As a Morrill Scholar, I take global awareness and an appreciation for diversity very seriously, and intend to do my best to make sure the differences of my peers are celebrated rather than disparaged. I plan to take classes through the Office of Diversityand Inclusion and the Morrill Scholars Program to accomplish this goal, because it’s important to me to focus on global awareness in an academic setting as well as in my everyday life. After all, the only way to change the damaging institutions that are already in place is through academia, so learning about diversity and inclusion in an academic context is a great way to get me, personally, started on that.
As an undergraduate student, I intend to conduct research through the Communication department. While I do not know yet what I plan on studying, it’s important to me that I understand the real world implications of my work and strive to make the world a better place for everyone around me through the research I conduct, so that is what I want to focus on. It’s also important to me to get in touch creatively with my community, so I want to pursue that as an option as well. I am a big content creator within one of my own communities, so I want to translate that into the realm of original inquiry in addition to existing within my community.
I chose my major because I want to be a force with which to be reckoned. Communicating is one of the most important skills anyone can have; without it, we’re lost. By learning communication theories in my COMM 1100 class this semester, I’ve already gotten started on learning those important skills.
Leadership development is additionally incredibly important to me, as I want to be an effective leader in all walks of life. I’m involved in the First Year Leadership Initiative, which aims to encourage leadership and foster communication between first year students. I’m also involved in the Scarlet and Gray Sports Radio, where I host my own podcast, and that is another example of the creative enrichment I provide for my community.
Getting involved with the community is additionally extremely important to me. I want to give back in any way that I can, both by enriching the cultural experiences of those around me, and by actionable service. Though I am yet to currently get involved with any service organizations on campus, working with BuckeyeThon and other service events is something that I definitely plan to pursue in the future.