Global Awareness
Much of what I do at Ohio State has an international focus, from my majors in International Studies and German to my co-curricular activities. One of my main aims when selecting coursework is to gain a wider worldview and challenge my preconceptions. Taking courses ranging from a history of African diplomacy to modern German politics have really informed my global awareness. Outside of the classroom, I participate in the Collegiate Council of World Affair’s Model United Nations team, which involves discussing and debating world events both with my peers at Ohio State and with students at other universities. This year, this club allowed me to travel to a Model UN conference at McGill University in Montreal, the first time I have been to Canada since I was a kid. Looking ahead, I plan to spend the Spring of 2019 studying abroad through Ohio State’s program at Bonn University. Living and learning in Germany will not only improve my fluency, but will allow me to experience educational and cultural differences first-hand.
Original Inquiry
While I am studying abroad in Germany, I also plan to work towards the completion of my Honors Thesis in the discipline of modern German History. My project discusses the impact of urban planning on the physical manifestations of religious expression by Turkish immigrants to Germany in the 1960s and 70s. I have drafted a proposal, and am lucky enough to be working with Ohio State’s Dr. Robin Judd on this project. I am also fortunate enough to have received funding from the History department to complete my research next year. Working towards the completion of this thesis, in addition to my internship at Ohio State’s Thompson Library Special Collections Description and Access Department, has already taught me so much about the process of sorting through hundreds of primary and secondary sources as well as honed my ability to conduct research in German. I look forward to building on those skills next year, while developing a solid basis for graduate school studies.
Academic Enrichment
My majors in History, German, and International Studies and my minor in Philosophy came to be by exploring coursework that I am passionate about and that will challenge me. There is no doubt that this has been the case over the past two years, and I have studied a wider range of topics than I imagined possible. I love studying across disciplines, and my coursework in the Humanities and Social Sciences and my range of majors and minors have made this possible. My work in the Humanities in particular has developed skills like critical thinking, developing and argument, and strong writing and research abilities. Surprisingly, my General Education courses have been some of my favorite to date, as topics like ethics and Art History have pushed me outside of my comfort zone and led me to new experiences – I might not have had a Philosophy minor if that first Semester of ethics wasn’t so amazing, and I never would have interned at the Columbus Museum of Art without my Art History seminar. Above all, I truly value pushing myself and taking discussion-based coursework in a wide range of disciplines, and I believe this is reflected in my Honors Contract selections.
Leadership Development
Since joining the John Glenn Civic Leadership Community during the Fall of my freshman year, I have gained a new understanding of public service and policy through collaborative seminars and workshops. I have carried these experiences into what I am involved in to this day, from the Model Arab League to the Collegiate Council on World Affairs. My experience interning in the administrative and development offices of the Columbus Museum of Art this semester has also improved my ability to work collaboratively with an office and contribute to community outreach initiatives. I hope to build on this background as a member of the Summer 2018 Washington Academic Internship Program cohort, as I increase my leadership abilities in a professional workplace and develop a clearer understanding of my future career path.
Service Engagement
As a member of the John Glenn Civil Leadership Community, service has been part of my Ohio State experience since week one, when we volunteered at the Columbus Early Learning Center. Since then, participating in service projects with this group of peers has made me feel especially connected to the Columbus community. This summer, as part of the WAIP program, I hope to build these ties once again in Washington DC by volunteering in the surrounding community. One of my central goals for next fall is to increase the frequency of my service engagement in Columbus, and I hope to dedicate my time to an educational volunteer program in lieu of another internship or workplace development experience.
Model UN in Montreal
One of my favorite paintings from a William Hawkings exhibit at the Columbus Museum of Art, where I interned this semester.
WAIP Summer 2018 Cohort