Last summer I expanded my knowledge on a creative endeavor, woodworking, by taking classes at the store Woodcraft.  These classes were varied and covered different aspects of woodworking that I had not previously explored.  This variety helped me explore and develop skills that are related to woodworking as well as my future career.

The classes that I took through the STEP program helped me learn more about not just woodworking, but also myself and others.  The most direct effect of my project was learning more about woodworking and what I liked about it, not only because I had access to a wide array of tools but also an experienced teacher to guide me.  I also discovered a couple of things about myself. First, reflecting on what I did and how I felt during classes was helpful to decide how much I enjoyed that aspect of woodworking.  Second, I learned that I am much better at learning and developing skills in a structured environment, I knew from experience during CODID-19 pandemic that this is true for academics.  Finally, I learned that going over someone else’s plans and either rewriting them or talking them over to make sure I understand helps me learn and makes me a lot more comfortable with what I am doing.  I also learned about other people since the classes were not private lessons.

As I mentioned in my STEP Proposal I have, before this project, only ever worked on relatively small need-based woodworking projects with my dad.  Other than those projects I would have to direct myself to learn more, which is difficult.  I expected that I would learn a lot more when I could have a teacher to help me.  This project has confirmed that theory as I feel like I have really learned a lot more than I would have had I simply tried to figure out how to do everything on my own.

I learned what I enjoy most about woodworking in two ways.  The most straightforward way was from taking the classes and being able to have experiences that I would not have had the opportunity to do otherwise.  A lot of tools and machines can be used to speed or simplify woodworking tasks.  By having the opportunity to use these tools and machines I could work on projects that I would not have had the time or skill to complete otherwise.  This helped me decide what sort of woodworking projects I would like to spend time and money working on in the future.  After each class I took I also reflected on what I did, what I used, and how I felt about the process.  This process of stepping back and looking at what I just did with a critical eye was the second way I learned more about woodworking.

My favorite woodworking lesson was that, as I hoped, woodturning is fun! However, lathes, the main tool used in woodturning, are different than something like a table saw.  There is undoubtedly skill involved in using a table saw correctly, but a beginner could use a table saw to make a long straight cut through wood that they would have been unable to do by hand.  The lathe on the other hand requires a lot of practice to make any cuts.

I have also learned more about planning ahead.  All the classes I took had different teachers who had different teaching styles and different types of instruction.  After reflecting on how well I followed the instructions and how well my project turned out I have discovered what sort of plan is best for me.  I learned that understanding what I am doing and why I am doing it is very helpful.  I learned this not from using instructions that described why but by asking the teacher why and making notes on the instructions.

Finally, I got to interact with the other students taking the classes with me.  I really enjoyed these interactions and I think they were an important part of my project.  I got to interact with a wide array of experience levels and careers from a professor at a local college, to an ER Nurse!  I met a diverse range of people that I would likely have no communication with if it were not for woodworking.  I got to experience how woodworking can bring a group of people together under a common interest!

Learning more about what sort of woodworking projects I am interested in working on is important for my future.  This will allow me to know what I should spend time and money on in the future.  Having reflected on my woodworking classes has provided me with valuable insight and shown me the usefulness of reflection.  I will make sure to intentionally reflect on my experiences going forward.  I will also go back and read my reflections in the future to see how I have grown and changed.

I have also discovered that I work best in a structured environment and while understanding Why instead of just What I am doing.  This is readily achievable in a school environment where you have a teacher who is providing a structure to learning and is available to understand why you are doing things.  However, I do not think that this is impossible when I am working on something without a teacher or mentor.  When working on future projects, woodworking or otherwise, I will endeavor to understand what I need to do and why I need to do it.  I will also come up with a plan and deadlines for when certain parts of the project need to be completed to give myself structure for my project.  I believe by following these steps I will be more successful in future projects both with woodworking and in my future career.  Finally, I learned how woodworking can bring people together, I hope to find many new friends who are interested in woodworking in the future!

Below are pictures from my two favorite projects I worked on over the summer. On the top is a 3d cutting board.  On the bottom is a bowl I turned.

My STEP project was guitar lessons and a new guitar. I took weekly lessons from Vaughn Music studio in Upper Arlington and practiced different guitar techniques and exercises.

