Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. 

For my STEP signature project I went through the process of making a garment from fiber to finished piece. I spun my own yarn, wound it into skeins, and then used either a knitting or weaving technique to create a sweater and a scarf.

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

My STEP project significantly empowered me and enhanced my skills in creation and innovation. During the initial planning phases, I spent considerable time collaborating with my advisor, harboring doubts about my ability to manage such an extensive project. The prospect of committing a substantial amount of time and financial resources to a project in an area I had not previously explored was quite daunting. I felt a lot of pressure and anxiety that the project might not be enjoyable or that it might be too challenging to complete within the allotted timeframe.

However, the experience ultimately proved transformative. By the end of the project, I emerged not only with a renewed sense of creative energy but also with the affirmation that this is the type of work I am passionate about pursuing as a career. The process reinforced my belief that a career in textiles aligns perfectly with my aspirations and capabilities, and this project was instrumental in validating my commitment to this field.

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 opportunity to acquire and utilize equipment that I would not have otherwise encountered has been profoundly impactful in my professional development. In particular, working with a spinning wheel has been an exceptionally rewarding experience. Although the learning curve associated with this equipment presented significant challenges, mastering it through dedicated practice has instilled in me a deep appreciation for the art of spinning.

The ability to exert control over numerous facets of the creative process has not only been empowering but has also significantly expanded the horizons of my practice. I now have the ability to work with fiber, color, and many other characteristics to create truly personal and professional garments. This opens numerous possibilities for future projects and innovations, thereby enhancing my creative capabilities and broadening the scope of my future.

Furthermore, this project provided me with the invaluable opportunity to collaborate closely with an expert possessing extensive knowledge and experience in the textiles field. Sasha, with her profound expertise, played a pivotal role in my development throughout this endeavor. She not only imparted essential technical skills that were crucial to the project’s success but also offered insightful guidance on the realities and nuances of working in the textiles industry from an academic standpoint.

Her mentorship was instrumental in navigating the complexities of the project, and her guidance has been particularly influential as I increasingly focus on a career path in research and development. Sasha’s contributions were fundamental in overcoming the challenges I faced, and her insights have significantly shaped and inspired my future professional aspirations. This collaboration has not only equipped me with practical skills but has also deepened my understanding of the field, laying a solid foundation for my continued growth and exploration in textiles.

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.

This project has solidified my educational and professional trajectory, providing me with a clear and confident direction for my future endeavors. The skills and knowledge I have gained through this experience have greatly enhanced my readiness as I embark on the next phase of my academic journey. I now feel exceptionally well-prepared to apply to graduate programs, specifically those offering a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Textiles. The project reinforced my commitment to advancing in this field but has also equipped me with the practical experience and academic insight necessary for success in a rigorous graduate program.

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

My STEP project was a loosely led Computer Build project. I learned the steps to research, design, and build a PC and also learned about different career opportunities in the IT field.

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

A key takeaway from this build was the importance of design verification. When researching computer parts that I could use for my build, I had to remain aware of the specifications of each part and whether they were compatible with all the other chosen parts. While this can be a meticulous process, the process is crucial to build a machine that functions properly. I also had to consider the purpose of the machine and the requirements that that purpose entailed. When researching parts, we had to find the application with the highest specification requirements that we wanted to run and then build around those specifications. This requirement was also part of design verification because even if we were to construct a machine that worked, the device might not be able to perform the tasks we built it for.

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?

While researching parts for my computer build project, I quickly realized that selecting the right components was just the beginning. As I delved deeper into the details, I discovered the critical importance of design verification. Initially, I focused on finding the best CPU, GPU, and motherboard that fit my budget and performance needs. However, as I pieced together the build, I learned that verifying the compatibility and overall design was just as important as choosing the right parts. For example, I needed to ensure that my power supply could handle the demands of all the components and that my cooling solution would fit within the case while effectively managing heat. This experience taught me that design verification is essential in preventing potential issues down the line, such as hardware incompatibility or thermal inefficiencies, and ultimately contributes to a smoother, more reliable build.

