to attend a well-known university in a country where you understand the language and the culture. I have become a lot more grateful to be bilingual.

I also found it interesting to compare the workings of German Universities with American Universities. For example, since tuition costs are much lower in Germany, many students take a gap year between high school and university to travel or work. Many students also take part in programs such as Erasmus for a semester or year abroad. Since they pay so little for tuition, a delay in their graduation time is not nearly as detrimental as it can be in the United States. I found that the push to excel and the greed to earn as much as possible is not quite as prevalent in Germany. While the drive to excel is great for individual goals in the United States, I also think that it can have many side effects such as poor mental health and feelings of dissatisfaction, no matter how successful one is. It was evident that Germany had a much larger middle class with lower wealth inequality. These were just observations I was able to make during my time abroad, and they allowed me to look into myself and my true goals in life. It also enhanced the possibility of living in Germany for me.

Even though I grew up in a German household, this was my first time living in Germany, which was an eye-opening experience. I have realized that I fit into the German lifestyle very well. The public transportation systems were incredible to use. My path to work consisted of cycling, train rides, and walking, which I tremendously enjoyed as an active person. I also used buses and trams to get around various cities while traveling. I enjoyed using public transportation instead of driving a car everywhere. I enjoyed the quality of food ingredients and going to small supermarkets and farmers’ markets instead of giant superstores such as Walmart. I enjoyed the architecture in cities and the building infrastructure that is designed so well that an AC is not required in every building. I enjoyed being able to speak the language I grew up speaking at home on a daily basis and celebrating the same holidays/traditions that I grew up celebrating when I was little. I enjoyed living in a city that is designed to be walkable and bikable, for people to spend more time outside. Most of all, I enjoyed living on my own, being able to make many new international connections, and being in close proximity to many other cities and countries. My experience in Germany was indispensable, and I would never change anything about it. Through these experiences, I can now add more unique input in both engineering group projects/jobs and with my friends and family in everyday life.

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For my STEP Signature Project, I decided to do a study abroad trip to Quebec for an intensive French language program at Université Laval, where I took classes in phonetics, speech, writing, music, and conversation. I also participated in excursions to well known places around Quebec: I went to Vieux-Québec and saw the famous Chateau Frontenac, I hiked at the Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier, learned some Canadian history at Lévis Forts, ate a traditional Canadian meal at Cabane à Sucre, and had ice cream at Chocolats Favoris. During my courses and activities, everyone was required to speak French the entire time. 

Having to speak another language for the majority of my trip was difficult and exhausting, but it was also a very eye-opening and rewarding experience. There were times when I said the wrong thing, where I didn’t know how to respond at all so I stayed quiet or chose to speak English, where people didn’t want to give me the time of day because they knew I was a beginner learner, and when people made assumptions about me when I said that I was from the U.S. But, there were also moments when people were kind and patient with me, where I felt that I was improving, where I learned or experienced something new, and met some really amazing people. I think these interactions taught me a lot about perspective and intercultural competence, but it also made me a more humble, kind, and open-minded person. 

Before the trip I was nervous because I had never been outside of the U.S. before and I was completely on my own, but I was also excited because I had always wanted to explore new places. Now, I realize that I am a lot more capable of doing things on my own than I originally thought. I was able to handle a lot of issues and take care of myself, I became more independent. I also think of myself as a pretty introverted person, but I left Quebec with a lot of new Canadian friends and some OSU ones (whom I had never met prior to the trip). I also began to appreciate where I grew up more during this experience. It’s always been a goal of mine to travel the world because I think I felt that maybe other places were better or more exciting, and I still want to travel, but I’ve also learned to be grateful for the life and the relationships that I have at home. 

One of the most difficult experiences I had on the trip was when I found out that I did not do well on my midterm for a class. In this program, our grades were determined by one midterm and one final and so I was worried about pulling my grade up and receiving credit for the course. I usually do pretty well in school and so the news of my grade really threw me, but I eventually dusted myself off and took action. I talked to my professor about what I could do to improve my grade and studied diligently, but I also accepted whatever the outcome would be because I knew that I had tried my best and put in the work to improve. By the end of the semester, my grade had improved a lot, but more importantly my French had improved. 

Another experience that really transformed me was hiking at Jacques Cartier. The hike was 4 hours long, there was a lot of uphill climbing, and the trails were muddy from the rain the night before. It was probably the most challenging hike I’ve ever done, but it was such a fun experience. I got to talk to a lot of new people (in French, of course) and the views that we saw at the top of the mountain were incredible. I felt that I had accomplished something really challenging but it felt so worth it.

