Global Awareness:

I will become more globally aware by studying different cultures and ideas in the classroom and by studying abroad.  During my undergraduate years, I will take a history course that focuses on the Soviet Union, a cultural anthropology course that exemplifies how unique societies can be, and an ethics class that includes discussion about the impact culture has on normative behavior. During the spring of my sophomore year, I will travel to the UK to take a week-long class on evolution, all while exploring another western culture. Finally, I hope to present research globally during my senior year, which will give me more exposure to professional practices outside the US.

Original Inquiry:

Research will be a focus of my undergraduate career at Ohio State. Starting my second semester, I will begin assisting a faculty member in conducting novel scientific investigations. I hope to be involved in a neuroscience or psychology laboratory that focuses on the social and behavioral mechanisms that influence typical human ideologies and routines. As I gain knowledge in the classroom and in the lab, I will be prepared to perform my own novel studies post-graduation. I plan to present at the Denman at least twice. Beyond that, I will present at other national or foreign conferences during my later years.

Academic Enrichment:

As a member in the Honors Program, I have a responsibility to challenge myself in the classroom. While this involves taking honors-level courses, it also involves holding myself to high standards. Nearly all of my general education (GE) courses will be honors-level, therefore being rigorous of demanding significant academic abilities. My major courses will likely not be honors-level, but I will perform to the best of my ability in order to maintain strong grades, and, more importantly, mastery of the information discusses in the courses.

Leadership Development:

While most of my time outside of class will be time in the lab, I will not have as much time as I would like to devote to leadership development. However, I plan to become a neuroscience ambassador during my sophomore year. As such, I will help students find ways to become more involved in their development as students, future professionals, and members of the Buckeye community. As I will be taking a rare path in the neuroscience major by pursuing a Ph.D., I will be able to offer insight into the process for future students with similar goals to my own. Secondary to this, but not to be overlooked, I will remain involved in a long-term passion of mine, soccer. Continuing to involve myself in competition will help me hone a different type of leadership, one that involves taking immediate action as a part of a cohesive unit, a useful skill regardless of future endeavors.

Service Engagement:

I will participate in various Buck-I-Serve events and other smaller-scale local service events throughout my undergraduate career. Service offers the unique opportunity to realize that our ambitions, although they may seem like trials of our ability and commitment, are much more about bettering the society that has given us opportunities that others have not been afforded and taking the initiative to make a personal change in another’s life. The work we do now and later fulfills selfish ambitions as well as moral obligations, both of which can be heightened by a commitment to service.