While completing my STEP project, I understood more about my learning process. Through my guitar lessons, I discovered that getting better at guitar required learning more about music theory and then putting that theory into practice. Having a better understanding helped me practice different techniques, scales, and progressions. My guitar instructor helped me reach a deeper understanding of guitar by helping me connect different ideas. Through my project I learned that it is important to both understand and put that understanding into practice. Practice was important even if I was struggling or unmotivated at first. Improving my guitar skills required understanding new information and working to practice what I learned. My instructor helped me get farther than I could have on my own. I think that this mindset is important to have when learning any new skill.

Another realization I had through my step project was how important music is to me, and how influential it can be. Playing guitar and going to lessons was always something I looked forward to, and it was something I could share with other people. I have used my guitar skills in student organizations I am a part of and with friends and family. I have also bonded with many people over music. I think that my STEP project helped me realize how much I enjoy music and helped me realize new ways I can share music with other people.

The lessons that I took for my STEP project and the relationship I formed with my instructor was one thing that led to the realizations I made. Without my instructor I would have had much more difficulty understanding complicated music theory concepts. Asking questions and experimenting was a large part of my learning process as well. My instructor helped show me several different techniques to remember difficult patterns and explained guitar theory I was confused about. He also introduced me to different genres and styles I may not have learned how to play. Through the relationship I formed with my instructor I learned how important it is to have a teacher and ask questions. Improving and learning was much easier with my instructor than on my own.

The time that I spent practicing the guitar also helped me come to my realization about how I learn. Without practicing consistently my progress was slower and I saw less of an improvement in my guitar skills. I also found that when I finally noticed an improvement it helped motivate me to practice. It was important to see how I was getting better and what I was struggling with. When I was unmotivated, doing songs that I enjoyed playing, or doing something new helped me. Through my practicing I realized how important it was to be consistent and committed when learning a new skill. I saw how practice helped me to improve and helped me grow my guitar skills.

The third activity that helped me come to the realizations I made, was the act of connecting with others over music. I have played with several other guitar players and we were able to teach each other new songs and skills. I was able to connect with others over my love of guitar and music. I was also able to play for several groups. I played for my friends and was able to use the guitar skills I had learned. We were able to connect over making music and having a good time with one another. Another way I saw the importance of music was through playing worship songs for others. Getting to use my guitar skills in that context was a big part of realizing how important music is to me. Whether teaching others how to play guitar, bonding over being musicians, or just having a good time with one another, I saw how important music is in my life and how much I enjoy it.

The change in the way I understand my learning process was valuable because it will help me when I learn new skills in the future. Throughout my project I saw how I learn best. When I try to improve at a new skill, I can remember my project and implement what I learned. I also realized how fun it was to improve at a skill and commit to working toward getting better. I saw how important it was to understand the context of a new skill, ask questions, and practice. Doing these things and remembering to ask others for help, will be important throughout my life both here at Ohio State and in the workplace.

The change in how I understand myself was also significant because it showed me how important it is to connect with other people. Music can be something that I connect to others with, and it helped me realize how simple bonding over music can be. In the future, music can be one way that I relate with other people and grow closer to friends and family. It showed me how I can continue to make music a part of my life in the future. My project helped me realize how important music is to me, and how music can bring people together in a way that nothing else can.

Reflection

I participated in a STEP advised Computer Build Project. Noticeable points during the project were choosing parts, the build, future implications, and the presentation. The first step was choosing compatible parts to ensure the build should work. After choosing compatible parts we all had to go through the process of building our PCs, which included fixing and overcoming any obstacle we had. After the build, we discussed future implications that go along with building a PC, some examples include certificates, career, and more. We then at the end had a small presentation where we had the chance to talk about and show off our builds.

In my eyes this is life changing. I never truly understood how deep and how truly limitless it almost feels after learning such knowledge. From what I have learned, there is still a journey ahead that allows for more growth. The amount of jobs and opportunities you have with not only making the device but after you make the device is incredible. The things you can do can range from something like network designer to possibly becoming a computer technician and just so much more. I am glad our advisor/teacher opened our eyes to what you can truly do. On top of this, without this program I would have never had an opportunity like this. I always let my old and bad PC bring me down and limit me thinking I could never be capable of anything more. There was even a time I did not think I would be able to make it work. In the end it was worth it and I was so grateful that it finally did work after many attempts. I feel confident now to be able to work on more technology and more confident on my abilities that can be used on the computer as well! 

