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 Signature Project, I attended the Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychologists (SIOP) annual conference in Chicago. While there, I attended several workshops, seminars, and other sessions. I also met and exchanged contact information with dozens of industrial-organizational (I-O) students, researchers, and practitioners. 

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. 

Before the SIOP conference, I was a bit wary of networking. I wanted to leverage the opportunity to make connections but didn’t know how to do so without making it feel one-sided and transactional, since I had so little to offer an established career professional. However, the dozens of conversations I had over the course of the conference transformed my perception of networking by proving the extent to which I-O psychologists are willing to support newcomers like me. 

Additionally, I began the conference with only a vague notion of how curriculum differed between master’s and doctorate programs in I-O psychology, and the specific practitioner roles to which these degrees could be applied. Throughout the conference, I heard from dozens of I-O psychologists on these subjects, building on my basic knowledge in sometimes radical ways. 

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. 

My SIOP conference experience began with a pre-conference workshop on people analytics. There were about thirty other people in the room, and I sat at a table with several of them. I had no idea whether the people around me would be cliquey, elitist, or otherwise uninterested in engaging an ignorant undergraduate, but I was determined to start conversation, nonetheless. As soon as I did so, all my worries about networking vanished for the remainder of the conference. I was overwhelmed by the amount of warmth and support I received from every single I-O psychologist at the table, and these only increased when I confessed my undergraduate status.  

During the remainder of my time in Chicago, I made dozens of connections, including five which I expect to last for years to come. These five are comprised of a talent development specialist for a manufacturing company in Georgia, a professor leading the master’s program at a Connecticut college, a first-year master’s student from California, an organizational development consultant for one of the highest-performing hospitals in the world, and a senior manager for the largest consulting firm in the world. None of these new relationships feel transactional, because it’s so obvious they’re fulfilled through helping me realize my professional goals. I have no idea why this is the case, but I’m extremely grateful for it. This experience has transformed the way I view networking, and I plan to be much more proactive in the future. 

Additionally, the assorted conversations I had with I-O psychology professionals gave me additional insight into the diversity of education and career paths in the field. I had been under the impression that assistantships were available for master’s and PhD programs alike, and that PhDs were almost exclusively for academics. On the contrary, only PhD programs offer assistantships, and not all PhDs go into academia. However, it’s more common for practitioners to hold only a master’s degree, and some universities offer a combined MS/PhD (or MA/PhD) program in I-O psychology that includes assistantships throughout the master’s degree. Before this conference, I also believed that I-O practitioners were all external consultants. Now I know that many large firms employ internal consultants, and that psychometricians creating employee assessments often have an I-O psychology background. This has greatly expanded my view of what’s possible with a graduate or doctoral degree in I-O psychology. 

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. 

One of my major goals for this conference was to learn more about I-O psychology and confirm whether I’d like to pursue continued education and a career in the field. The sessions I attended and the people I met reaffirmed by passion for the subject, and I’ve decided to continue down this path. At present, I’m unsure whether I’d like to pursue a master’s degree or a PhD, and the answer would likely depend on whether I’d like to be a practitioner or an academic. The connections I made in Chicago will be invaluable in learning more about each route, so I can choose which one to follow. Alternatively, a combined MS/PhD or MA/PhD program would offer me the flexibility to stop or continue after receiving my master’s degree. Such programs would also allow me to pay for school with an assistantship, a major benefit not often found in traditional master’s programs.  

My new connections will also provide insight, advantages, and opportunities in I-O psychology to which I may not otherwise have access. This will be enormously useful as I research and apply to graduate programs, internships, and full-time roles moving forward. My experience making these connections also increased my networking confidence and competence dramatically, so I expect to proactively meet many more professionals in the future. 

