Artifact 1: Appalachia Service Trip
My first artifact is my service trip to Appalachia. This service trip was a tradition at my high school for over 60 years, yet my group was the last group of students that the site saw. “The Farm” as it was referred to closed because the missionaries who started it felt that the work was done and that it was time to move on to another county. The trip was started to help counties that fall below the poverty level with the intention of raising the standard of living within the county. The trip is worthy of inclusion in my ePortfolio because it represents everything I want my personal service to encompass. I continually think about this trip. I think about the nights our group of thirty-some students and teachers sat and ate together, or when we built a house. Every activity we did was for someone else, and every resident was so gracious and thankful.
One of my favorite experiences within the trip was lying in a cemetery on top of a hill and looking at the stars in the cloudless sky. It was a truly religious experience that made me think about why I was there and what my purpose is on this earth. From this trip I learned about what selflessness is and how people who have so little are often the ones that have the most joy and love in their heart. I gained skills on how to drive in a nail straight and how to make a meal for forty people. From this trip I have experience in working with the elderly and people with mental disabilities. I have taken away so much from this trip and I wish I could go back and relive it. I was surprised at how easy it was to forget about technology or warm showers. Everything was so in the moment and I felt connected to all my classmates and residents of Vance County. Overall, the beginning of the trip was challenging because we had to get used to not knowing what time it was, wearing makeup, or showing regularly. However, every moment was worth it and I would not trade this experience for anything.
Artifact 2: ACES Film Project
My second artifact is the ACES Film Project. This was an assignment for my scholar’s seminar class created by the intructors Laura and Anna. The purpose of the project was so that students could connect the four pillars of the Advocates for Children and Education Program to a film so that a group of diverse students could come together for a common purpose. This is a relevant artifact because it encompasses my future goals for becoming an educator. The film Waiting for Superman focuses on the importance of education and how education is not as easily accessible to some children. This artifact represents the struggle that goes into providing a great education and it shows me how important my job will be as a teacher to help children become successful and high functioning adults. This is a significant topic for me because I can take action to help children excel in school and ultimately I can inspire them. From this film, I learned that not all children are provided the same opportunities in terms of education and that teachers are often times to blame for under performing schools. It raised my awareness and surprised me that many teachers rely on tenure. Tenure can lead to teachers under performing because they know they will have a job. I took away a sense of privilege because I did not realize how fortunate I am to have such a great education. In the future I will apply a strategy in my classroom that teaches children how to be well-rounded individuals, such as teaching manners. I will defiantly bring with me an attitude of gratitude and I will try to understand each student’s situation in order to help them succeed.
Artifact 3: Gold Horn Necklace
My third artifact is the necklace that I bought while in Italy. It is made of gold and I bought it on the Ponte Vecchio (meaning “old bridge”). I have selected this artifact because it reminds me of my trip to Italy in March of 2015. To me, this necklace represents a transitional time in my life. March was close to the end of my senior year and it was close to the start of college. I believe that this trip was almost a rite of passage where I got to see a small glimpse of the world before entering the world of college. From this trip, I learned about important monuments, architecture, sculpture, fashion and language. As a lover of the arts, I thoroughly enjoyed being in the place where famous Renaissance artists worked. I was quite surprised at how different the day-to-day life is, from scooters instead of cars to apartments flats instead of houses. I learned how to says words and phrases in Italian, which helped tremendously in communication. From this trip I learned how important language and communication and how difficult it can be. In the future I will take the cultural knowledge I learned and apply it to my classroom in the forms of informative posters or teaching students some Italian words. Overall, it has instilled in me a desire to travel and learn about different cultures.
Artifact 4: Mentee Inteview
My ACES mentee is Maria Bonfiglio. She is currently an exploratory major, but she is leaning towards a major in public health. I recently interviewed Maria about her time at OSU thus far, and about her plans for the future.
ACADEMICS:
How do you like to study? Have you found a good place for studying on campus?
Maria likes to study without noise, but she can study outside when it’s nice out. Some of her favorite places to study are the Browning Amphitheater and the 4th floor cubicles in Thompson Library. She also likes to study in her dorm. I suggested the Campus Reading Room on the 11th floor of Thompson, or the Buckeye Reading Room on the 2nd floor. I am very similar to Maria in that I need silence for studying, too.
What has been your most challenging class so far and why?
Chemistry 1210 is Maria’s hardest class. This class gives her the most work and consumes most of her studying time. She did not take chemistry in high school, so understanding and mastering concepts is challenging for this class.
