Month: December 2017

About Lauren Taras

Community leader. Healthy foodie. Scholars student. Lauren Taras is a Communications major at the Ohio State University. She loves engaging with others, and dedicates her time to bettering herself as well as her peers whether that be in school or in other environments like lifeguarding and being a youth summer camp counselor during the summer. She enjoys promoting a healthy lifestyle through smart eating habits and positive decision making, and she expects to share this passion to organizations in Columbus. As a first year undergraduate student, she hopes to explore her passions of youth encouragement, lifestyle advocacy, and leadership in not only the Advocates for Communities and Education scholars program, but also through student organizations like Undergraduate Student Government and Ohio Union Activities Board.

During her first semester of her first year at the Ohio State University, she has already accomplished some of her personal goals. In addition to ACES Scholars, she has become involved with some student organizations that revolve around either academic or personal interests such as Public Relations Student Society of America, A Kid Again, and Exercise is Medicine. Outside of the classroom, you can find her running on the Olentangy trail, making delicious smoothies and acai bowls at the RPAC’s Juice 2 dining service, or cheering on her buckeyes!

Leadership Development

The “L” in G.O.A.L.S. represents Leadership Development. As a Scholars students, I “will develop leadership skills in the classroom, in the community, and in my co-curricular activities, which prepares me for my future roles in society.” Currently, I am a member of Advocates for Communities and Education Scholars, Public Relations Student Society of America, A Kid Again, Exercise is Medicine as well as working at the RPAC Juice 2 Smoothie and Coffee Shop. In PRSSA, I create a network and connect with local and national professionals in the fields of public relations, digital media, and technology. As an A Kid Again volunteer, I spread positivity to families with children with life threatening illnesses through social events. In Exercise is Medicine, I promote healthy lifestyle habits and inspire individuals to get active in attempts to prevent diseases.

Through ACES and Juice 2, I have especially developed some qualities that a good leader portrays. At work, I focus on always being on top of things, making sure everything is done correctly by asking for confirmations, and being a very quick learner; I have been recognized of this work ethic. I’m a hard worker, and I would define my learning style as people-oriented. I believe it’s essential to create good connections and treat your peers with respect. In the future, I aspire to become a member of the ACES Leadership Council, a student manager at Juice 2, a fitness instructor at the RPAC, and plan on applying as a PRSSA executive board member in the spring in hopes of giving back to the people and experiences that have taught me to become a good leader.

Global Awareness

The “G” in G.O.A.L.S. represents Global Awareness. As a Scholars students, I “will cultivate and develop my appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences.” This semester I am taking a course called Introduction to Cultures of Science and Technology Studies, a comparative studies course that has certainly increased my cultural intelligence and awareness. I have learned about the political, social, and scientific aspects of different cultures outside of the U.S. I have become a more educated global citizen through understanding science as culture and a social construct, studying the connection between science, politics, and power, and exploring activism for responding to environmental problems. Before this course, I didn’t evaluate or consider the outlook of sciences among other cultures other than the U.S., and it has given me a more global perspective with aspirations to participate in a study abroad in either Africa or Europe.

Fox 8 News Cleveland

During my senior year, I participated in the Independence High School Senior Project that allowed me the opportunity to shadow at Fox 8 News, a television station in downtown Cleveland, Ohio that I watch regularly. My friend and I shadowed their digital sales manager, who gave us insight to the sales department at Fox 8 News. I learned tips of a sales account executive, sat in the newsroom, and went on a client call. Unlike what you see on television, I experienced the less glamorous side or the business that goes into deciding the advertisements seen during production, and the relationship among digital, local, and national sales. Throughout my time at Fox 8 News, I realized that I would be interested in going into sales marketing or management, and this experience connected my educational endeavors to my future goals.

Cleveland to Columbus

Coming from a small school setting, my plan was to attend the Ohio State University in hopes of not only exploring a plethora of career opportunities, but also challenging myself with the rigor and depth of lasses in a larger setting. Although I am still open to looking at broadening my degrees and undecided about pursuing a Communications, I am confident that I will find employment in this field and be successful. This picture was taken at my graduation ceremony from Independence High School. Through hard work and dedication, I believe we can learn, persevere, and accomplish success because of it. This shows in the fact that I graduated in the Top 10 of my class, as a National Honor Society member, and a high-achieving student athlete. I strive to influence the world to do the same. I aspire to my own standards and only I define my success. I exhibit self-growth and pride through my continuous efforts of hard work and perseverance as a student. I can inspire my peers to do the same, encouraging them to define and embrace their successes. In order to fulfill my aspiration, it’s essential that I become a voice to my peers and the world. And I am not only happy, but also thankful that I can pursue this aspiration at the Ohio State University.