My perspective changed through the events and interactions throughout the program. The first and most notable is the information I learned. Our instructor taught us about future opportunities, most notably career options. This included multiple kinds of certificates in many different areas. Things that stuck out were cybersecurity, the programming language python, and PC repair/build style jobs. These three areas and more have opened up the world to many different approaches you can take with such a skill. It is so diverse that something he made clear is you can get beginner/novice level certificates, after joining a company you can see what they will need. After you find out what they need, you just go further into depth in those areas. With all of his teachings in mind, I will look down the many roads I can take. I started to look into learning a programming language. I have installed visual studio which is a software that can be used for development, also known as an IDE (Integrated Development Environment).

Another influence on my growth was that I had my friend Peyton there with me. He knows more about computers than I do. Having him there really increased my confidence and abilities for working on the computer even though we struggled. He helped me push through the times we had to take breaks and even got very frustrated. Like the saying goes, 2 minds are always greater than 1. Him giving me advice and some of his knowledge to help me with the build brought us together more. I do not normally get an excuse to hang out with my friends so it was very nice I got to share my first new experience with a friend I have known for years! Without him I also would have been more lost on some of the troubleshooting as we kept shooting ideas back and forth. Because of him if I had to do this again but alone I know I would be able to achieve success. I also know he will continue to push me to do things and learn new things like a language or a type of software. We are also hoping to build him a computer next as well once he gets a budget together!

Budgeting, it seems like my family’s worst nightmare as none of us are good at it, but I had no choice but to do well. Not only did I have to make sure the budget worked, I had to make sure the parts were compatible as well as power evenly distributed. It was also important to  make sure I was truly getting every dollar’s worth. As the budget was only $1,500 and parts could be expensive I had to make sure what I was gonna get could be expanded upon without bottlenecking another part. As much as I wish I could be the most expensive everything and absolutely deck out the computer I had to be smart. It did help me learn to keep a good budget, on top of this I did learn to be able to research parts with effectiveness and use tools to help achieve a higher success.

In the end I do stand by what I said earlier, this is life changing knowledge and hardware. It is so important because even though I may not be a computer science major this is still relevant for me and a never ending learning process, as technology will continue to advance. Having the skills and opportunities to advance with technology will be important to anyone’s future. This also gives me a chance to create secondary incomes, research/college (medschool), hobbies like content creation and more. It was not easy and if I could do it again I would, this was a great experience. It helped me learn to budget, teach me about more job opportunities, and not only how to build the hardware but things I can also use it for. Technology will be the future, and I look forward to grow with it. I know this is not the end, and I am glad. Thank you for the chance to help me grow!

My STEP signature project involved interning with the Infectious Disease and Control department at Westchester Medical Center over the summer. During this period, I participated in various disease management and prevention aspects. I participated in environmental rounds, data collection, data analysis, hand hygiene compliance rates, quality improvement projects, shadowing, and more.

This experience has transformed my understanding of healthcare, disease management, and the integral role of the Infection Prevention department in the hospital. Before the internship, I had no work-related experience in a hospital, and my knowledge of this department was little to nothing. However, through hands-on experiences, I greatly appreciated the challenges and roles this department of doctors, nurses, and PAs fulfilled. This experience shifted my perspective of different departments within hospitals and their impact on things such as public health.

The team that I worked with did a great job at making me feel truly a part of the department. They allowed me to tag along on any mission that they had to complete. One example of this was when I came with them to check out a leak in the operating room. A third-party organization was responsible for properly cleaning this highly sterile area. I was able to observe the decisions and coordination required to manage infections in real-time. In every challenge faced by the department, it was truly obvious the importance of collaboration and effective communication in healthcare settings.

Engaging in infection control procedures was another eye-opening experience. I learned the meticulous details needed to prevent hospital-acquired infections as well as update/modernize previous protocols. One example of this would be the changing of foley types to get new pure-wicks for the patients, and going around to different sections of the hospital to educate them on the new changes. This exposure showed me that healthcare extends beyond treating illnesses to actively trying at all costs to prevent them.

This change in my understanding is significant because it broadened my perspective on healthcare and its connection to public health. The internship gave me first-hand experience in the day-to-day roles played in a hospital. It truly solidified my aspiration to work in the healthcare field. The experience I gained is directly applicable to my academic pursuits, as this semester I am even taking an undergraduate shadowing class.

Mason Nowlin

STEP Reflection

I completed the Computer Build STEP Signature Project. The project surrounded the completion of construction of a high performance PC following the lead of my project consultant, Ty James. The main activities the project entailed were research, construction, testing, troubleshooting, and reflecting.