INVOLVEMENT
How do you plan to get involved on campus?
Maria has recently applied for Student Alumni Council, and she hopes to be accepted. Student Alumni Council plans fun events, such as homecoming, and reaches out to past Ohio State students. Maria really wants to join more clubs and become involved on campus. Thus far, she has done Community Commitment through ACES, and she assisted with the OWL move-in. Like Maria, members of my family went to Ohio State. We discovered that our families might actually know each other!
What type of volunteering and involvement were you involved with in high school?
In high school, Maria was a member of student council, National Honors Society, and her junior and senior executive board committees. Through her involvement in these activities, she selflessly participated in many volunteer opportunities, such as being a freshman mentor. She also played field hockey and softball. My personal high school experience also involved many service hours, so I am excited to see what she accomplishes this year.
ACES
Why did you choose ACES?
She thought this program was a great option for her, since she has an interest in education and working with people.
What are you most looking forward to in the ACES Program?
Maria is most looking forward to meeting new people, always having things to do, and getting involved at Ohio State. She expressed that she has already met many new friends, and she is excited about being a part of a fun and social group of people. I feel very fortunate to have met my best friends through the ACES program, and I cannot wait to see her friendships that develop by the end of this year.
What do you think will be some challenging aspects of the ACES Program?
She is most concerned about meeting the event requirements and volunteer hours for each semester. She has researched opportunities such as the Boys and Girls Club, but the application process was confusing and there was little available transportation to these clubs. I also felt it was hard to get the volunteer hours. I suggested finding an opportunity that was easy to get to, and that would be enjoyable. We also can go to events together.
CAREERS
What is your dream job and why?
As a child, Maria’s dream job was to become an actress or director. She was a self-proclaimed bossy child. As she has gotten older, however, she has had a desire to work with people. Specifically, she has an interest in behavioral sciences and mental health. She thinks that teaching or possibly counseling might suit her interests and talents. In addition, she hopes to eventually get her master’s degree. As a child, I too was very bossy (I wanted to be Julie Andrews). I think both of our dream careers are a bit more realistic now.
MISCELLANEOUS
What has surprised you about Ohio State since arriving on campus?
Maria grew up in Stow, Ohio, which is coincidentally where my mom grew up. Maria and my grandparents actually live in the same neighborhood. This topic brought up how Ohio State is really not as big as it seems. Maria and I both enjoy eating at Swenson’s Drive In in Stow. When she went home recently, she mentioned that Stow seems much more spread out than Columbus. In Stow there aren’t any big buildings, but she finds Columbus to be a happy medium.
Through this interview, I can mentor Maria by always being available to talk through frustrations. I can study with her, since we like studying in quiet places. I can provide my experience with certain classes if she is considering education because I am an Early Childhood Education major. Overall, I learned that Maria and I like a lot of the same TV shows, have similar values, and are hoping to be very involved in the same ways.
Explore Columbus Assignment
Maria and I chose to go to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream in Clintonville. Maria is from Stow, Ohio, which does not have any Jeni’s locations and I have been going to several Columbus Jeni’s locations since grade school. I wanted to show Maria a bit of my home while also allowing her to taste some delicious ice cream, so we decided on this destination. We decided to venture to Jeni’s on the Saturday of the weekend before finals. We thought that a study break would serve us well, since we have our respective finals on consecutive days. Above all, we were looking forward to tasting some new ice cream flavors and having a fun break from our studies. I personally was most looking forward to showing Maria around my neighborhood and showing her the Jeni’s that I frequented during high school.
EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION
On Saturday, I was able to use my car to get to Jeni’s. I picked Maria up from her dorm and headed to the store’s location in Clintonville. We decided on the Clintonville location rather than the Short North location because of parking. I thought parking on High Street (which would most likely be parallel parking) would be quite difficult. Additionally, I thought the Clintonville location would be fun, since I grew up in that area and could show her some fun shops and restaurants. It was chilly outside and initially we thought ice cream might not be the best idea. The ice cream turned out to be just as tasty on a cold day. The store’s ceiling was decorated with warm mini lights and colorful yarn, proving a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. The friendly scoop worker let us try several exotic flavors like Xocorosa (spicy chocolate), Sweet Potato Éclair, and Goat Cheese with Red Berries. I settled on Wildberry Lavender and Spiced Sweet Cream, while Maria ordered Brambleberry Crisp, both of our bowls adorned with a waffle cone sample. We then sat at a wooden table decorated with holiday berries and holly leaves and enjoyed our ice cream.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I would absolutely recommend Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream to friends and family. This scoop shop provides a flavor for every palate. Whether you want sweet, spicy, savory, or floral, Jeni’s has just about every flavor you can imagine. This shop is ideal for families with small children, since smaller scoops are offered. One of my favorite parts about the store is the chalkboard wall, where children and adults alike can create temporary chalk masterpieces. While Maria and I were there, the wall was covered with festive drawings of snowmen, Christmas trees, hats, mittens, and snowflakes. I think this wall gives a sense of community, since neighbors and visitors can create art as a collective group. Having gone to this location for several years, I love seeing familiar faces at each visit. Overall, I keep coming back because the product is simply the best in town. I thoroughly enjoy trying new flavors and seeing the reactions of other customers. Maria enjoyed her experience as well, and I am glad she got to try one of my favorite parts about Columbus.
WHAT I LEARNED
Since I am from Columbus, I did not “learn” anything new about Columbus. The Clintonville Jeni’s location is near my home, so I was familiar with the surrounding area. I did learn about some of the new flavors at Jeni’s and learned that some of the flavors are for a very distinct palate.
I think it is always exiting to explore a new city. There are hundreds of restaurants to try and art galleries to explore. Each city has a rich history, with inhabitants of various backgrounds. I think one of the most useful things a visitor can do in a new city is to ask a local for advice. Locals can give advice on the hidden gems of a city, including family owned restaurants and secret art murals. It can be intimidating to experience a new city, or culture in general, but keeping an open mind is key if the city is large and diverse. Overall, I think gaining new experiences helps people to become more aware of their own perspective and biases, by making them uncomfortable and excited to learn more.
For someone endeavoring to complete the same experience, I would recommend keeping an open mind and to be adventurous. Regarding innovative ice cream flavors, they should be brave and not take themselves too seriously. I would absolutely recommend that a visitor tries new things and does their best to immerge themselves into a new neighborhood and its respective culture. Above all, make yourself at home because Columbus is the best place to be!
Artifact 6: Mentee Interview 2
My buddy is Maria Bonfiglio, and coming into Ohio State she was undecided in her major. After some exploration here at Ohio State, she is leaning towards a Public Health Major.
What kind of study habits have you developed? Did they work successfully in the fall?
Maria said that her study habits are much better this semester than they were for last semester. She typically goes to Thompson Library once her classes are over for the day. Here, she likes to study for several hours. Maria also learned a lot from general chemistry course last semester. This was her hardest class and she studied the most for during the week for this class. From this class, she learned how to split up the subject matter over a few days rather than cramming in one night. From this information, I can help Maria with splitting up her time and give her tips to help with effective studying. I think most importantly, I can be a sounding board for her frustrations, and I can be a good role model by modeling good studying behaviors.
How have you gotten involved on campus?
At the beginning of spring semester, Maria went through formal recruitment at Ohio State. Ultimately, she joined Kappa Alpha Theta and she is extremely excited to grow within her chapter. She plans on carrying out the rest of her membership until she graduates form Ohio State, and is looking forward to the new friendships and leadership opportunities. From this experience she is most excited about gaining connections within the Greek Community. I am currently a member of Tri Delta, so I have talked with her about Greek life and the different ways to get involved. I think getting involved in Greek life is a wonderful way to challenge yourself and jump outside your comfort zone. Since I have already been a part of this community for a year, I can give her tips on the most fun and enriching activities, and other philanthropic events to get involved in. I am sure that she will flourish in her membership!
How was your first semester in ACES? What has surprised you about the program?
Maria’s first semester in ACES was great. She has made a lot of friends on her residence hall floor, and she has greatly enjoyed the variety of ACES events offered. Maria was most surprised at how the broad the ACES program is, considering the wide range of majors represented and the variety of ways ACES extends into other subject areas. Maria’s favorite events have included guest speakers, because she has learned about a different area of involvement. I am very glad that Maria has enjoyed her time in ACES thus far, and I am confident that she will continue to grow next year. I have enjoyed my membership and hope she joins the mentorship program next year, since I think she would make a fantastic role model!
Have your career plans changed since your first semester? Why or why not?
Maria describes her future career plans as still up in the air. She is extremely interested in public health and neuroscience, but she is unsure which path to follow. Since coming to college, she figured out that the pre-med track is most definitely not for her. However, she has also determined that she wants to work with people in whichever field she decided to pursue. As someone who is studying to be a teacher, I understand Maria’s desire to work with people, and I will be there if she needs any advice. I can explain my experiences with my students which may help her in the future.