Assembling a computer for the first time was an exciting yet eye-opening experience. I was eager to see all the parts I had meticulously chosen come together, but as I began putting everything in place, I encountered several challenges. The cooling fans I bought for the case did not fit properly, and I lacked enough RGB ports on my motherboard to handle all the fans I had. On top of that, when I tried to mount the CPU cooler, I discovered that the bracket did not align correctly with the motherboard. These issues made me realize the importance of design verification. I had assumed that as long as the parts were compatible on paper, everything would fit together seamlessly. However, this experience taught me that careful design verification—double-checking dimensions, fit, and compatibility beyond just specifications—is crucial to avoid frustrating setbacks during the assembly process.

Learning about the different roles in information technology, especially data engineering, broadened my perception of what IT encompasses and what can be achieved within the field. Initially, I had a rather narrow view, associating IT primarily with software development and technical support. However, as I explored more, I discovered the role of data engineering, which focuses on building systems for collecting, storing, and analyzing vast amounts of data. This opened my eyes to the immense possibilities within IT beyond just coding or troubleshooting. I realized that IT is a diverse and dynamic field where roles like data engineering are a critical part of powering everything from business analytics to artificial intelligence. Understanding these roles made me appreciate the depth of IT and how it can be applied to solve complex problems, drive innovation, and create new opportunities across various industries.

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

This new way of thinking is crucial to my career aspiration of becoming a controls engineer. Control engineering involves designing electrical systems, and design verification is necessary when designing those systems. Gaining experience in building a complex system that requires design verification and specification checks under supervision is a valuable learning opportunity I can apply as I work towards becoming a controls engineer. This project also taught me to consider factors beyond just the system I am building. While building my computer, I also had to consider how I intended to use my PC and how I might make improvements in the future. These are the main lessons I learned while working on my STEP project.

Link to Project Slides Presentation Here

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.

For my STEP Project, I participated in the STEP Computer build program, where Mr. Ty James instructed us on how to find the appropriate computer parts for our specific needs, how to assemble those components within the computer case, and advised us on potential career opportunities to pursue with our new devices. The program also provided us with a 1500 dollar budget to utilize towards the price of the computer parts, which we could then utilize personal funds if we went over budget. 

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

Personally, the idea of building a Personal Computer always seemed an unattainable, overly complicated, non-approachable concept. I had seen others online do it and had always had an interest in the process, but once I took closer looks into the specific steps and components, I always felt overwhelmed by the entirety of the process. Coming into this program, those nerves and apprehensions were still there at the very beginning, but were quickly tossed aside after the instruction and resources provided by Mr. James. 

Now, looking back at the entirety of the program, my knowledge of PCs and my experience with them has increased exponentially. My roommate, who had lots of experience building PCs in the past, helped me a lot throughout the process, and now I’m excited to do the same for others who are looking to create their own computers. The impossibility of building a computer had not only been completely removed, but been replaced with confidence and skill all because of this program. 

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? 

As aforementioned, I had a lot of assistance throughout this process to help me get to where I am now; first and foremost, the resources and knowledge provided by Mr. James was indispensable and incredibly helpful. The introduction to PCPartPicker.com, the website and organization tool I used throughout the building process, streamlined the entirety of the build, and allowed me to store and compare part selections and see the final compatibility and performance options. Mr. James also offered to give a second opinion on our part choices, voice any concerns about our selections, and verify performance expectations. He also helped us jump-start the process of getting our operating system (in our case, Windows 11) and various softwares and launchers downloaded that we may need for our specific career aspirations.

My roommate was also incredibly helpful during the selection and construction processes. I would voice my desires and requirements for my ideal PC, and cross-verify my part selections with them for the final product. Then, once I had all of my parts in my posession, he helped me with the construction process. His experience with PCs was really highlighted, and I learned a lot about the process as a whole by working with him. If I didn’t have a roommate with that much experience, I would still have someone to turn to for all of the help I would need, as Mr. James offered to be that outlet for help if we did not have someone to turn to. We could always reach out to him with questions if we had them, and we could reach out to him during the construction process for assistance as well. 

