Graduate School-Fifth Year

Fall Semester

  • Began Graduate Research Assistantship with Dr. Kathryn Lancaster
  • Presented “Unpacking the “AAPI” Label: Asian-American and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander Heterogenity in Mental Health Outcomes” at the APAMSA Region V Conference 2021 (October 2021)
  • Presented “Unpacking the “AAPI” Label: Asian-American and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander Heterogenity in Mental Health Outcomes” at the University of Nevada Las Vegas’ School of Public Health
  • Led MUNDO service-learning trip as an advisor to New York City

Spring Semester

  • Served as a panelist on the Ohio State’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion program: “APIDA Health Sciences Professionals: Our experiences, challenges, and successes
  • Participated as a mentor in the Public Health Graduate Student Association (PHGSA) Mentorship Program
  • Published “How CARE Tools are being Used to Address Brain Injury and Mental Health Struggle with Survivors of Domestic Violence” as a second author in the Journal of Head Trauma and Rehabilitation
  • Passed my dissertation defense!
  • Nominated as “ILO Advisor of the Year” in Ohio State’s Residential Leadership Awards
  • Presented “Chasing Fa Mulan: Understanding the Lived Experience of Filial Piety among Asian-American College Students” at the Ohio Public Health Conference
  • Chosen as the speaker for OSU APIDA Excellence 2022 (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Excellence at OSU)
  • Graduated as Dr. Ana Dominique Sucaldito in May 2022!

Graduate School–Fourth Year

Fall Semester

  • Passed candidacy exam—-became a PhD candidate
  • Resumed Dean’s Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
  • Appointed to the College of Public Health’s Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) as its PhD representative
  • Organized free COVID-19 community testing for Filipino and Chinese communities in Ohio, serving roughly 80 individuals
  • Presented “Behind the Data: Evaluating Data Quality and Hidden Subjectivity” for a California-based non-profit for high-schoolers interested in policy and advocacy work
  • Attended the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s “Preparing for the Professoriate VIRTUAL Retreat”
  • Attended the 2020 Council on Research in Student Progress and Educational Excellence (CRISPEE) Conference
  • Organized free COVID-19 community testing for Dayton area, serving 825 people in one day (a statewide record!)
  • Presented my dissertation proposal, Living Under the AAPI Umbrella: Exploring the Heterogeneity of Mental Health Outcomes and Experiences among Asian American and Pacific Islander College Students to CPH

Spring Semester

  • Started serving as a Course Assistant for PUBHLTH 2010H: Honors Intro to Global Public Health
  • Completed Office of Diversity and Inclusion Dissertation Bootcamp
  • Served as a panelist for The Ohio State’s Multicultural Center’s APIDA in STEM panel (Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans in Science, Technology, Enigneers and Mathematics)
  • Guest lectured PUBHLTH 201oH: Honors Intro to Global Public Health (6o minute lesson about Racism as a Public Health Crisis)
  • Facilitated a PhD admitted student session at the College of Public Health’s Admitted Student Day
  • Won 3rd Prize for Oral Presentation for my “The Heterogenity of Asian-American Pacific Islander Mental Health Outcomes for College Students” presentation at the College of Public Health’s 2021 Research Day
  • Won “Honorable Mention” distinction for my oral presentation, “Investigating the Impact of “Asian-American Pacific Islander” Racial Identification and Gender on the Mental Health Outcomes of College Students” at the 2021 Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum
  • Guest lectured for PUBHLTH 2010H: Honors Intro to Global Public Health class (7o minute lesson about “What is Mental Health? A Culture-Based Lens”

Summer Semester

  • Organized and facilitated a community physical and mental health training for Asian-American health liaisons and community members
  • Joined the Asian Gambling Prevention Project with Maryhaven and Asian-American Community Services
  • Awarded Critical Difference for Women – Women of Color Advancement Grant 2021
  • Organized free COVID-19 vaccination pop-up for Columbus’ Filipino community
  • Manuscript: “How CARE tools are being used to address brain injury and mental health struggles with survivors of domestic violence” was accepted for publication (second author)