For my STEP Signature Project, I utilized STEP’s financial support to attend this year’s Game Developer Conference (GDC). By doing so, I had the opportunity to participate in various industry-expert led lectures, engage with professionals in Game Design, and become acquainted with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), a minority outreach group dedicated to assisting students in entering the industry and connecting those students with game industry ambassadors. Attending the conference provided me with a deeper understanding of the games industry and enabled me to establish valuable connections for future guidance and support.

The most important benefit I gained from the conference was learning more about the games industry. This was particularly valuable as I was considering whether to attend Ohio State University for an MFA in Digital Animation and Interactive Media, which would solidify my path towards creating interactive content. For this reason, it was important to make sure that this was a community I would actually like to be a part of since becoming a game developer is not an easy life.

However, after immersing myself in the game developer community, not only did my understanding of the game industry change, but I did as well. During my time there, I was mesmerized by the amount of passion there is to shift games towards being made for prosocial good. Additionally, I came to learn how inclusive the community is to those in the LGBTQ+ community. For me, both of those aspects are major reasons why I loved the game industry from the outside so to see that it was even more so the case on the inside was aa truly heartwarming. Furthermore, the changed that occurred within my own self was the realization that for me, I want to learn more about how we can make games more accessible, especially for the emerging technologies of mixed reality.

Regarding my first change of perspective with the prosocial aspirations of the games industry, this can be most thanked due to the amazing talks I got to attend. One of the best talks on this topic was a talk named “Advocacy Microtalks: Culture, Civics, & Karma” which was made up of 5 different mini talks on how to make games that are a powerful force for cultural change. One of the key take aways I gained from this talk was the quote of “The more specific we are, the more universal something can become. Life is in the details. If you generalize, it doesn’t resonate. The specificity of it is what resonates.” – Jacqueline Woodson. This quote was in regards to how if you want to make a game that actually means something, you have to be willing to truly make it for that community and not water it down to be something that is socially acceptable to everyone. Another key takeaway was that we as designers have to come up with ways to create opportunities for people to be kind by giving players motive, means, and opportunities to be kind. Through doing so we can make games that can help make the world a more wholesome place. Thanks to talks like these, not only did my view of my responsibility of a game designer shift, but I also got a chance to see how the game industry is made up of people like these speakers who want to use our art form to help people.

Regarding the second shift of perspective of just how important the Queer community is to the games industry was thanks to one of the first talks I was able to attend. The talk I am referring to was called “Fair Play Summit: Nonbinary by Design” which described the speakers experience crafting a narrative in which the main protagonist comes to identify as non-binary and how important it is to include as many voices of a community as you can when crafting inclusivity stories. But the reason it gave me such a brighter view of the game’s community was not for the talks content itself but for the fact that before the talk, unlike the every other talk I attended in which most people would wait till about 20 minutes before hand to start lining up, an hour before this presentation, there was already a line halfway down the hall. Through this, I was able to see how important even a community as small as the nonbinary community is to those in the industry.

The final realization in which I discovered my desire to work in accessibility for games can most directly be attributed to a talk I watched on crafting a VR game for players who are blind. In the talk, the speakers discussed what type of adaptions they had to make to provide the best quality experience they could for all their players, no matter if they were blind or not. For example, they discovered that making the game have simply a text-to-speech feature for all written content was not enough since it would either result in players getting an overwhelming amount of information and confusions about what information was important. So instead, they had to do numerous playtests filtering down the information and determining what truly needed to be read aloud and what did not. Furthermore, they talked about how much this meant to the blind community since this was the first VR game that was tailored made to be accessible to the community. Yet, there is still so much research yet to be down on these emerging technologies of VR and AR which is why I had this change of perspective of wanting to go into learning how we can improve these technologies accessibility.

Overall, thanks to this conference I feel surer then ever in my decision to attend The Ohio State University for my MFA since now I know that the industry I would be entering following my studies is one I would be glad to be apart of. Furthermore, thanks to my discoveries regarding the state of accessibility in games, I now have a clear direction for what I would want to focus my thesis research on when I am pursing my master’s degree. Finally, thanks to the opportunity that STEP has given me, I now have a vast amount of people who I can reach out to as I go down this journey.