All in all, the people around me were instrumental to my success during this process. They, and the resources they provided for me, taught me all I now know about PC construction. Being a part of this program and having these discussions with those around me is what allowed me now to have a powerful device that will be incredibly important in my future filmmaking endeavors, as well as the knowledge of how to create one in case I need to make future upgrades or help others. 

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

My ideal career is in the landscape of film and video production, and one of, if not the most, instrumental aspects of this career is the post-production/editing process. With a powerful and capable device like the PC I built during this program, I will be able to streamline the editing process for my future creative projects, and have access to more editing possibilities that were not available on less-powerful computers. Being able to make these improvements will create a significant jump in quality and a decrease of technical errors as I create videos throughout the remainder of my schooling and the entirety of my future career.

My STEP Signature Project was completed through the STEP Computer Build opportunity and consisted of weekly online classroom sessions throughout the course of the Summer of 2024. The instructor, Ty James, assisted in the budgeting and assembly of a PC with a 1,500-dollar budget provided by the STEP program.

From Microsoft Excel statistical analysis to 3D CAD modeling in SolidWorks, I have taken computers for granted in my daily usage of engineering programs throughout my academic career. Despite having a strong reliance upon computers through the mechanical engineering curriculum at Ohio State, my view of technology changed after completing the STEP Computer Build project, because it provided a deeper understanding of the fundamental building blocks that make up a PC. Research and discussions provided unique insight into the hardware related to PC assembly and allowed for an informed selection of parts and assembly process. Not only did this provide unique and valuable experience in important technological understanding, but also established a level of confidence in computer hardware that shifted the way I view PCs. To those that are not familiar with the field, understanding PC hardware seems complicated and out of reach. However, this program taught me that with a relatively little amount of time and research, anyone can become acquainted with PC building and use it to benefit their own PC experiences.

Under the expert oversight of Cybersecurity instructor Ty James, I was able to be curious and explore further into different aspects of PC technology that I had no previous experience with. He created a relaxed and open environment to share ideas and concerns with him and the other members of the course to use collective knowledge to benefit the group. With all the students in the same position of relatively little experience or knowledge of PC building, the format of the course allowed both general and specific questions to be openly asked that benefitted everyone involved. Weekly meetings provided a basis for action, outlining important tips and considerations for each step of the computer building process without holding our hands too tightly. The time in between the meetings allowed us to take initiative and try applying our new and then report back with any updates, questions, or concerns we might have throughout the process.

Additionally, the course included elements of personal freedom that allowed us to prioritize different aspects of the PC builds depending on what we valued in our product and what applications we desired. For example, I intend to use my PC for CAD modeling software, so I made sure to invest in a solid graphics card to properly render the models I will be working with. This aspect of personalization increased my interest in the build and provided me with confidence that the application of my research would go to good use in my desired product.

The STEP Computer Build project inspired me to reach out to other experts in the field, consulting with anyone I could find to provide different perspectives on important considerations. I learned that hardware choices within the PC community are highly debated and there are several different philosophies depending on who you ask. I learned that in many cases there are no wrong answers, and as long as the selected parts are compatible with one another it is often up to personal preference what route to take. This opened my eyes to the numerous possibilities associated with PC builds and suddenly the complex mystery of computer hardware became much simpler. After purchasing the parts, the assembly process was loosely guided with tips and instructions, but largely became a personal process of research and troubleshooting. Ultimately, the experience of building my own PC opened my eyes to countless possibilities and provided me with confidence to tackle my own computer hardware related endeavors in the future.

The knowledge and confidence I gained from the STEP Computer Build project will not only apply currently with my new PC and academic career but will also extend into the future with potential applications in personal and professional technology. I have confidence that if I ever find the need to upgrade or replace my current computer, I have the tools in place to solve any potential problems myself and curate my changes to meet my needs. Additionally, an understanding of PC hardware and assembly is becoming increasingly important in the modern technology-driven era and will without a doubt be beneficial in any field I choose to pursue with my engineering degree. This experience has not only provided me with the practical benefit of a new PC but has also equipped me with a set of tools that contribute to a confidence and understanding of technology that will propel me into a successful future.

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 project was the process of Building a PC and everything that it entails. Researching each part of the PC and researching the programs and tips and tricks that should be done when building the PC. 