Graduate School-Third Year Timeline

Fall Semester

  • Elected Secretary of the Health and Wellness Committee of the Asian Festival
  • Began serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the College of Public Health
  • Began serving as a Graduate Research Assistant for Dr. Julianna Nemeth
  • Presented “The Write Stuff,” a journaling and writing-based workshop
  • Won the Karen H. Evans Memorial Scholarship from Ohio Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)
  • Presented “Mental Health Stigma: What it is and how do we handle it” breakout session at the 8th Ohio Asian American Health Conference
  • Guest lectured on “Culture and Inequity in Psychology” for an upper-level undergraduate/graduate course (Psychology 5681, Fall 2019)
  • Served as an advisor/staff mentor for the 2019 MUNDO Winter Break trip: Demolishing Preconceptions

Spring Semester

  • Presented “A Beginner’s Guide to Cooking” workshop at the Helpful Tips and Chicken Strips Event
  • Presented an hour long talk about AAPI Mental Health at the APAMSA Region V Conference 2020 (and was the youngest speaker there)
  • Guest lectured (Community Organizing and Social Marketing) in PUBHHBP 3510, Spring 2020

Summer Semester

  • Created and currently leading the inaugural Asian Festival Health and Wellness (AFHW) internship program
  • Presented “Breaking the Cycle of Stigma” with the Asian Community Alliance on May 14th, 2020, 6:30-7:30pm
  • Created recommendations for COVID-19 policies and funding for the governor’s office and public health agencies through serving as on an expert member checking committee for the COVID in Ohio Vulnerable Populations Needs Assessment
  • Served as a Filipino community liaison to create and disseminate COVID-19 information to Ohio Filipino communities
  • Advised high school and college youth about policy advocacy at CLUSA’s Young Leaders for American Summit 2020
  • Began mentoring the COVID-19 Healthcare and Equity cohort for AAPI youth (curriculum designed by me)

Graduate School-Second Year Timeline

Fall Semester

  • Attended the 4th Annual Public Health Advocacy Workshop: Building a Road Map to Improve Mental Health through Advocacy
  • Became a Program Administrator for Ohio Asian American Health Committee (OAAHC)
  • Serve on OAAHC’s Butterfly Dash for Lupus planning committee
  • Attend Asian Festival Retreat
  • Served on the Future Health Professionals Learning Community Panel
  • Became the Co-Chair of the Asian Festival Volunteer Committee
  • Led a service-learning trip to Puerto Rico with MUNDO  as a Staff Mentor

Spring Semester

  • Awarded Ohio State’s College of Public Health MPH Culminating Project Grant
  • Helped introduce the speaker, Dr. Ruchika Prakash, at Women and Philanthropy’s “Women and Brain Health” event
  • Lead the MUNDO “Who Tells Your Story” Spring break trip to Williamsburg, DC, and Baltimore
  • Nominated for the College of Public Health Student Choice Award
  • Held my first workshop with OAAHC, “Introduction to Mental Health: Destigmatization and Advocacy,” for Minority Health Month
  • Passed my MPH Culminating Exam
  • Assisted with Wat Buddha Samakidham Temple Screenings
  • Helped organize and attended Mental Health First Aid training
  • Facilitated the Central Ohio Lupus Summit
  • Graduated from The Ohio State University with a Masters in Public Health

Summer

  • Ran the Asian Festival’s Health Registration Volunteer program
  • Appointed Volunteer Coordinator for Health and Wellness Committee of the Asian Festival

Graduate School-First Year Timeline

Fall Semester

  • Started graduate school in the College of Public Health, Health Behavior Health Promotion program at The Ohio State University
  • Became a Staff Mentor for MUNDO at OSU
  • Joined OUAB Grad/Prof Committee
  • Narrowed my broad researches interest in health disparities to Asian-American health disparities,with a current focus on mental health
  • Led a service-learning trip to NYC with MUNDO as a Staff Mentor