For my STEP Project, I traveled to Orlando, Florida to attend the 2024 Montessori Conference. During the conference, I had the opportunity to visit a Montessori school where I observed the classroom layout and its functions. I then participated in numerous workshops that not only enhanced my understanding of educational practices but also provided valuable insights applicable to future Montessori classrooms. Exploring the exhibition area was particularly enlightening as I encountered over 100 vendors showcasing Montessori equipment, tools, and supporting booths.

This experience deepened my passion for education, particularly in teaching the whole child. Traditional schools often prioritize standardization, aiming for every student to graduate with the same high school degree and identical skill sets, regardless of individual strengths or weaknesses. In contrast, Montessori schools support independence and individualized learning, inspired by Maria Montessori’s advocacy for children’s autonomy and peace-building efforts, especially among war-traumatized children. Understanding this value is fundamental in shaping my approach to education, encouraging a practical, hands-on perspective. I intend to integrate the principles learned from this conference into my future classrooms, with aspirations to become certified in Montessori education and implement its methodologies extensively.

Collaborating with my STEP advisor and faculty consultant proved invaluable, not only for the project but also for personal growth. Planning this trip independently provided me with valuable lessons in budgeting, airline and hotel booking, fostering a newfound sense of independence and confidence.

At the conference, I discovered areas of educational interest that I may pursue further, including behavior and literacy in Montessori settings. Engaging in workshops about phonics, behavior management, and math broadened my understanding and sparked new avenues of inquiry. This newfound enthusiasm for child-centered education has reshaped my career goals, steering them towards a more inclusive approach.

Engaging with practicing Montessori teachers allowed me to seek clarification on unfamiliar aspects of the Montessori classroom, honing my ability to ask insightful questions and build professional connections. This experience transformed my comprehension of Maria Montessori’s principles, elucidating their efficacy and underlying rationale.

The impact of this conference on my career trajectory is profound. It has inspired me to pursue Montessori certification, enabling me to integrate these practices into both Montessori and public school settings. Additionally, the insights gained from workshops will inform immediate changes in my teaching approach as I embark on my Student Placement in a second-grade classroom in the fall of 2024. I am eager to share my learnings with my cooperating teacher, professors, and peers.

Beyond my professional endeavors, I am committed to applying Montessori principles in my interactions with children in various settings, including schools, church, and summer programs. Like Maria Montessori, I want to advocate for children’s autonomy and skill development, fostering an environment where curiosity and independence thrive. This experience has changed the way I engage with children, emphasizing empathy, curiosity, and respect for their individual journey.

For my STEP project, I travelled out to Utah to do an AIARE 1 class administered by Red River adventure guides. The class consisted of an online course lasting about four hours and three class days. The first class was administered on zoom and the subsequent class days took place outdoors in the Wasatch wilderness as field days. The field days consisted of learning everything from avalanche rescue techniques to decision making strategies in the wilderness.

Over the course of this class, I gained more knowledge about backcountry decision-making and avalanches than I thought I would learn in many seasons skiing in the backcountry. The AIARE 1 decision making framework was something that I became very familiar with, and it changed how I view teamwork in the backcountry. I now understand how to make decisions that involve risk when there exist unknowns to safety. My outlook for how I want to progress in the backcountry and interact with others in the backcountry has developed to be more careful. My outlook is now one that is focused on teamwork interaction with others so that everybody can be elevated, and decisions are not rushed or poorly thought out. Previously, I had an outlook that weighted the most experienced person in a group as having the final say in decision making when possibly life-threatening risk was involved. Now I see everybody in a group as having a say because discounting other people’s decision-making processes, risk tolerance, and general mental state can easily lead to dangerous situations. Over the course of the class, I learned that I was very accustomed to making decisions for a group and pressuring others to follow, or unconditionally following the decisions of another person I deem to be the leader. The class taught me how to break that habit and showed me how to make positive progress in decision-making processes when in a team.