Throughout my experience completing my STEP Signature Project, I underwent a significant transformation in my understanding of myself and my perspective on the career world. Prior to this project, I had preconceived notions about my technological abilities and potential career potential. However, as I embarked on the journey of building a computer, my self-perception shifted. I gained confidence in my technical skills, realizing that I am capable of successfully completing intricate tasks with the right guidance and determination.

The transformation that took place within me was largely influenced by the events, interactions, and activities that unfolded during the physical building of the computer. Working with my brother, who had previous expertise making computers, not only increased my knowledge but also grew our relationship. I discovered the nuances of component compatibility, optimization, and troubleshooting through conversations and hands-on application. These shared experiences gave me the confidence to venture outside of my comfort zone and investigate other areas of study.

The research and budgeting phase of the project also proved to be an aspect of my transformation. Balancing achieving optimal performance with a somewhat restricted budget forced me to take my time in selecting components; I couldn’t just pick the most expensive, most powerful part. This experience required me to use my decision-making skills and taught me the importance of allocating my resources.

The interactions with my consultant, Ty James, had the biggest influence on how I view the world. His insights, presentations, and expertise opened my eyes to the countless possibilities within the technology field. Ty’s story demonstrated how one may pursue their passions and develop a rewarding career. It also showed how one can change the course of their professional lives by working hard and embracing opportunities as they are presented. His personal experiences demonstrated that technology careers are diverse, including fields like computer science, cybersecurity, and teaching. While I am not a computer science major, I can still easily find a path into the technology field or whatever other subject I find passion in.

Additionally, I learned a lot about technological certifications like COMPTIA that can improve my resume and advance my possibilities for the future. Discovering these entry-level certifications reinforced my belief in the malleability of the future and how continuous learning and adaptability are essential for taking advantage of promising opportunities.

In conclusion, the Computer Build STEP Signature Project gave me technical capabilities as well as a renewed sense of self-assurance and a broader perspective on the world. The contacts, relationships, and difficulties I faced while pursuing this goal created the groundwork for my professional and personal development, highlighting the need of accepting change and remaining receptive to new opportunities.

Through my STEP project I learned the technical skills of mixing music. I was able to purchase DJ mixing board as well as 10 lessons through Scratch DJ Academy. With these lessons, we covered parts of music theory and different ways of blending music.

My understanding of different genres of music drastically changed throughout this project. From mixing hip-hop and rap to dance and even country music I was able to explore many different genres of music and how they blend or why they don’t. I was able to play in front of a few crowds during my project and networking was a large part of my experience. Planning what music to play in front of different crowds is difficult because you never really know what type of music each crowd will like. Venues that focus on country and western crowds don’t really stray far from the country genre. Other venues that don’t have a specific crowd they cater to can be more difficult to plan for. Having a large catalog of music that is composed of different genres is important for these crowd because I rely on what the crowd responds to best to lead me to the next songs. This experience taught me a lot about my preconceived notions and how they could often times be completely wrong when mixing songs and planning for different crowds.

My instructor from Scratch DJ Academy was very experienced and really helped me a lot through this project. During our sessions we discussed specific set lists and transitions. A main point in our lessons revolved around the key of music and how blended songs out of key can really effect the resulting transition. Hearing two songs and thinking they can mix is just the start. Actually sitting down and mixing the songs can lead to different results. My instructor and I discussed how sometimes, some songs just don’t sound good together. As I compiled my song collection and mixed them more often, I got know my catalog of songs better and was able to better know off the top of my head what would sound good and what to avoid. This made mixing music in front of crowds on the spot, much easier to handle as well as making the transition sound much nicer.

We also discussed situations in front of a crowd when the transition doesn’t go as expected of flow as nicely as I may have thought it would. The main piece of advice he had for me in these situations is to just keep the music playing. While I may know it isn’t how I wanted it to go, the crowd doesn’t pay attention to every detail. Keeping the music going and taking note for the next time is the best I can do in the situation. Adding or taking away from the different songs can help these situations but the main idea is to just keep the music going.