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.

Upon completing my STEP signature project, I have expanded my view of the world. Researching my list of PC parts has expanded my view of the world, and I’ve noticed how quickly and often the market changes. There is a lot to consider in buying each part for the PC, there is so much research that needs to be done. Something that I figured out about myself as I went through the purchasing and building process is the I am a perfectionist. Another thing is that I prefer more modern and newer products. 

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.

Researching in many markets showed me how the same product can be priced differently depending on the site. Also, how different a certain product can be depends on the brand. Once I had my list, I went to Micro Center and completely changed my list. That goes to show how much you need to research when buying an item. It made me realize that I need to prepare and not go in without enough information.  

When I was starting to build the PC, I was taking my time and was going very slow. Although I didn’t mind, I was being too much of a perfectionist when putting in a part. Everything didn’t have to be perfect and yet I tried to do just that. The way I tried to have the wires in a certain direction wasn’t necessary, but I kept trying to get it a certain way even if it couldn’t. I was trying too hard to get all my parts to be white for my PC because I wanted a white build. But I wasted time trying to research some white power supplies when my case didn’t show my power supply. Sometimes there is no need to be perfect with something. 

As I was researching the many PC parts I noticed I would prefer more newer parts. I like the better-looking and performance parts; once I knew there was this good part, I wanted that compared to others. Some were cheaper and had better performance, but I preferred the newer one that had better performance and was more expensive but wasn’t needed. I could’ve gotten it cheaper and saved some money. I ultimately got the parts that were good for the price and don’t regret any parts I bought besides the memory, I feel I could’ve gotten a better one for a slightly bigger price or even the same price. 

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 plans.

This transformation is significant to my life because it helped me learn the best ways to search the market and get the best price per performance. It helped and will help me restrain myself from buying parts that look the best but aren’t needed. This will help me in the future when buying more PC parts and other things I need to buy. The transformation is significant in my creative side because I am learning to restrain myself from being a perfectionist. Creating 3D drawings and products will be much easier now since I am learning to control my perfectionism. 

Step Post Project Reflection – Aidan Johnson

My project was in the creative category. I used the distributed funds to purchase a keyboard piano and two months of weekly piano lessons.

The first time I ever played piano was in second grade. I took lessons for quite a while before quitting in my third year of high school, and over time lost much of the skill of playing piano and the connection with music it brought me. At Ohio State, I chose to pursue a science degree, but I would primarily consider myself a creative person. I enjoy writing and stories especially, but music has always been an important part of my life. Without a way to reliably practice piano or play music at all in college, I felt like I was missing out on something important. With that in mind, I decided to try and reconnect with music by using the step funds on a weighted key keyboard and piano lessons.

In combination with weekly lessons, I now have a reliable way to practice piano on my own time in my own space. For me, piano is not only about learning and connecting with music, but a way of teaching patience, consistency, hard work, and critical thinking. In other words, it is a difficult skill to learn. While I am not learning piano from the ground up, I am playing harder and harder songs the more I practice. It is my end goal in the far future to be able to easily pick up difficult pieces and play them for myself, and while that is and will be slow going, I am confident that I will be able to through hard work and dedication. Through this summer experience, I have not only reconnected with a part of myself that I did not know how much I missed but given myself a personal goal to strive for that is outside of my career or academic pursuits.

It was very hard at first. I had not played or read sheet music in a long while. I tried to rely on my retained knowledge and muscle memory to play songs, but my teacher, Mrs. Miller-Fry was very astute in her lesson plans and started me off on simpler songs that helped me relearn the basics of piano and music theory. It was the foundation I needed to start again.

At first, I slightly overestimated my piano playing ability. As a part of the Columbus Conservatory for piano’s program, I was allowed to choose a few songs I wanted to learn for myself. I selected one well known song I have always liked and wanted to play, Merry-Go-Round-of-Life from the Hayao Miyazaki film, Howl’s Moving Castle. It is a very flowing, if not a little melancholic, waltz that has an exciting, grand melody. Despite how much I like the song, I realized that it would be much more of a challenge than I first anticipated when it took me a few days of practice to even get a decent start at playing the page. It was clear I had a long way to go.