Over the course of the class, I had many interactions with my instructors and my classmates that helped me develop and transform my decision-making process and outlook. Jake and Victoria, the course instructors, were extremely knowledgeable in all things avalanches, skiing, and general backcountry protocol. They had my classmates and I go through avalanche rescue scenarios to practice using our safety equipment. One of the key things that Jake and Victoria emphasize is how stressful that situation is and that when your mind and body get flooded with adrenaline from the stressful situation your decision-making will revert to your base, instinctive knowledge. I did not understand this at first but when I did a practice scenario for the first time, I felt that stress. Since I had no prior knowledge of how to perform an avalanche rescue, I messed up the procedure quite a bit. The procedure exists to provide an optimized and efficient framework for the rescue, so my frantic fumbling took away from that efficiency. I did a second scenario after having received constructive criticism and pointers from Jake. The second scenario went a lot smoother for me and I performed an efficient rescue. I still felt the stress of the scenario, but my actions felt more thought out because my base knowledge of avalanche rescues had increased.

The second day of the class was administered over the course of backcountry ski tour. Jake instructed the group I was in on various backcountry topics over the course of the tour and made sure the experience felt like tour we might do on our own in the future. Over the course of this tour, my group and I constantly asked him questions about the terrain we were in and how to identify different aspects of avalanche terrain. What really struck me about his answers was how he finished them. He would always answer our question in an extremely informative way but he would go further by citing multiple resources we could use to learn more and predict. These interactions with Jake helped me break down my preconception of some people being all-knowing experts. All parties have different, important perspectives that can aide in the avalanche terrain decision-making process. Nobody knows everything so travelling with others allows more brains and more perspectives to work together to solve the hyper-complex problems of travelling in avalanche terrain.

My classmates played a crucial part in my enjoyment of the class and what I got out of it. I only knew one person in my group going into the class, leaving Jake and two other group members. Since the structure of the class prioritized teamwork and discussion, I was forced to come out of my shell to participate. This ultimately helped me and made the class very informative because of my engagement. My classmates were experienced in the backcountry and extremely welcoming of me. They gave me advice on uphill travel and urged me to speak up. In exchange I also urged them to speak up when they thought it necessary. Overall, the class helped me engage in teamwork in a setting I was not totally familiar with.

This class ultimately proved to be the gateway into the backcountry that I wanted it to be. It showed me all the things I still need to learn and how to make decisions with a lack of information. One of the things the class emphasized was the dunning-kruger effect and getting over the “peak of Mt. Stupid.” The class got me over that peak and put me into the realm of knowing what I don’t know, which is much better for identifying risk and risk tolerance. The backcountry is dangerous so I want to spread the knowledge I gained to others so they can make safer decisions. As the gear manager and regular trip leader of The Mountaineers at The Ohio State University, I regularly am out in the backcountry with others. The decision-making and teamwork aspect was of ambiguous direction in my previous trips, resulting in me making all the decisions. I will be adapting the decision-making framework I learned from this class to my mountaineers trips so that others can learn the framework and the club as a whole can make safer decisions. There was a void of experience in backcountry safety and avalanche knowledge before, so I am excited to bring this knowledge to this club and allow more people to find enjoyment in the backcountry, safely.

My STEP Signature Project focused on becoming a State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA), a critical credential in the medical sector. Basically, the training consisted of enrolling in a licensed STNA program, putting in four days a week of intensive classroom and clinical instruction for around 7.5 hours a day, and spending about 12 hours a week studying for the test.

My image of myself and my preconceived beliefs about the healthcare business have significantly changed as a result of completing the STEP Signature Project. The hands-on clinical training not only improved my technical skills but also demonstrated my depth of understanding and compassion. My contacts with patients in a multitude of healthcare settings have exposed me to a wide range of perspectives and life stories, which has deepened my awareness of the human element of healthcare. This experience, which emphasized the importance of genuine relationships and compassionate treatment, challenged and changed my notion that technical proficiency is the main criteria for success in healthcare.