Choosing music for a crowd can start with one idea and end up in a completely different situation. Having a playlist picked out in advance can help get me started, but you never really know what will get a good response until the event happens. Watching reactions to different genres or artists helps me understand what the next best option could be. Even then, the response may not be what I hoped for. If the song is less widely known, the reaction may not be what I expect, but if there is still dancing and enjoyment of the sound, I’ll keep playing it. The different moods of songs affect the crowds as well. An upbeat song can hype a crowd up, but a musically similar song with a different mood can take all that excitement away. Perceptions of moods and energy is a large part of DJing, but I can never be too sure about what the crowd will be like, so preparing a large amount of music before hand is important for live success.

This idea of perceptions and change is valuable in my life in so many different aspects. Meetings and interviews are just one example. Going in with a positive attitude and some idea of what will be talked about is important, but it is also important to be prepared for situations that I may not expect. Being able to handle attitudes or questions that I may not expect can help interactions go much smoother. Preparing and reacting in an appropriate way are the two most important ideas that I can bring into my academic and professional life here at Ohio State. This project helped me gain this experience in a unique way and gave me a different perspective about how to handle situations of all types.

STEP Reflection

For my STEP project, I took a ceramics class. In that class, I learned how to use a wheel to throw clay.

Using a potters wheel is a new skill for me. Previously I had only ever hand built with clay. I had to learn how to use muscles in my hands that I hadn’t had any opportunity to work previously. To be honest, I’m not very good at it. At first, this was very frustrating and it hurt my ego because in high school I won awards for previous ceramic pieces. Through trial and error, I learned to enjoy not being good at this new skill because all it is, is a chance to learn and grow as a person. My signature project has helped me grow by showing me how to turn frustration into creativity.

One way I came to my realization was through my interaction with my instructor, Sarah. She was very nonjudgmental. She never made me feel embarrassed about how bad I was at using a potters wheel. If I had a question about a certain technique, she would jump at the opportunity to show me a new way to go about it that would work for me. By leading me in an understanding manner, I was able to let go of my pride and just enjoy playing with clay for a few weeks. I really appreciate her for that.

Another experience that led to me making my realization was through my interactions with the other members of my class. There were about 5 others in my class, and I think they positively contributed to my learning because they were all from different skill levels. For example, one student was taking the class because she was exploring boobies after a breakup, another was learning how to throw because she had a wheel at home, and another was entering retirement and just wanted a change of pace. Seeing all of these different people come together and be vulnerable enough to try a new skill, fail, and keep going helped me to realize further that it is ok to be vulnerable around people. I was surrounded by a group of people who weren’t judging me because I didn’t know something, but we’re encouraging me to learn.

A final experience that contributed to my learning was physically throwing on the wheel. Like I mentioned before, I had to work muscles that I have never used before so the first few classes ended with me having to stop early because I was too tired to keep throwing. This taught me about my limits. It also showed me how important it is to not push past them because when I did, I wasn’t able to function as well as I needed to at the other things I had going on in my life at the time. I’m glad I took this class because now I feel like I have a better sense of how to protect my boundaries.

I value the change that my STEP project allowed me to have. I feel like now I am able to accept myself more for where I am. Before, I would just be disappointed in myself for not immediately being great at something new. This new skill is so valuable to me because now I’ll be able to be more vulnerable with myself and others instead of being so closed off. While it’s common sense, it’s nice to have a reminder to enjoy the learning process because the journey is half the fun.

For my STEP project, I traveled to Bozeman Montana to attend a three-day photography workshop. During this workshop, I met and worked with 10 other photographers from the West and Midwest. We were able to capture images at four different styled sessions as well as further our education in
photography, networking, and business.

This trip included many firsts for me which was exciting but also very scary. Some of these firsts included flying on an airplane, going out west, traveling alone, and going to a workshop for photography. Through all of these firsts, I was able to learn so many things. I learned that planes and airports aren’t that scary, I am stronger than I realized, and I have a strong understanding of photography, but I also have a long way to go in my business. On this trip, I was able to get a completely new perspective from the other photographers. Having a fresh set of eyes on my work and my business helped me make changes to better my business. I was able to learn a lot from the more experienced photographers on posing, settings, and business advice. This experience gave me the opportunity to gain a new perspective on how we are simply humans, and we aren’t perfect but that is what makes us unique. After attending this workshop, I have found new confidence in my work as well as myself as I saw the unique things that makeup myself and my business.