I think that some of the core relationships that I had built were those with other OSU students. There were only a few of us on the trip and we all had different friends, different activities that we were interested in, and were in different levels of French, but we all came together at the end of every week to hang out and practice speaking French. The relationships that I built with them were so grounding for me because it felt like a safe space where we could all confide in each other and practice speaking French in a relaxed setting. We became regulars at a restaurant on campus and I remember one of the last times we were there the waitress complimented us on our French skills and she told us that she herself was trying to learn other languages and related to how difficult it was. It was a nice end to the trip.

 Once I let go of the fear and anxiety surrounding speaking a new language and being in a new place, I was able to appreciate French culture on a deeper level and truly enjoy my experience. It also gave me a deeper respect for people who live in countries where the language that is spoken is not their first language. I hope to continue to broaden my horizons by traveling to other countries because learning from other cultures is such a rewarding experience and has made me more open-minded. Overall, I think this experience has been one that I will carry with me throughout my whole life. It made me a more capable and confident individual.

1. My STEP program consisted of a one-year (two semester) study abroad program at Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Japan. As a Japanese major and international business minor, I would use this experience to improve my Japanese skills, become more culturally aware and involved, and gain credits towards my major coursework at OSU.

2. My study abroad program took place in Tokyo, Japan, which is certainly the biggest city I have ever lived in (one of the biggest in the world). As a 4^th year in college, where I will live or move to when I start my career is something I think about a lot, and having the chance to experience living in a big city for a year was great in discovering myself and where I would like to live. After 11 months in Tokyo, I realized that maybe the city center isn’t for me, but being somewhat close to a big city is desirable for me. I seemed to get a little bit tired and overwhelmed when I had to spend all day in such a chaotic and busy atmosphere, but when I could go back to my dorm (a little out of the center) I felt like I had a chance to really ‘go home’ and relax.

   During the program, I also realized it makes me feel productive and fulfilled to be working on something physically as well as academically. I had joined a school futsal club, and even though it made me busier, I did not feel significantly more stressed as a result.

3. During my study abroad, it was a combination of truly living on my own for the first time in my life, having to figure out how to live in a new culture and society, joining a school club, and meeting other students with the same passion as me at school that led to this self-discovery.

   Firstly, even though I was living in a school dorm building, being in a different country by myself truly made this the first time I didn’t have direct assistance from my family or friend. The dorm had no cafeteria, and I had to take care of rent and utility payments as well. Having these responsibilities added onto adjusting to life in a different company allowed me to develop my own system of dealing with everyday activities, whereas before I really only had to focus on my studies and not much more.

   Additionally, joining the school futsal club made me realize that sometimes I need some sort of structured program to get me motivated to do things like exercise or study. Of course, there are times during which I have my own motivation to do such things, but being in a structured group or program gives me more reason to follow through consistently. The program I was a part of at the university in Japan matched me up with other students with the same passion for studying Japanese as I had for the first time in my life. This let me become much close to my classmates and learn from them as we went through our courses together.

4. These self-discoveries and transformations will be immediately important as I make my return to the US and Ohio State. Japanese language is my major at OSU, and I want to continue to use Japanese in my career. With that being said, having been able to study Japanese intensively abroad, while fending for myself, and participating in student organizations, has allowed me to get a glimpse of what a career could look like in the future for me. As for my last year of school at OSU, I will also be able to choose my strategies for studying better based off what worked for me in Japan.

My STEP project encompassed the Fisher Global Internships program in London, England. I have always loved traveling and wanted work experience this summer, so I decided to apply to get the best of both worlds. I provided our job placement company with some of my own interests, then they secured me an interview. I ended up interning for Flame PR, a firm that specializes in all kinds of PR but specifically broadcast opportunities. Getting the opportunity not only to live in London, but get a professional experience there was incredible.  

I was already a well-traveled person, having already been to London twice before in my life, but this global internship experience impacted me and my views of the world more than I ever thought possible. Sure I have traveled before, but I had never had the experience of working full-time in one of the best and largest cities in the world. Experiencing how dynamic, lively, and diverse of a place London is for an extended period of time helped me to fully realize that I could see myself living and working someplace like that. It also also helped me get out of my comfort zone, seeing sights, and more independently rather than traveling for a few days with family.  