In addition, the project helped me close the gap between theory and practice by placing my academic knowledge in a practical setting. I developed a more sophisticated understanding of the difficulties facing the healthcare system and the crucial role that frontline professionals play as I successfully negotiated the complexities of patient care. My perspective has been widened by this experience, and I now have a great deal of appreciation for the interdisciplinary teamwork needed to provide complete healthcare services. All things considered, my STEP Signature Project has been a life-changing experience that has improved my perception of the holistic nature of patient-centered care and helped me better understand who I am as a future healthcare professional.

My varied experiences from the STNA training program had a major impact on the transformative character of my STEP Signature Project. I was able to completely immerse myself in the day-to-day reality of patient care by taking part in practical clinical training, which led to conversations that significantly changed my perspective. Face-to-face interactions with patients, medical professionals, and fellow trainees provided me with invaluable understanding of the human element of healthcare. The vulnerability of patients and the unwavering dedication of medical professionals highlighted the profound impact that compassionate care can have on those coping with health problems.

I was able to confront and overcome preconceived ideas I had about the healthcare sector by participating in a variety of clinical scenarios, which included everything from providing emotional support to assisting with daily activities. The close relationship with patients emphasized the notion that each person’s journey is distinct and the importance of individualized care. These conversations caused me to reconsider my views on standardized care and underline how crucial it is to take patients’ different needs into account. These experiences gave me a broader understanding of the human side of healthcare beyond the technical aspects of my STNA position.

The cooperative environment of the training program, where I collaborated with other trainees and worked closely with experienced healthcare professionals, also encouraged a sense of shared responsibility. It became clear from interacting with a diverse range of healthcare team members how roles throughout the system are interconnected. This cooperative culture brought to light the need of mutual respect, teamwork, and effective communication in delivering the highest caliber of patient care. These insights altered my perspective of healthcare as a collaborative effort and my estimation of the potential impact of my involvement in the field going forward.

All things considered, my perspective on healthcare has completely changed as a result of the many experiences I had during the STNA training program, which included face-to-face patient encounters, exposure to a variety of clinical circumstances, and cooperative cooperation. 

My STEP Signature Project has changed and transformed me in ways that are extremely important to my development on the personal and professional levels. Personally, the project has improved my knowledge of human connection, empathy, and resilience in the healthcare industry. In addition to strengthening my character, dealing with a variety of patient experiences and seeing the benefits of compassionate care have given me a sense of direction in my professional aspirations in healthcare. This fresh viewpoint will be extremely helpful to me as I work through upcoming obstacles and make a significant contribution to the wellbeing of the people under my care.

Professionally, the change fits in perfectly with my educational and career objectives, especially with regard to my desire to become a physician assistant (PA). The STNA program has given students like mea strong foundation, connecting theory to application and emphasizing the value of a patient-centered approach. I now have a more comprehensive grasp of the healthcare system because to this experience, which has also made me realize how important it is for healthcare professionals to collaborate, communicate effectively, and be adaptable. This life-changing event will function as a compass for me as I continue my education and work for further degrees. It will influence how I treat patients and strengthen my resolve to be a positive influence in the healthcare industry.

*Me at my clinical site*

*Screenshot of a video I took of an instructor explaining Intravenous therapy*

My name is Kayla Gilmore and I participated in a week-long Leadership STEP Project at The Wildlife Society Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. My project took place during the second week of November 2023 and focused on networking and discovering other interests in the field I am studying. Because I am in my final year at Ohio State University studying Forestry and Wildlife Management, looking for graduate research opportunities is at the top of my list. The conference included events specific to networking along with workshops and presentations from professionals in the field of wildlife.

