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.

My step signature project was a semester abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland. I continued to study environmental science and took Natural Resource Management, Environmental Pollution, and Ecological and Environmental Analysis. I lived in the student dormitories and traveled to other European nations on weekends and school breaks. 

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.

Since studying in Scotland and becoming friends with many different types of people I realize how ignorant I was before my time abroad. I grew up in Cleveland, OH, and now live in Colombus, OH. I had not seen much of the world, nor had I ever been such close friends with people who were raised differently than me. Speaking with people of different religions, sexualities, and countries around the world shined light on the fact that my everyday activities are so little in the grand scheme of things. It also showed me how lucky I am to be living in a safe space. The opportunity to experience the Scottish culture firsthand taught me the importance of a slower way of life, admiring nature and art more, and simply spending time with friends. North American life is so fast-paced with a strong influence on productivity. I enjoyed learning to be in the moment and find peace in small things. I no longer dwell on unimportant things because I have a better idea of how mundane it is. I hope this lesson sticks with me throughout my final year of university so I can focus on getting good grades, but also spending time on campus and with my friends because those are the things that make the Ohio State experience so special. 

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. 

While abroad I was thrown into uncomfortable situations with people of different backgrounds than me and was forced to adjust. One experience that was particularly uncomfortable at first was the limited school hours and lack of homework. This left a lot of free time to myself which is not something I am used to. In the United States, there is always some responsibility I must be getting done whether it be for my academics, job, family, or friends. When I first arrived in Scotland I did not have a lot of friendships and my family was not with me. I was not working, I had no homework, and I only had lectures for 2 hours a day. I was very unused to this lack of productivity and was very hard myself. 

Throughout the semester I had to learn how to spend time with myself and rewrite the narrative of fun days as “productive”. This slower way of life was a tough adjustment but I learned to enjoy the little things and the opportunity to explore Edinburgh. I also used this time to further myself by spending time with other University of Edinburgh students. These students were different than me growing up in different countries, practicing different religions, eating different cuisines and holding different values. This taught me so much about other people. It taught me to be more thoughtful when I speak about my life and experiences. It taught me to ask more questions and be more curious about other lifestyles.

These people exposed me to how much I didn’t know. They would make me dishes I had never heard of before or tell me stories of their childhood that seemed nothing like mine. I grew so much as a person because it was a moment of realization of how much I did not know. I realized how young I am and how much more learning I have left in my life. I have a newfound excitement for trying new things and meeting new people that I did not have before. 

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.

Learning to slow down and enjoy life without the expectation of being productive helped me not only gain stronger relationships with other people but also with myself. I was left alone to entertain myself a lot during my semester abroad and I learned so much about myself, my hobbies, likes, and dislikes during this time. This has helped me a lot in my personal life as I now know how to live a life that is best suited for me. I also can take this new found personal knowledge and apply it to my academics and professional life. I know how to motivate myself and how to keep myself focused. I know how to maximize doing things I enjoy and minimize doing things I don’t. I am happy to know all this because it makes life so much easier and enjoyable. My time in Edinburgh, Scotland was so special and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to go.

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