What kind of goals have you set for yourself this semester?
Maria’s goal for this semester is to apply to the College of Public Health. She also simply wants to finish her freshman year in general. She is aiming to earn all A’s in her classes and to ideally declare a career interest to start pursuing this summer. I think these goals are very manageable and I am confident that she can accomplish them.
Overall, I have gotten to know Maria much better over the course of last semester, and I cannot wait to see how she grows at Ohio State during the next three years.
Explore Columbus 2
For our second explore Columbus assignment, Maria and I chose to go to Whetstone Park of Roses in Clintonville. Since I grew up in Columbus, I am extremely familiar with this park. I played soccer here as a kindergartener, went to Whetstone library throughout grade school, took the children I babysat here during the summer, and I now watch my younger sister play tennis here. I thought this would be a fun relaxing way to distress before finals, thus I suggested it to Maria. Maria and I also thought about trying another local food place, going to the Columbus Zoo, or even exploring German Village like several ACES did on their first Explore Columbus assignment. Ultimately we decided on this location for its various “attractions”. Before going, we were most looking forward to taking some time out of our busy schedules and studying for finals in order to enjoy a lovely day and relax.
Since neither of us have a car on campus, we tried to think of transportation well before our visit. We thought about taking an Uber, but being broke college students, we decided against this idea. Instead, we thought taking the COTA Line 2 would be the most logical and cost efficient option for us. We struggled a little bit with figuring out the best place to meet, considering I live off campus and Maria lives on south campus. We decided on meeting outside the union then walking to the nearest bus stop on high street. Luckily it was a beautiful spring day with the sun shining and a slight breeze! Unfortunately, the bus was running behind schedule and we ending up missing the first Line 2 Bus by a few seconds, so we had to wait fifteen minutes for the next bus. This did leave an opportunity for some conversation about how Maria’s second semester went. Before we left, I also checked on the “Columbus To Do List” provided by our program packet. I thought that this website might give me some new perspectives on a park that I know very well. From the website, I learned that Whetstone Park also has a heritage garden, herb garden, and perennial garden (http://u.osu.edu/columbustodolist/2015/09/03/the-whetstone-park-of-roses/).
Once we got there, we went into the library so I could show Maria where I used to read as a kid. I also showed her the old and new playgrounds, which were bustling with children on the sunny day. It was fairly hot out, so we decided to take a quick break in the grass (as pictured above). This picture is quite comical, because we had to flag down a young mom to take our picture! We were able to laugh about it later, but the mom was slightly concerned that we need to have a picture to document our adventure.
We continued our walk in the park, passing a special wedding photo shoot by the Park of Roses. The Park of Roses is one of my favorite places to adventure as a child, and I was very excited to show this place to my mentee. It was fun to relive my childhood adventures and get to see all the kids that were making their own memories in the park that day. Some roses were just starting to bloom, releasing their sweet fragrance to all the passers by. My favorite roses are always the yellow ones, but Maria liked the pink ones. We spent about an hour and half walking around and just talking about our time at Ohio State. Maria explained how quickly her first year went, and I agreed that time went by so fast. I wish I was in Maria’s position, because that would mean I have at least one more year at the greatest place on earth.
We finally decided that it was time to head back to campus, since we both had finals looming over our relaxed heads. Overall, it was a relaxing couple of hours to just talk with my mentee about her OSU experience thus far. I think this was a great location to complete this final activity as mentor/mentee because it was casual and low stress. We had an easier time catching a Line 2 COTA bus back to campus because there was a stop right outside the park. We also got some much-needed exercise in, which I had been lacking throughout the semester. From this experience I learned that Columbus is at its best when it is nice out. When the weather is nice, the city is bustling with energy and excitement. From the COTA experience in particular, I learned that Columbus encompasses people of all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses, and that each person in the city has a rich background and pride depending on where they grew up. I think it is important to realize that a new city can be made familiar by getting to know its people. Even though Columbus is not a new city for me, it was fun to learn about a new portion of my city’s people.
I would most definitely recommend Whetstone Park of Roses to anyone who wants to enjoy a relaxing afternoon on a nice day. My recommendations would be to check the sports schedule to see if there are any baseball or tennis games they would like to see (or avoid), and to take time to look at the people in the park. I personally think the people are more interesting and enjoyable than the scenery.