Artifacts

This work was created on a Sunday evening in November in an empty classroom and it took me about 2 hours to complete (there’s more writing but it’s not shown in the picture). The picture you see on the left looks like an ordinary chalkboard that’s filled with writing. It is just that, plus more. This is a representation of the first time I took studying very seriously and gave it my all. I was able to focus and review every single chapter on the test. This may not seem like a big deal but it was a milestone for me. The transition from high school to college in terms of studying has been tough because the classes, tests, and teaching are all so different. In high school you could pass tests without studying; college is a whole different story. The first few college tests was definitely a shock for me as I didn’t get the grade that I wanted or expected. The work displayed here portrays the work that came out from the realization that I needed to find a way to study that is effective and works best for me. I’m still trying to pinpoint what that exactly that is but I have discovered that rewriting notes and verbally saying the facts out loud does help me learn the information. Being a neuroscience major, I know that cramming is not the best way to study (which is what happened here) but I’m working my way towards spreading out my studying over a span of a few days or even weeks. I will definitely study this way in the future and study earlier to reach the scores I want on my tests. Hopefully my test scores will confirm the effectiveness for this method of studying.

Year in Review

So far freshman year has been quite a journey indeed. So far I can say that I’ve discovered who I am more and more as the year progressed. There were plenty of setbacks, for example struggling through the combination of chemistry lab reports and my procrastination habits, thinking that my cello skills would go to waste in an orchestra that did not challenge me at all, struggling to make friends due to my introverted character, etc.. But these setbacks, like the hills of a roller coaster, eventually come back up and lead to something new and better. I’m learning what study method works for me and my procrastination management is still in progress but it’s getting better. I have found an orchestra better suited for my skill level that I never knew existed. I have opportunities to make decisions that force me to consider both the risks and benefits without the help of my parents. I’m going through the classic case of transitioning from a teenager to adult. Below I will list some highlights that I think are worth noting:

  • I’m the only female on OSU’s club golf team which has been difficult but empowering at the same time. I also got my first hole in one and it so happened that my mom was watching me play.
  • Although this doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, I’ve been walking more than ever and I love it.
  • I was able to skip the first class of the first level of Chinese (big milestone because my Chinese is pretty poor). I really excited to improve my Chinese and hope to eventually speak/type Chinese to my parents or even go to Taiwan myself.

As for the future, I expect my studying habits to improve (hopefully) and hope I become even more involve with OSU’s activities more than I am right now. I’m really looking forward to getting myself into volunteer, research, or any activities related to my major or future career. There’s still definitely a lot more room for me to grow and I truly hope I eventually become the person I wish to be.

About Me

Vivienne Su, Taiwanese-American but born and raised in the Cincinnati area, is a freshman at The Ohio State University studying neuroscience and planning on becoming a physical therapist. Her passion to pursue such career stemmed from her 7 year dedication to playing golf. Golf and cello have shaped her to be the person she is today; it has taught her the true meaning perseverance and patience. She currently plays in the Buckeye Philharmonic orchestra, is a committee member in OSU’s Taiwanese American Student Association, and plays in OSU’s golf club as the only female member. At OSU, she is always striving to expand her knowledge in the science field and becoming a more rounded, innovative student. In high school, she volunteered at Bethesda North Hospital and played in multiple orchestra as service and for fun. As a future goal, Vivienne plans on volunteering at the Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital, joining a lab her sophomore year, and becoming a neuroscience or university ambassador. Vivienne hopes that her unique goals and experiences at OSU will set her apart from others.