Mrs. Miller-Fry chose more songs for me that fit my skill level, and I began to gradually progress. While I am not currently where I once was, it is an improvement over the first time I did more than fool around on a piano in three and a half years.

I’ve always been interested in playing music. Aside from piano, I played trumpet throughout middle and high school. In high school, I played piano for my school’s show choir and got to travel to competitions. While I missed doing this, I missed even more the creative aspect of piano. Some people, especially instrumentalists who don’t play the piano themselves, see it as a “flat” instrument because there is less room for expression compared to, say, string instruments, which have incredibly wide sound capabilities. In my opinion that could not be further from the truth. The piano player has lots of control over volume and tone and can alter the entire meaning of the same piece just by playing differently. This is an important skill and art, and it is one that I used to have a better understanding of, until I started to play again. One piece that I am learning that is helping me reconnect with this ability is Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy. It is a challenge to reconnect with my own creative, expressive energy to perfect this piece, but it is also a joy to do so. I can say with confidence that pursuing this goal of playing piano has been an excellent endeavor that I am expecting to enjoy for a long time.

This project is important to me for a few reasons. Firstly, I enjoy the feeling of achieving something. Going from knowing nothing about a piece of music to being able to understand, play it well, and make it your own, is a very satisfying experience. Secondly, I want to have more hobbies. In college, I lost a lot of free time and as a result, some of the interests and hobbies that I had. Finally, and most importantly, I love music and want to be able to play and understand it. I want to be great at something not related to my career, and think it is worth it to spend time and money to achieve this.

Permission from Ashley Miller-Fry was given for this photo.

For my STEP project, I attended the Brevard Music Center’s Summer Institute and Festival in Brevard, North Carolina. During my six weeks in the piano program at the Brevard Music Center (BMC), I took weekly lessons with the piano faculty, attended masterclasses and lectures, performed in recitals, and heard concerts almost every night.

I am currently going into my senior year at Ohio State. With this comes questions about what my future will look like career-wise. I am double majoring in piano performance and economics and have been trying to gain more experience in both areas of study to help me decide what path I would like to go down after graduation. Before attending the institute, I had some ideas of what a music career could look like, whether from family members or my professors at Ohio State’s School of Music. The various activities I participated in as a student in BMC’s piano program helped me learn about teaching lessons and being a performer at a high level, among other things.

Each week, I took an hour-long lesson with my assigned teacher. I studied with two different university professors at BMC, taking three lessons with each. In addition to my lessons, I attended a one-hour studio class every week. All students taking lessons with a specific teacher attend their studio class. During studio class, we get to hear our peers play. Sometimes my teacher would have a few students play and give them feedback. Other times, the whole studio would take an hour to run pieces we would be playing for recitals or masterclasses later in the week. Both studio class formats are helpful in different ways. Hearing a fellow student get feedback can give you ideas for how to play pieces in the future, while getting opportunities to play for an audience, even if small, is always helpful when preparing for performances.

Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, the piano program would attend an hour-long masterclass, usually led by one of the piano faculty. A masterclass is essentially a public lesson; students participating in the masterclass might prepare a movement of a sonata or some other short piece and then receive feedback from the teacher running the class. In addition to the masterclasses given by the piano faculty each week, the piano students had the opportunity to attend special masterclasses held by visiting artists. Masterclasses are instructive for both the students participating and those in the audience. Watching the piano faculty give these masterclasses allowed me to observe different teaching styles and think about how I might implement elements into my teaching in the future.

Another huge part of my time at the institute was practicing. Every student in the piano program was supposed to practice for about four hours every day. I usually practiced for two hours after breakfast and two hours after lunch. Getting that much practice time per day is rare when I’m in school because of all the classes I have to take across both majors each semester. The more time I can devote to practicing, the more quickly I can learn pieces and improve. Learning the most effective way to practice also takes time. The more I practice, the faster I can learn how to be efficient with the time I have. Practicing is an essential part of a professional musician’s life. Many of the piano faculty at BMC encouraged us to take advantage of our practice time there, saying that it will become so much harder to find practice time when/if we choose a music career.

The view from one of my practice rooms.