My STEP project had a significant impact on my career as it allowed me to explore what I am interested in and rule out what I am not. This was the first experience I have had outside of programs offered by The Ohio State University that allowed me to network with others in my field. Meeting with such people and hearing about their work allowed me to learn more about and expand upon my interests. While I came in with a focus centered on avian ecology, this conference made me consider broadening my research interests to include the mammalian world.

In addition to learning more about my goals in research, I also learned more about what it is like to study in the field of wildlife. This area has lacked in diversity in the past, but current scientists are working hard to make the field more inclusive. I met people from many different backgrounds which has made me even more determined to continue pursuing my dream as an avian landscape ecologist.

While participating in my signature project, I had the chance to room with a fellow undergraduate from OSU that I have had many classes with. The two of us had only ever seen each other in passing, but essentially living together for a week has made us really close friends. We navigated the conference together and learned even more about each others’ backgrounds and research interests. Learning about his history as a veteran and his continued motivation to study in this field encouraged me to reach out to others who I wished to work with.

Each day, we attended seminars, poster sessions, and workshops that furthered our understanding of current research being done and how to even conduct some of this research ourselves. I gained a lot of experience in R Studio, a data entry program that is widely used throughout wildlife research and had the help of my peers in navigating it. We also had the chance to here about the findings of various research projects conducted my current graduate students and PhD candidates; in listening to these presentations, I was able to network and seek out potential graduate advisors.

After each long day of attending these professional events, we would continue networking into the night. The conference would continue on at a variety of venues hosted by The Galt House (the hotel we stayed in) where you could see the more laid-back and relaxed side of everyone attending the conference. While the presentations and seminars were vital for learning about the research of each person, I made the most meaningful connections while eating and dancing with others afterwards.

All in all, this project was very transformational in broadening my perspective on potential career/research interests and how/who I should pursue them with. I had the chance to secure a few potential positions with graduate advisors across the United States, met many friends in graduate school who I hope to visit in the next year, and expanded my research focus to include a greater variety of biological aspects. In doing so, I am more open minded and have a greater sense of security in my future career. Whether I find my fixed path this year or 10 years from now, I know I will have the support of many with me.

For my STEP project, I chose to become a certified medical assistant. Main activities that were performed in this project were in the lab portion. We learned how to collect and document medical histories and vital signs the old fashioned way (pulse, blood pressure, temperature). We also learned how to administer EKG’s, injections, capillaries, and other laboratory tests. We also spent a lot of time mastering phlebotomy.

Throughout the project, I learned more about my learning style. I realize that I tend to do better when I learn in  smaller groups/classes, and I’m a very visual learner. Seeing the information in pictures/visuals alongside the text helps me understand the bigger picture. Another transformation that took place was that I learned from each and every one of my classmates. Everyone has something to offer you, so take advantage of meeting new people and listen and learn from their experiences of life. As well as that older people are quite wise, you can learn so much from people that are just a few years older than you. They have more life experiences and are willing to help. Lastly, I also learned about the vital role of this position, MA’s have real-time impact on patients. 

My teacher Eric was one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. He taught us so much not just about the material we needed to know, but his real life experiences of the job and his advice on how to deal with certain situations and how to recognize important things to address when meeting with patients. His career switch from sales to MA was really inspiring and remind myself of why I’m doing this. He taught me that this job is really rewarding and we are kind of the 1st responders. We are there to support them and get them connected to the right resources needed. 

The event that led to change was the advice I got from the teacher and from my friend that I made in the class about the importance and how to implement confidence in exams to the clinical skills, and to everything else I do in life. They taught me that confidence is key, especially in this job because if a patient senses a little bit of doubt, they will also get scared. My friend, Jessey, taught me to take a few minutes with myself and do positive self-talk where I replace my negative thoughts with positive affirmations and challenge my self-doubt by focusing on my strengths and reminding myself of my past achievements before I go into the big task ahead of me. 

