Throughout the 2018-2019 school year, I mentored both Katie and Hannah! Katie Taray is a Public Affairs major who is interested in pursuing a minor in communications minor or career in education. She is from Canton, Ohio. Outside of the classroom and her involvement in ACES, Katie continued pursuing her interests during her first year at Ohio State. She was interested in staying in shape, so she participated in CHAARG her first semester, went running often and attended group fitness classes.

Katie and I are both from north east Ohio and she lives near a city that my cousins live in. During the first ACES community meeting this past year, we bonded over an alternative music band such as Foster the People. Katie is a very kind and happy person. I admire her ability to always be positive. During her second semester, she joined Boo Radley Society to spread random acts of kindness around campus especially during finals week or before seasonal breaks.

From the first to second semester, Katie has a hang of the campus setting and is confident in her major and interests. I saw her growth in how passionately she spoke about the classes she took and the clubs she was in. She’s enjoying her time at Ohio State and is excited to be back on campus in August as a sophomore.

Hannah is my mentee as well! She is a special education major from Cincinnati, Ohio. As a freshman, she wanted to take classes that excited her as well as volunteer in her free time and join a sorority in the spring. In the spring, she accomplished these goals and rushed Alpha Xi Delta (AXiD), whose philanthropy organization is Autism Speaks. She participated in the FEEP program where she learned strategies to use with special needs individualizes as well as the importance to “adopt their thinking.”

Hannah and I connected through our easy going, energetic personalities. We both enjoy surrounding ourselves with friends and making a social change. Unlike myself, Hannah volunteered with Best Buddies and the Office of Social Change Schoenbaum music explorers. I really admire Hannah’s drive to get out in the community and explore her passions.

Hannah shared with me her goals for her next school year at Ohio State, which include advancing her grade point average and finding a campus job. I saw Hannah’s growth in her ability to achieve the goals she set for herself in her first semester. Hannah is excited to live in her sorority house next year with with one of her friends from Cincinnati. Although she has completed FEEP, Hannah will likely participate in a student teaching program in the future.

I believed I grew as a mentor throughout the year by learning how to cater my advice to both of my mentees. Although they are both freshman girls, they had different question or concerns during their first year at Ohio State. I relayed resources, services and advice that would be applicable to their life, major and interests. I shared stories of all my favorite moments from living in Smith-Steeb freshman year and responded to questions with specific answers in regard to academics, getting involved or personal life.  

I provided my mentees insight to succeed in and outside of the classroom. As a second-year mentor, I had the experiences as a freshman to relieve any stress or worry that my mentees may have communicated. I advanced myself as a leader because I listened to and supported my mentees throughout their journey as a new student at Ohio State.

During my time as a mentor, I loved guiding and encouraging my mentees to pursue their goals and even challenge their comfort zones. By creating a group message, I developed a bond with my mentees and a safe community in which they could come to me during times of stress like finals or when asking cool spots to eat off campus. I enjoyed aiding my mentees in their important transition from high school to college, and they both did awesome in finding a home away from home at OSU!!

The ACES mentoring program is a very beneficial and unique way to expand the community of the scholars program. I enjoyed forming strong relationships with both of my mentees as well as embodying how to exercise the three pillars of ACES. I loved attending events with my mentees and discussing their weekly achievements or hardships. I am really grateful to have been a part of such an awesome program such as ACES these past two years and to have mentored Hannah and Katie throughout this past year!

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.

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.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc .
Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]