The last thing I had the opportunity to do at BMC was perform. The first weekend we were there, each student had to audition for the piano faculty so they could determine teacher placement. Auditions are a big part of music school, but it is hard to practice auditioning. Though we were already accepted into the program, auditioning for teacher placement allowed students to feel the nerves you get when you only have one chance to show your preparation and skill. During the first week there, I also performed the first movement of Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor for the piano faculty. About a month before I arrived at BMC, I had sent in a video audition of this movement for the annual concerto competition. I was very excited to be selected as a semi-finalist because it allowed me to share a piece I love playing with others. In the days leading up to the semi-final round, I rehearsed with another pianist who played the orchestral part on a second piano. Pianists rarely get the opportunity to play with one another, so I had a lot of fun working with my collaborative pianist. The last performance opportunity I had at BMC was during the final piano recital of the summer when I performed a piece by Frederic Chopin. I had spent the weeks leading up to the performance working on it with my teacher there and playing it for studio class. I learned so much while improving it that I know will transfer to other pieces I play in the future.

Getting ready to perform in the concerto competition semi-finals!

No matter whether I decide to pursue a music career or one in economics, my experiences at BMC have given me a lot to think about when considering future plans. If I decide to pursue a career in music, my time at BMC has made me think about what kind of teacher I would want to be and whether I would want to be teaching-focused or performance-focused. If I decide to do something else as a career, I will bring traits I have developed over many years and continued to develop at BMC. Learning how to give helpful feedback, like that provided by teachers in studio classes or masterclasses, will be important in a corporate setting. Being detail-oriented and learning to apply critical feedback, skills I am developing through practicing and lessons will also be valuable when working in any job. I will remember my time at the Brevard Music Center’s Summer Institute and Festival for many years. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to meet so many fantastic professional musicians and learn more about their careers.

For my STEP project, I wanted to build my sewing skills and explore the realm of fashion. As a member of Scarlette Magazine, I have always been interested in the creation of clothing and the ability to express oneself through fashion. As a part of the artistic and creative endeavor category, I used my funds to purchase a sewing machine, corresponding materials, and multiple classes to develop my sewing and mending skills.

Prior to my STEP project, I viewed fashion from a technical standpoint. I served as the Director of Finance for Scarlette Magazine, a fashion magazine at OSU. While I enjoyed my responsibilities in this position, I remained interested in viewing fashion from a creative standpoint. Through the STEP project, I was able to develop my creative abilities. I purchased a sewing machine, several fabrics and tools, and enrolled in numerous classes. I made pants and a slip dress, which were projects I was very excited to share with my family and friends. I also learned many techniques, such as professional pattern, sewing zippers, and the alteration of clothing. I was able to combine my technical and creative skills through this project as it taught me patience, reinforced creativity, and enabled me to problem-solve.

Prior to the STEP project, I was extremely new to sewing. I could not sew by hand, much less solely operate on a sewing machine. I was intimidated by the prospect of completing the listed projects, though, through the courses I began to develop my capabilities. In the first few lessons, I became familiar with how to operate the features of my machine. There was much trial and error in this process, as I often made mistakes while learning. For example, if I stitched something incorrectly, I had to use a seam ripper to rip all the seams and start over. In starting over, I had to practice patience with myself and understand that most projects cannot be completed to entirety without the possibility of challenges. This is a lesson that I found applicable to my collegiate experiences at OSU outside of sewing.  

Additionally,  my sewing classes enabled the exploration of a passion I had always had. I was able to expand on the creative responsibility presented by sewing. I wanted to create projects that I was proud of and could share with close family and friends, while also building my technical skills. In the past, I had enjoyed learning about fashion, such as aspects including color theory and texture. Now, I can utilize these skills in a first-person capacity by making my own clothes!

Lastly, my experiences in sewing taught me the importance of organization. To sew, one needs to plan ahead and allocate space and adequate materials. In my projects, I had to purchase a collection of fabric, needles, and thread. I needed to plan for seam allowance and anticipate which fabric would correspond best with certain projects. I now feel comfortable using the skills I learned in class to create my own projects. 