Spring Semester

  • Joined Lupus Optimal Health group
  • Collaboratively wrote a grant for Asian-American mental health screenings for the Asian Festival
  • Became a volunteer with the Ohio Asian American Health Coalition
  • Led a service-learning trip to Memphis, New Orleans and Birmingham with MUNDO about the history of the South and the Civil Rights movement
  • Attended with the Midwestern Asian-American Student Union (MAASU) Conference
  • Attended the Norman Y. Mineta Leadership Institute
  • Was a finalist for the Graduate trustee position for OSU’s Board of Trustees

Summer Semester

  • Joined the Asian Festival RN Committee
  • Began doing research on mental health in Asian-Americans at Capital University
  • Participated in Ohio Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Day

 

Senior Year Timeline

Summer Semester

  • Started Ophthalmology Medical Internship at Havener Eye Institute
  • Attended the Involved Living Organizations (ILO) Retreat
  • Began Undergraduate PsychoNeuroImmunology Journal Club
  • Began job as e-portfolio Peer Mentor
  • Listed as an author in an upcoming Sheridan lab paper, “Microglial recruitment of IL-1b+ monocytes to brain endothelium causes stress-induced anxiety” (submission pending)
  • Attended the Leadershape Institute

Fall Semester

  • Began applying for Public Health grad programs (PhD and MPH)
  • Took the GRE exam
  • Showcased at the URO’s “Spilling the Beans” panel (answers to questions submitted via writing)
  • Presented at URO’s Fall Research Forum 2016
  • Presented First Year Success Series: “Stress Less”
  • Became ODS Notetaker
  • Organized MUNDO and KindCarts Service Initiative collaboration at Buckeye Village Fall Festival
  • Accepted to University of Memphis’ MPH program (Social and Behavioral Sciences)
  • Attended OCPA Careers in Student Affairs Conference 2016
  • Presented First Year Success Series: “You Snooze, You Don’t Lose”
  • Accepted to Ohio State University’s PhD program (Health Behavior Health Promotion)
  • Accepted to Saint Louis Univeristy’s MPH program (Behavioral Science and Health Education)
  • Lead and attended a week-long service learning trip to Los Angeles, California with MUNDO
  • Accepted to Washington University’s MPH program (Urban Design Specialization)

Spring Semester

  • Joined URO’s Programming and Special Initiatives Committee
  • Joined Buckeye Pen Pals Program
  • Attended and led the Louisville/Cincinnati Experience for MLK Weekend
  • Accepted to University of Maryland’s MPH program (Socio-behavioral and Community Health)
  • Quoted in H&S Chronicle article “H&S ePortfolio helps students track their GOALS”
  • Served as a student panelist for University Admissions’ Admitted Student Panel in Cincinnati
  • Organized a service-crafting event for the military at Buckeye Village
  • Became a published author in Molecular Psychiatry in Sheridan lab paper, “Microglial recruitment of IL-1b+ monocytes to brain endothelium causes stress-induced anxiety”
  • Accepted to University of Illnois-Chicago MPH program (Community Health Sciences)
  • Attended Sphinx/Mortarboard Faculty Staff Reception as a host
  • Attended USG Presidents’ Dinner, representing MUNDO
  • Featured in The Lantern in the article “KindCarts Service Initiative spreads kindness through crafts”
  • Committed to OSU’s College of Public Health PhD program!
  • Won a Dean’s Distinguished University Fellowship for graduate school at Ohio State
  • Served as A Day in the Life of the Buckeye Host
  • Spoke and attended ILO Distinguished Leadership Luncheon
  • Featured in OSU Commencement Week’s Tools of the Trade video
  • Won Emerging Leadership Award from the Annual Asian Excellence Awards and Graduation Ceremony
  • Awarded e-Portfolio Peer Mentor Scholarship
  • Spoke as the Undergraduate Speaker for the 2017 Commencement Reception

Junior Year: A Work in Progress Cont.

Chapter 3, Part II: How Did Your Garden Grow?

When I read my thoughts at the start of junior year, it feels more like a musing upon a list, a quick blurb of “what I did over the summer” suitable for Facebook friends, catching upon with an acquaintance, or as a way to answer an interview question. It glosses over what I expected the next year to hold-my goals, my hopes, my dreams.

