An updated reflection the GOALS for my undergraduate career.

In working toward the goal of Global Awareness, I plan to take a plethora of courses that will develop my cultural understanding of other backgrounds, specifically courses that pertain to my majors of Japanese and Spanish. As a student studying Japanese, I will be studying abroad in Tokyo the academic year of 2018-2019 at International Christian University. There, I hope to strengthen connections between international students, as well as native Japanese students, so that I may be able to effectively represent America and The Ohio State University with proper etiquette and humble manners. In this way, I am hoping to learn more about the Japanese culture by directly experiencing it myself. In addition to this, I am a general member of the Japanese Conversation Club on campus. In this environment, I can interact with other students with an interest in Japanese, and with international students from Japan. This is a practical means of beginning to understand other traditions and beliefs, and cultivating an open mind, reinforcing my current beliefs that embracing diversity is essential to growth as individuals in society.

My plans for the goal of Original Inquiry include discussing research opportunities with professors in the East Asian Studies Department at the university. I am interested in attending graduate school for Japanese translation and interpretation, and I think speaking with professors who research linguistics and write textbooks for the teaching of Japanese to English-learners about their experience is an effective way to first understanding the process of research.

In terms of Academic Enrichment, I have structured a course curriculum that is conducive to achieving my future goals, including understanding the variety in Spanish, Latin American, and Japanese cultures and languages. Both Spanish and Japanese languages interest me greatly, so much so that I aspire to be a translator or interpreter, which provides the opportunity to use them every day, so I have chosen to major in both. Languages offer an important entrance into learning more about the diversity of communities, and the history behind food, music, and traditional culture. I selected a writing course pertaining to the American identity because I was interested in learning about the variety of ways in which the American identity can be expressed and defined, all by people with wildly differing backgrounds and stories. I also chose to take an entomology course, which provided me with experience and information that I have never encountered before attending college. Choosing this course, among GE courses, demonstrates that I am willing to learn about subject matter to which I had never been exposed, and my selections in my major courses, which are all upper-division and honors if available, conveys my motivation to learn and ability to work diligently. Japanese summer intensive courses have shaped me into an individual desiring to learn as much as I can, and has pushed me to continue on my path to be an effective and accurate translator.

My goals in the Leadership Development field have been partly fulfilled this academic year of 2017-2018. I am a current mentor in the student organization on campus titled Asian Pacific Islander Cohort. This role allows me to establish a close and supportive connection with a mentee, who is a freshman or a transfer student at the university. I participate in weekly meetings that concern the image and identity of the Asian American community, on campus, and in the outside world. Aside from these meetings, I interact with my mentee weekly and aim to develop them professionally, socially, and individually, and help them successfully integrate into college life. One of my personal goals is to become an individual that others can rely on, whether it be as a friend, as a person in a position in a student organization, or simply as a person functioning in society. Here, I have developed friendships built from trust and compassion with other mentors and mentees in the organization. In this environment, I am able to rise as a leader with empathy and a willingness to lend an ear and understanding.

My Service Engagement goals include being able to give back to the Asian American community, especially here on campus. In spring of 2017, I applied to be a part of the planning committee for the Midwest Asian American Student Union Spring Conference of 2018, and was accepted as a logistics chair.  Almost an entire year’s-worth of planning from our committee was put into action for the conference this March. The planning committee, a total of 25 students here at OSU, worked together to host a conference for 850 Asian American students from Midwest universities, to foster leadership skills, network among communities from other states, and understand what it means to identify as Asian American and to overcome obstacles present in current society. This opportunity allowed me to both develop my teamwork skills, patience, and learn the importance and positive outcomes of endurance. Furthermore, it opened my eyes to the struggles that many Asian Americans face in the United States, and it was incredible to see so many students gather together to discuss these issues and brainstorm ideas on how to challenge them and thrive despite the difficulty in doing so.

Reflection on the G.O.A.L.S.

During my time spent at The Ohio State University, I plan to work toward the goal of Global Awareness by participating and being an active member of student organizations and clubs that celebrate diversity as well as my own culture. I am interested in joining The Asian Pacific Islander Cohort Mentorship Program. Through this student-led organization, I can connect with the Asian community here on campus, forming new relationships through similar experiences and backgrounds. I plan to study abroad in Japan in order to learn more about their culture and way of life. Through this experience, I believe I will appreciate diversity as well as acquire a more open mind in respect to the backgrounds, religions, and traditions that exist outside of my own personal experiences and beliefs. I am interested in joining The Japanese Student Organization so that I can build relationships with other students, as well as learn more about the Japanese culture, which will benefit me in my pursuit of a Japanese major.

Working toward the goal of Original Inquiry, I plan on collaborating with professors involved in the two fields I am most invested in, which are Spanish and Japanese. I would like to be able to design research and gain insight from librarians who specialize in Spanish and Japanese. I am interested in researching both the Spanish and Japanese languages and cultures.

In terms of Academic Enrichment, I plan on developing a course plan that challenges me in my areas of study. I chose to major in Japanese because as a child, I developed a love and interest in the Japanese language and culture. I began learning Spanish in middle school and from there, my love for the culture and language increased, which is why I have chosen a Spanish minor. In the future, I hope to work as an interpreter or translator with these two languages. I am excited to take an entomology course, because as I am not pursuing a major in this field, I am open and eager to learning information, especially as I have never encountered a course in this area until attending college. My course selection has displayed that I am eager to construct a plan beyond minimum requirements because I have chosen courses that are upper-level in terms of my GE requirements and I intend to take extra courses in both my major and minor fields, an example being reaching higher levels of Japanese language instruction than necessary.

My plans for the goal of Leadership Development includes my search for a summer internship that involves Spanish. I would like to explore the possibilities of interpreting in the medical field, so I am interested in shadowing an interpreter for Spanish at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. I plan on joining The Asian Pacific Islander Cohort Mentorship Program, as I mentioned previously. I am also in the process of joining a group of students through an organization titled GIVE, who will travel to Laos next summer to participate in community projects to help villagers while learning the Laotian culture and way of life.

In order to meet the goal of Service Engagement, I am interested in volunteering at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, either assisting in the Garden of Hope helping to weed and plant the garden or volunteering as an escort for patients and caregivers throughout the hospital. I also plan to take part in the organization titled Partnering Up for Pets, which focuses on promoting the adoption of rescue dogs.