I learned various skills in completing my STEP project, such as the importance of organization, the value of planning, and the enjoyment gained from being able to explore a passion. Such skills are tools I will use beyond my years at OSU both personally and professionally. As a senior, I have contemplated future career paths, and while I am still not entirely sure of what I would like to dedicate my life to, a career in fashion is highly possible. I am greatly interested in textile science, where I can use my chemistry degree and knowledge of sewing. 

In learning how to sew, I can continue to contribute to a more sustainable world. The process of sewing is not only fun, but being able to contribute to a practice that does not harm the environment is rewarding. The practice of fast fashion, clothing that caters to brief trends, is harmful to the environment and a growing issue in the fashion realm. The clothing is often found in landfills, due to overconsumption and their short use. Now that I know how to upcycle and alter clothes, I will decrease my contributions to these landfills.

For my STEP project, I traveled to Arrowmont School of Craft for a two-week workshop on traditional hand-tool woodworking. During this workshop I received instruction from professional woodworker Sabiha Mujtaba on technical skills, then developed a project of my own. Outside of class time, I met other students and working artists, and we traveled to several arts institutions in the region.

 My time at Arrowmont expanded my technical skills in wood, allowing me to create more expressive and proficient work. I received nine hours of small-group and individual instruction in technical skills daily, which allowed me to rapidly improve my facility with wood. Our conceptual focus was on the use of decorative relief carving to create an illusion of perceptual depth. My woodshop instruction at Ohio State has been oriented around rapid prototyping and structural armature construction for work in other media, but my coursework at Arrowmont was much more concerned with the expressive potential of wood as a final medium. Sabiha guided me through the use of several tools that I found intimidating, which greatly built my confidence. With the technical skills I developed at Arrowmont, I feel much more able to express my creative ideas in wood.

Alongside my technical developments, I was exposed to a diverse set of professional artists who gave me creative inspiration and insight into potential career steps. Around sixty teachers and students were staying on campus during the time I was there. Communal living, dining, and recreation spaces encouraged all of us to get to know each other, and most attendees were happy to exchange artistic ideas. The workshop was a great opportunity to meet other college-age artists as well as new professional mentors. 

I spent a good deal of my free time with the other college students. Since there were multiple workshops going on, we had a wide range of material interests. There were jewelers, printmakers, ceramists, and many more ways of making represented. Even when we were off campus exploring the nearby Smoky Mountains National Park, we were discussing our projects at Arrowmont and back home. It was transformational to be so surrounded by people who were thinking about their creative practice as much as I do. The school’s culture of total immersion into work meant that we spent most of our free time during the weeks in the studios, either working on our own projects or visiting other artists. This allowed for a deep sense of collaboration and cross-pollination between studios. I learned much more than just woodworking – I got to stoke a wood-fired ceramic kiln, see how table legs are turned on a lathe, and watch the mesmerizing process of hand weaving on a floor loom. All of this new material knowledge will inform my research in the final year of my BFA and show me potential paths I can turn down in the future.

The close-knit community at Arrowmont also allowed me to bond with instructors and staff. My instructor Sabiha and lathe turning instructor Beth Ireland were both highly engaged with the woodshop students. They were excited to ask us about our progress and plans, and offered plenty of wisdom from their own experience. On the weekend between the two weeks of class, they led a field trip for the wood students to Knoxville TN to visit local galleries and discuss the work we saw. Both instructors were also glad to discuss how they made their careers as working artists and manage to support themselves doing the work they loved. My conversations with Beth especially affirmed that there is a place in the world for the work I want to create. Based on these mentor relationships, I have created a more specific plan for the types of work I will apply for after graduation, and how I can leverage my creative skills to meaningfully improve the communities I exist within.

I went to Arrowmont with the expectation that I would forge professional and personal connections, build my technical skills, and clarify my plans for the year ahead. In all of these respects, my project was a success. I feel much more confident preparing for my senior exhibition armed with the knowledge I gained this summer. Additionally, I wanted to see if craft schools were an environment where I would want to work in the future. I learned that I thrive in the immersive, hands-on community of craft school, and I have compiled several internships and positions at Arrowmont and other similar schools that I will apply for next spring.