Until now, all my Year-in-Review reflections were written in one straight go—this year is the first where I can look back at where I was at the beginning and compare it to where I ended up.

If sophomore year was about enrichment, then junior year was growth- horizontally and vertically. I found myself standing straighter, walking taller, whenever I came in a room. Much of it was due to exposing myself to different facets of familiar ground.

I learned to ask, “so what?” I’ve always been involved in the day-to-day work of research, from logging in data to running behavioral tests. Now I had to learn to present it. Through conferences, student panels and FYSS sessions, I found myself translating what I did to others. Talking through about what my research actually was, why research, in general, was important, helped me hone into the “so what?” of discovery. As interesting as whatever you’re doing is, if it has no purpose, it won’t have the ability to capture others and motivate them as well. My own “so what?” lead me to “Because I can help others,” which pushed me to become more involved in mentoring, in teaching, and in my will to better myself.

I learned what power confidence has on your performance. My time in Peer Mentors was outstanding this year, something I looked forward to every week, and much of it was due to how I carried myself when I walked into that classroom every Tuesday. I was ready to interact, eager to be a resource. I came in with my shoulders back, a strength in my stance, and that feeling of power changed how I acted and how others acted around me. That third-year confidence translated everywhere, leading me to take more chances to consult with professors and professionals, engage in more discussion and try new experiences.

I learned to be more mindful in what I devoted my time to. I’ve always been good at following directions, but I haven’t always been good at seeing if that direction is taking me where I want to go. Reflections, a habit I got into through e-portfolio and internship reflections, made more mindful of what steps I take. I dropped Folklore Student Association because, although it would look nice and let me practice skills, it wasn’t something would help me grow. I put more effort into KindCarts, my crafting organization, because programming and service have become by-words of my own mission in life. I joined Wellness Ambassadors to gain more of a practicum into public health. Instead of just applying randomly to one of the senior class honoraries, I researched them in depth to see which would be a better fit for me. I ended up applying to Sphinx Senior Honorary because of the focus on community, and ran for Chaplain to be a part of creating it.

Junior year has been, thus far, the best year of my life. It was a time of growth that went inward and outward and brought me to a better, more aware, version of myself.

Junior Year Timeline

Summer Semester

  • Took a Maymester course
  • Honors Contract Approved
  • Appointed Communications Director for MUNDO
  • Began job as a University Ambassador for Undergraduate Admissions
  • Became a Volunteer at Global Gifts nonprofit
  • Enrolled in the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute
  • Received the Undergraduate Research Office’s (URO) Research Scholar Award
  • Ran an independent research project on the combined effects of stress-sensitization and chronic stress
  • Became a URO Peer Research Contact
  • Began internship with H&S Advising Office
  • Began working with Emerging Eminence Cohort with Mortarboard Senior Honorary

First Semester

  • Served on the Undergraduate Research Office’s (URO) Spilling the Beans Student Panel
  • Presented “The Effects of Chronic Stress on Stress-Sensitization in Mice” at the Fall Undergraduate Research Forum 2015
  • Presented “Marchen with the Melody” at the Fall Undergraduate Research Forum 2015
  • Attended the “Bringing Leadership Skills to the Job” Bootcamp
  • Joined the planning committee for MUNDO’s 2016 STEP Cohort
  • Joined Neuroimmunology Journal Club
  • Completed my internship project, “Navigating Controversy,” with the A&S’s Honors Advising Office
  • Received Professional Development Grant from Critical Difference For Women
  • Served on a panel presentation for the Leadership Initiatives for Women of Color
  • Organized MUNDO and KindCarts service with Buckeye Village Fall Festival
  • Assisted in the facilitation of “Excelling in Honors” with First Year Success Series
  • Became a Site Lead with InspireOSU
  • Take Your Professor to Lunch Program with Dr. Bennet Givens
  • Became a Wellness Ambassador for the Student Wellness Center
  • Made Dean’s List for the fourth time