The largest thing that led to my transformation was the ladies that I was able to talk to and be around. We had girls from Iowa, Montana, Ohio, and even Texas. We had a wide variety of backgrounds but all with one common love of photography. There were ladies who have been photographing for over 10 years and some who just picked up a camera this year. It was just so nice to talk to other photographers who are just as passionate about photography as I am and want to grow their business. For one of our workshop sessions, we met with the owners of Sweet Briar Creative who are videographers in the agricultural industry. They talked with us about how we could implement video into our business as a new service to offer to our clients as well as a good way to market ourselves on social media. We also talked about what makes us unique and so we did an exercise where we wrote down things that we do in our business and then we could see how our backgrounds and our stories made us and our brands unique.

The second transformation I experienced was with my photography. Throughout each of our styled shoots I faced new challenges. While I knew how to handle most situations, I still got tripped up by new challenges such as photographing with other photographers, only having a couple of minutes to get my images, and the new landscape. I had to speak up more, so I was able to get some of the images that I wanted. I had to do this since I was shooting with a prime lens which means I need to move my body to get closer and further away images rather than zooming in and out. I also had to know when my turn was and be ready with ideas in my head so I could get the images I wanted. I could see myself struggling a lot with posing and coming up with different ideas than the other girls. With the new landscape I had to adjust my settings such as my aperture since you want to capture more of the background, and I am used to wanting to capture less of it. I think these challenges were a good way to push me out of my comfort zone.

The last change I had was realizing how important this trip was for me to just get a new perspective. From being on an airplane for the first time to driving through Yellowstone National Park I was in awe. I was able to get a really good feel for the atmosphere of Montana through our adventures outside of the regular workshop activities. We were able to eat at local restaurants, go to the church that Ian Munsick got married at as well as checking out Chico Hot springs. I was able to try Elk meat for the first time at the saloon we went to for dinner which was very good. I was also able to see a lot of wildlife such as Bison, Eagles, Elk, Black Bears and even a prairie dog. Being able to experience all of these new things was such an eye-opening experience for me as I never knew something like this was even possible for me. I believe that through this experience I was able to gain a newfound confidence not only for myself but as a photographer.

This experience to me was life changing in so many ways. I was able to take away so many things that I am going to be able to use in my future. I now have fresh eyes not only on my business but on my life. It was genuinely so therapeutic having such a variety of individuals on this workshop. We not only talked about our businesses but about real life such as having kids, getting married and just perusing our goals. I think that alone was something I needed as I am looking to my future and where I want to be with my degree and career. I was also able to learn some things about problem solving, conflict and resolution, as well as having compassion. When I look at this question from a business perspective, I was able to network with some amazing individuals that I know if I ever have questions, I can ask them. I was also able to find new and valuable ways to improve my business such as investing in marketing, videography, as well as studying how my business and style is unique. Since attending this experience, I have expanded my audience and have booked several sessions just from posting about my adventures. I am very thankful and blessed to have been able to go on this trip and experience everything I did through this program. Without STEP I would have never gone on this trip as I did not have the financial means nor the confidence to. I genuinely thought something like this would not be possible for me for a long time just because I wasn’t able to save that large amount of money and I have never traveled alone but through the D.C. trip the Wooster campus did and having the funds I was confident that I could go to Montana and learn new things about photography and expand my business in ways I never could have imagined.

My STEP project was all about learning how to cook fast, affordable meals in a college sized kitchen. I had the honour of working with Chef David Wolf and dietician Cara Chase. I spent a total of 8 weeks working on different skills, prep techniques, and cuisines. 

Before I started this project I was afraid of cooking any raw meats for fear of undercooking or overcooking it. I was also anxious about making big meals as it would be a lot of things to track. Basically, making anything more complicated than spaghetti with meat sauce was not going to happen. I doubted my ability to gauge flavour combinations or my ability to handle a gas stove.

Through this project I gained the confidence to try new foods, combinations, and even improve on basic recipes I already knew how to make. I always assumed that cooking was an adult thing to do and that I’m just not equipped to do. But I see now that cooking seems more daunting than it truly is.

With the help of Chef David Wolf, I learned knife safety and different knife cuts. I learned how to efficiently cut tomatoes and bell peppers to avoid the seeds; I also learned how to peel an orange with a knife! Not a skill I thought I needed, but indeed, that exercise gave me more confidence in using a knife and allowed me to work on precise motions. On that same day, Chef and I discussed different ingredients and what they do for a dish. I’ve never liked mushrooms, but after some convincing, I tried a mushroom and leek pizza that we made and it was delicious. 