Gaining confidence and independence in a personal sense was only part of how this program impacted me; it also helped me to reflect on my professional life as well. I have done internships, but never full-time. It helped me to gain a sense of what it’s really like to be a working professional, which, as a full-time student, I have never had before. Getting to do so in an amazing city like London, with the help of my STEP grant as well as others, has cemented something I have known for years: I want to live, work, or go to graduate school abroad at some point in my life. I also learned that I do enjoy PR, but the even more surprising development made during this process was my interest in cybersecurity and AI. I did work for many clients in these verticals, and it inspired me to continue this passion.  

As mentioned, my solo adventures in London facilitated these developments for me. loved waking up in London on the weekends, free to explore. I love art history and museums, so being able to visit some of the best museums in the world on my own time, no one to answer to, really helped me to gain confidence and independence.  

Also, in a more professional sense, I had never worked in PR before. It was a great insight into my long-term career goals for when I graduate in spring 2024. I discovered that while I didn’t mind PR work, I was more interested in the impact and larger outcomes for the people I was serving. Therefore, I think that a job somewhere in the public service or non-profit sector may fit me better.  

Additionally, getting the chance to be familiar with London as a city gave me a lot of confidence to one day pursue a postgrad degree there. London has some phenomenal universities, and I would love to get the chance to continue my education there one day. This experience changed me in the sense that it gave me the confidence to pursue such things.  

All of these transformative aspects of my summer in London helped me to realize what I want for my life after I graduate. Not only that, but the experience of living in the city away from everything that’s familiar to me was envigorating and boosted by confidence and independence as a person. Sure, these things can be achieved within the borders of the United States, but being abroad provides an extra incentive to do so, allowing me to continue my curiosity about the world and bolster my passions.  

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

My STEP project was a 3-week study abroad to Portugal for medical shadowing at the Central Hospital of the University of Coimbra. During my time, I shadowed doctors and nurses to observe different medical specialties every day.

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

This trip broadened my perspective of the world in a way that would have been unattainable here in the United States. In Portugal we were interacting with people from many different countries. It was amazing to see the differences in how many more languages they knew than many Americans, and the vast knowledge they had of the world around them. This helped me recognize just how narrow my perspective was in comparison from my experience growing up in a traditional American family household in the United States. This trip also gave me more confidence in myself to be able to independently navigate unknown cities, and form new relationships with people with whom I am unfamiliar. Because this trip was through a national program, I was able to gain new friendships with students from all around 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?

The cultivation of my worldly perspective and independence came from several key experiences. One of these experiences was my regular interactions with multilingual health professionals. While shadowing in the hospital, we were paired with health professionals who were able to speak both Portuguese and English, and typically several other languages. It was inspiring and humbling to observe their proficiency in English medical terminology as non-Native English speakers. Myself and many other students on the program often felt we were lacking as only being fluent in English. Although many people in Portugal outside the hospital had at least a working proficiency in English, I enjoyed welcoming the challenge of navigating a country without English as their first language. It was interesting trying to read menus, bus stops and speak with some individuals who did not know English. Language was an obstacle at times, but I was always met with empathy and understanding from Portuguese citizens. 

A key component of this trip was being able to observe medical procedures that I would not typically be able to see. Some highlights were being able to see an open heart surgery, brain surgery, and even a natural birth. For these procedures, I was able to be in the operating room with the surgical teams, and I was able to either stand at the operating table or incredibly close. In the moments while I observed these procedures, I found myself in absolute awe of the human body. I saw a living heart going from beating to then completely stopping while the patient was on bypass; I saw a neurosurgeon remove a brain tumor the size of a golf ball; I then saw a human life enter the world through the sheer toughness and bravery of his mother. These were some of the most life-changing moments I have ever experienced, and will never forget.

With our immersion into the hospital, we were able to compare and contrast the structures of the Portuguese healthcare system and the United States healthcare system. The Portuguese healthcare system is public, and any individual can receive free healthcare, not just Portuguese citizens. It became clear that this system has both upsides and downsides, as does anything. This seemed to be helpful for patients and families of patients who were receiving long-term medical treatment. Especially for those undergoing cancer treatment or for those in the intensive care unit. On the other hand, since anyone can receive free treatment, we encountered a number of citizens from other countries coming to Portugal for free healthcare. This leads to a rapidly growing patient population, which puts a strain on the healthcare workers who are already inadequately paid. During our time there, the doctors went on strike because they are not paid fairly by the government. They make a fraction of an average American salary despite having a similar workload and hours worked per week. This trip encouraged me to think critically about different healthcare systems, and has led me to wonder how an “ideal” structure would look.

