G.O.A.L.S. is an acronym which stands for five things I intend to accomplish in my time here at the Ohio State University. They stand for: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement.

Beginning with Global Awareness, I am planning on taking Culturally Enriching GE courses in order to broaden my knowledge of the world; since my intended career goals are to enter medical school and then become a medical professional these will most likely manifest in Physiology or Sociology courses. However, they are not only limited to these courses as I have also planned on becoming active in the community through volunteering and other forms of service. I have also considered education abroad and may try it, pending enabling circumstances in later years.

I believe Original Inquiry is an important step in a student’s growth towards independence. Likewise, I have already looked into the possibility of joining a biological sciences oriented research laboratory and plan to join one by the Spring semester of Freshman Year. I have already contacted one laboratory, and intend to make research a college career long activity. I would like to produce some results out of research in laboratories, hopefully in a tangible form, like a research paper.

Ohio State is unique in its immenseness of courses and resources and I wish to utilize these to the best of my ability. To enrich myself academically, I am enrolled as a Biology Major with a Minor in Business. While I would like my main career to be in the medical profession, I am also highly interested in the stock market and have already bought shares in index funds. Utilizing Ohio State’s credit system, I have been able to use my High School AP credits to test out of some basic classes to take classes I am more interested in. Currently, I am taking Physiology and Microeconomics — two courses a College freshman pursuing Biology would probably not be taking. These classes will help better prepare me for my academic endeavors in the future (The MCAT and learning about the Market).

College is a time to develop independence and leadership. I have already joined two organizations whose purposes have interested me and I believe that I can better learn how to be a leader by looking up to current leaders. Hopefully, as the years progress, through careful observation, learning, and experience, when the opportunity arises for me to be able to lead, I will be able to coordinate and organize events and organizations which I have a passion in. Furthermore, because of Ohio State’s large student body, there are ample opportunities to develop better communication skills and connections with other peers, faculty, and mentors. The two organizations which I am involved in are ENcompass and Doctors without Borders, which are community service related organizations, but are medically focused. I would say my leadership style is easygoing, but organized, relaxed, but efficient — I like to get things done, but enjoy them while I do them.

Lastly, G.O.A.L.S. requires that students participate in community service. As already established, I will be participating in two community service oriented groups, but I will also be participating in community service that I have been doing since High School. During High School, I volunteered locally: at festivals, retirement homes, and childcare. Throughout my college career I intend to keep doing some of these things. Community service means enriching the environment which raised me; it means ensuring that others will be able to experience the good things that I have previously experienced.