Relationships that also led to change were the friendships I made with my classmates. Throughout the course, I got to know them pretty well as we all worked together on clinical skills. I learned so much from each one of them, we all were on different paths and journeys to reaching our end goals, but it was just interesting and inspiring how we all came about choosing to pursue the healthcare field. They all had so many vast life experiences which were eye-opening for me. Working with my classmates taught me that I enjoy small group settings and thrive in learning environments like this. 

This transformation is valuable because it affirmed that I truly want to pursue my dream of going into medicine. It helped me further discover more reasons for why I want to pursue this field. This certification is important for me because it will give me ample clinical experience before applying to graduate school. As well as it will give me an edge because the skills I learned in this project will be tested in the first few weeks of graduate school. Participating in this STEP project has deepened my understanding of the healthcare field, fueling my enthusiasm and determination of pursuing this pathway.

1)Over the course of the past 5 weeks, I completed a Phlebotomy program at Columbus Phlebotomy Training Center to receive my Phlebotomy certification. During this time, I learned extensive medical terminology, patient-centered care, order of draw, correct venipuncture techniques, and safe handling of medical equipment. Overall, this program encompassed all of the information I needed to perform a safe and effective draw on a patient. 

2)  After completing my STEP signature project, I feel as though I have a better understanding of myself and the medical field. I currently work as a PCNA at the Cleveland Clinic where I complete tasks such as taking vitals, performing glucose tests, and helping patients with activities of daily living. This is really the only clinical experience I have had on my medical professional journey so far. This phlebotomy program opened my eyes to a whole new world of medicine. I realized that in order to be a well-rounded individual and medical professional, it is crucial to gain experience in multiple different areas which is why I am so appreciative to have this experience. Furthermore, I also realized how necessary it is to know how to treat a patient with kindness, compassion, and empathy and to know the science and facts behind what I am doing. I also learned about and practiced patient-centered care. When performing venipuncture, our instructor made sure we were continuously talking to the patient and explaining what we were doing. I saw how big of an impact this can make for a patient, and is something I will do with any healthcare job I have. 

Before taking this course, I assumed that phlebotomy was mainly focused on finding a vein, getting blood, and using the correct tubes. After completing the program, I realized how much more goes into phlebotomy. In the first few hours of each class, the other students and I were lectured on body systems, arm anatomy, blood components, veins and arteries, special collections, and point of care testing just to name a few. The last hour of class focused on doing the actual phlebotomy procedure. A lot of the information I learned during this program applied to many of the courses I am taking right now at Ohio State so it was good to see the connection. 

3) My phlebotomy program was 7 hours per week over the course of two days. At the end of each class, for about an hour, my classmates and I would practice venipuncture techniques as well as fingersticks on eachother with the direct supervision of our instructor. I thought this was a very valuable experience because instead of practicing these techniques on fake arms, we got real, first-hand experience. Every individual is going to be different, whether that means the anatomy of their arm and their veins, how they react to the venipuncture, etc. So, this experience I feel will actually prepare me for when I obtain a phlebotomy job. 

Throughout this whole experience, I was able to form great professional relationships with my other classmates. Each of us were going through this experience together, so working together was a necessity to get through this program. This experience taught me how to work as a collaborative team and how to work efficiently and effectively. Furthermore, our instructor, David, was very helpful throughout this experience. He would let us ask any questions throughout the lecture period as well as guide us in the lab while we were performing our venipunctures and fingersticks. 

Lastly, in the first few hours of each class, the instructor taught us everything from arm anatomy and other body systems such as the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, to the order of tubes we draw. I never knew why the phlebotomists in hospitals walked around with so many different colored tubes. Now I know that each tube is meant for a specific test and each test looks for certain requirements such as medication levels, blood components, electrolyte levels, etc. I have a better understanding of which tube tests for what and what order to draw the tubes in. A lot of the other information I learned, I had background knowledge in because of the anatomy and physiology classes I took at Ohio State. Overall, this was an amazing program and I learned how to provide patient-centered care as well as the facts and science behind what phlebotomy is. 