Spring Semester

  • Presented at the “Speaking of Summer Research” Panel with the Undergraduate Research Office (URO)
  • KindCarts gets its official logos
  • KindCarts Service Initiative celebrates its first anniversary!
  • Meeting with Dr. Teresa Long, Public Health Commisioner for Columbus
  • Attended Leaders Emerging and Developing (LEAD) Retreat
  • Attended Annual Conference on Leadership and Civic Engagement: Life Links 2016
  • Accepted to Undergraduate Research Office’s Student Advisory Council (SAC)
  • Won an Undergraduate Student Government Academic Enrichment Grant
  • Went on a service-learning trip over spring break with MUNDO to to Boston, Massachusetts, and New York, New York
  • Served on a panel discussion for “Undergraduate Research for Honors Learning Communities” with the URO
  • Take Your Professor to Lunch Program with Dr. Charlie Campbell
  • Attended the 6th Annual Ohio State Women’s Summit: Power of Me
  • Inducted into Sphinx Senior Honorary
  • Elected President/Student Coordinator (of Communications) for MUNDO
  • Recieved Undergraduate Education Summer Research Fellowship
  • Elected Co-Chaplain of Sphinx Senior Honorary
  • Presented “Marchen with the Melody: Uncovering the Structure and Function of Music in Fairy Tales” at the OSU/IU Folklore and Ethnomusicology Conference (Embodied Expression: The Body in Academia, the Field and the In-between)
  • Made Dean’s List for fifth time

Junior Year: A Work in Progress

Chapter 3: How Does Your Garden Grow?

As I embark on my junior year, I can only speculate about my journey. I stayed on campus during the summer and it feels as if I transitioned immediately from second to third year. Over the summer, I enrolled in the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute and received the Research Scholar Award, using it to begin my own independent research project on stress-sensitization and chronic stress. The responsibility I was given was on such a different level than I was previously used to. Planning, ordering supplies, handling live animals and behavioral testing: I was involved in every step of the way. The experience was so incredible that I signed up to be a Peer Research Contact and plan to present my summer research, as well as my fairy tale research, at the Undergraduate research forum.

Summer also marked the start of other, personal projects. I started working as a University Ambassador and learned so much more about Ohio State. I so enjoyed spreading my spirit to potential Buckeyes, whose perspectives threw me back to my own college search. I was appointed to be Communications Director for MUNDO and began designing the marketing, revamping our newsletter and generally venturing into new venues of technology. I finished setting up the details of my internship for the Honors Advising Office and can’t wait to see where that leads me.

It’s only the first week of the new semester and already everything seems so new. As I look at my schedule, a mix of undergraduate and graduate classes, as well as my personal schedule, I’m so excited to see what growing and progress is in store for me!

Sophomore Year Timeline

First Semester

  • Began volunteering at James Cancer Hospital
  • Started working in stress and immunology lab, learning new techniques and concepts
  • Accepted into SHADOW Program at OSU
  • Added an English minor
  • Organized the OSU Blanket-Making Drive Collaboration of MUNDO and ResLife
  • Established Kindness on the Carts (KindCarts) Service Initiative
  • Completed a research project about the intersectionality of the Black/African-American and LGBTQ+ communities-deposited in the OSU Folklore Archives
  • Went on a service-learning trip over winter break with MUNDO to New Orleans, LA

Second Semester

  • Joined OSU Sexual Violence Committee
  • Participated in Women in Medicine Mentoring Program-Mentee
  • Won an Honors and Scholars (H&S) Academic Enrichment Grant
  • Attended Annual Conference for Civic Leadership and Engagement
  • Presented with the H&S Advising Office at 2015 Ohio State Advising Conference
  • Received Emerging Eminence Award
  • Served as “A Day in the Life of a Buckeye” Host
  • Re-elected Action Team Leader for MUNDO
  • Applied for and accepted into Peers REACHing Out Program for suicide prevention-unable to accept position
  • Promoted to Honors Lead Mentor for H&S
  • Completed a research project examining the form and effect of music in fairy tale adaptations-deposited in the OSU Folklore Archives
  • Switched to a Folklore minor during finals week
  • Completed my Honors Contract
  • Made Dean’s list for third time