A couple of weeks later, I met with Dietician Cara Chase and we discussed how different foods fit into a balanced diet. As someone who’s sensitive to texture, I find it challenging to eat most fruit and even harder to try new ones, but together we found ways to integrate the necessary nutrients into my diet while keeping away from adverse textures. Through that conversation, I’ve been able to try new foods and find creative ways to integrate “challenge” foods into my everyday meals.

A couple of weeks after that, I met with Chef again to work on proteins. We discussed different cuts, cooking techniques, and what I was most excited to learn about, seasoning. We cooked two steaks, many chicken tenderloins, and two salmon cuts, each piece seasoned differently. Asking Chef questions and being able to smell every herb and spice gave me a broader knowledge of my spice cabinet. So when we started cooking I was more than excited to taste it. 

That’s when it hit me. I’m no longer afraid of cooking. I’m excited to cook. As a junior who just moved into my first apartment, I need to be able to cook. This project gave me the confidence to walk into the grocery store and pick the freshest produce and best cuts of meat and to transfer that confidence into my cooking. I always saw cooking as an adult thing and I am now an adult. This necessary skill doesn’t seem like a chore or a scary endeavor anymore, but a fun journey that leads to a delicious feast. I am so incredibly grateful for Chef Wolf and Dietician Chase for helping me this summer because now I can call myself a trained cook.

1. My STEP Signature Project was designed to improve my skills with guitar and singing. The
material goods portion of STEP budget helped me purchase an electric guitar and amplifier,
and the rest of the budget went to voice and guitar lessons at the Cincinnati School of
Music. I took weekly, hour-long lessons for both voice and guitar throughout the entirety of
my summer and practiced as much as I could when I was on my own.
2. Largely, the way I have viewed myself and how guitar/singing can be learned has changed.
While designing this project, I believed that the only way for me to improve outside of what
I already know was to take lessons and learn from somebody better than me. And of course,
learning from more experiences vocalists and guitarists certainly helped. However, I learned
the real best way to improve is to consistently work at it. Many times, in my life, I have relied
on a weekly lesson, or an hour-long class period, or a shift at work, to bring the change in
me I hoped I would get from the lesson/period/shift. This summer I discovered guitar as a
firmly set passion for myself and realized that I have to put in all the effort, all the time to
improve the skills I want to.
3. At the start of the summer and my STEP project, I went to a locally owned music store.
There, I tried out a few guitars and ultimately bought a butterscotch-blonde Telecaster. But
as I sat in the store testing out the guitars and amps, I could only listen to other customers
playing their guitars infinitely better than me; I was embarrassed to even try to learn. So, I
left the store with a brand-new guitar, amplifier, and feelings of inadequacy.
When I had my first guitar lesson, I learned that my teacher, Sean, was used to teaching children
who had never touched a guitar on purpose in their life – kids who might not even want to. And
because of this, we got along great, I was happy to have a teacher, he was happy to have a student
who could play and cared to. Despite this, I soon found the limitations of his teaching, he was used
to teaching the very basics, and it didn’t seem he understood what to do with someone who already
knew them. This led to many lessons where I was at the helm, steering the lesson down paths of
questions I had, Sean doing his best to explain all of music theory inside an hour. I was learning,
sure, but I wasn’t happy with my progress.
I knew that I couldn’t expect the world out of these lessons. So, I began asking questions that I
hoped having answers to, could guide my at-home practicing. How to play chords in the mix of a
solo, how to arpeggiate different chords, how to play all over the fretboard, etc. All of a sudden, I
had new tools every week to work with, new ways to play this instrument I loved. And I think that
this is what I was meant to learn all along. Having that professional at my side definitely helped, but
these were things I could have learned myself. And now when I sit down with my guitar for
however many hours at a time, I don’t feel embarrassed even if I can’t play well. Now I know it
doesn’t matter how good or bad I am, because I am able to put in the time and make myself better.
4. Throughout my life, I have struggled to find a consistent hobby, much less a passion. I
always felt that when I had my passion, it would devour my life, becoming something I
could devote all my time to. And as I circled through endless 2-3 week cycles of picking up a
new activity, spending some time and money on it, before deciding I wasn’t good enough
before finally dropping it, I became drained. This summer I learned how to turn hobby into
passion into discipline, and now I can put that discipline into making more hobbies become
passions. In a broader sense, I now put more faith into my own abilities to create the life I
want for myself.

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