4) After graduating from The Ohio State University, I would like to attend Physician Assistant school. In order to be a competitive applicant to PA school, an individual must obtain a prodigious amount of direct patient-care hours. I already have my STNA certification and have been working as a PCNA at the Cleveland Clinic, but I wanted to gain a diverse background in the medical field and have as much experience as I could to become a more well-rounded applicant. Obtaining my phlebotomy certification will allow me to have more diverse experiences in the medical field, as I can now perform blood draws and work in a lab. Physician Assistant schools have a clinical year which means that students will work in many diverse settings and many diverse specialties. Having many diverse medical opportunities this early in my journey will provide me with a head start to my future career. 

A Physician Assistant is an integral part of the healthcare team, as they diagnose, treat, and provide direct patient care under the supervision of a Physician. A Physician Assistant can change their specialty throughout their journey, becoming a well-rounded healthcare professional. This phlebotomy certification is a stepping-stone to my future.

1. Description of STEP Signature Project:
My STEP Signature Project involved attending TechCrunch’s Disrupt conference, a premier event for technology startups and innovators, that took place in San Francisco from September 19th to 21st. Sponsored by Ohio State University’s Second Year Transformational Program (STEP), this experience allowed me to immerse myself in the world of entrepreneurship, gain insights from leading tech innovators, and understand the dynamics of the startup ecosystem.

2. Understanding and Transformation:
Prior to my STEP Signature Project, I primarily viewed the world of startups and entrepreneurship from a purely academic perspective, based on what I had learned in classrooms and textbooks. However, dabbling in Ohio State’s startup ecosystem, by winning the Fintech Pitch Competition and Launchpad in 2022, and working on my startup with my peers, made me more interested in the world of venture capital and startups. Attending TechCrunch’s Disrupt conference transformed my understanding and showed me a different perspective that entrepreneurship is not just about innovative ideas, but also about the grit, determination, and resilience required to bring those ideas to fruition. I began to see myself not just as a mechanical engineering student, but as a potential innovator with the capability to contribute to the ever-evolving tech landscape.

3. Events Leading to Transformation:
Several key experiences during the conference catalyzed my transformation. Firstly, interacting with startup founders (such as Christian Reed of Reekon Tools, Quinn Sandler of Plantiga, and Blake Faulkner of CrewMate to name a few) gave me a firsthand account of the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. Their stories of overcoming obstacles, pivoting their business models, and persisting in adversity were truly inspiring.

Secondly, attending panel discussions and keynote addresses exposed me to diverse perspectives on technology trends, market dynamics, and investment strategies. These sessions expanded my horizons and made me realize the vast possibilities in the tech world. A few of my favorite sessions I attended were by the Founder and CEO of Cruise (autonomous robotaxis): Kyle Vogt and the founder of Redwood Materials who was also the CTO of Tesla and closely worked with Elon Musk for 17 years: JB Straubel. I enjoyed the roundtable conversations with Kaustubh Pandya (Partner at Brick & Mortar Ventures), Rex Salisbury (Founder and Solo GP), and Zhenni Liu (Partner at Mac Ventures).

Lastly, the relationships I forged with fellow attendees, many of whom were students like me, were invaluable. I was able to meet business students from UC Berkeley and was also able to meet fellow mechanical engineering students all the way from the Technical University of Munich, Germany. Our discussions, brainstorming sessions, and debates provided a collaborative learning environment, reinforcing the importance of community and networking in the startup ecosystem.

4. Significance of the Transformation:
This transformation is pivotal for my future aspirations. As a mechanical engineering student passionate about entrepreneurship, I now understand the importance of merging technical knowledge with business acumen. The insights gained from the conference will undoubtedly influence my academic pursuits, guiding me towards courses and projects that align with the intersection of technology and business. On a personal level, the experience has instilled a sense of confidence and determination to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams. Professionally, the relationships and networks formed will serve as a foundation for future collaborations, partnerships, and ventures.