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

My experiences in Portugal are certainly ones I would like to carry with me throughout life. In a professional sense, being able to see so many medical specialities is helpful for me to narrow down what I would like to pursue in my future career. I was exposed to some fields that I found very interesting, and that I would not normally have considered pursuing had I not been exposed to them. As a future healthcare provider, it was also important to me to expose myself to different cultures. In Portugal, I realized that cultural differences extend from the large to minute aspects of daily life – from greeting people, to meal choices, to interests and other social norms. I feel that this trip broadened my sense of the world around us, which has further contributed to my personal growth. I intend to take these experiences with me through my future career, as well as throughout my personal life.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

I participated in The University of Oxford Pre-Law program which was run by Ohio State from July 3rd, 2023 to July 29, 2023 in Oxford, England. During my time, I took two classes; Introduction to Law and the Anglo-American Legal System and earned six credit hours. I also was able to network with many legal scholars and professionals by attending guest speakers and  

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

I think the largest transformation I experienced was being able to step outside of my Columbus bubble. I have lived in Columbus my entire life and then went to Ohio State University. I have been blessed to travel to so many places within my life but I have never lived somewhere else besides Columbus for an extended period of time. Being far away from home, from friends, family, and the comforts of home for the first time, I learned that I actually could live somewhere further away and not be homesick. I have really great relationships with my family and was always afraid to live far away from them. By having the opportunity to live in Oxford, England for four weeks, I was able to step into another culture and compare my experiences with many of the students in my program as well as the many other students I met while at the University of Oxford.

The Pre-Law Program at the University of Oxford also helped solidify my passion of becoming a lawyer, and still being able to go through the sacrifices that it takes in order to be able to get into and succeed in law school. I have had to give up significant time with my friends and family to study for the LSAT, work at legal internships, and maintain a great GPA in order to pursue my dreams of being a Lawyer. This program helped me realize that all of the sacrifices I have made in order to get into law school and eventually become a lawyer are worth it in the long run.

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? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.’

Throughout my time with the Pre-Law program at the University of Oxford, I was able to create very meaningful relationships with both of my professors, Katherine Kelly, a legal writing professor at Moritz College of Law and Tsvetelina Van Benthem, a PhD student at the University of Oxford focusing on English and International Law. By having these two mentors during my time at the University of Oxford, I was able to gain more valuable insight about English Law, as well as in the United Kingdom, Europe and International Law. Our final project for our class looked at adopting an international treaty about the use of force and what justifies using force against another nation. Researching and developing strategies based upon our countries needs was very insightful in looking at the everyday challenges that international lawyers face every day.

In addition to the insight provided by our professors, I also had the opportunity to learn from other legal scholars through guest lectures and weekly tutorials, which is tutoring by a different professor with a group of students to understand some of the topics that were discussed in class that week. Many of the guest lectures presented on interesting topics such as Space Law, Mental Harm due to International Law, Regulation of disinformation, propaganda and hate speech, Climate Change Litigation and International Criminal Justice Law just to name a few topics. This gave me a broader view about how different English and American Law is because of the different structure and values between both legal systems.

In addition to the extensive research done within international law, I was able to go on many excursions as well as travel to many different countries. As a part of the Pre-Law program, I was able to visit Windsor Castle, Runnymede (where the Magna Carta was signed), the Royal Courts of Justice, Lincoln’s Inn, Stratford-upon-Avon, the Japanese Embassy, and the British History Museum within my program. In addition to that, I was able to travel to Germany, Wales, and France during the free weekends. I felt fully immersed into British culture by getting to experience many different parts and places in England, as well as getting the opportunity to travel outside of England to experience many different cultures as well. This helped me expand outside of my “Columbus Bubble” by seeing how different culture is between countries as well as within different parts of one country itself.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

My time at the University of Oxford changed my life forever. I was able to connect with many diverse students at the University of Oxford as well as at Ohio State. The connections I created with the students within the program as well as my legal professors made me more passionate about pursuing a legal career. As I enter into my senior year, I am starting to study for the LSAT and submit applications for Law School. Having great advice given to me by my professor Katherine Kelly, helped me feel more prepared to apply to law school this year. I understand clearer now what needs to be present in my application as well as the holistic approach that law schools take when reading law school applications.

My professors also helped me tremendously feel less stressed about not having it all figured out. Going to law school brings tremendous growth within a person, and as a senior in college, I felt better about not knowing exactly what type of law I want to practice or where I want to go to law school. My professors gave me the tools I need to be successful in law school, and reassured me that I would be able to figure the rest out along the way.