Always Learning Part 2

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This model is of my second project while being in the intro architecture studio. While I did learn more skills and tricks to make it easier for myself while building this model, this post is more about a life lesson.

I am a perfectionist, always have been. So when you start to learn something new, you’re not going to be perfect with it right away. It takes time, effort, and a whole lot of practice. Sometimes things do come more easily, like soccer did for me. Or even math. But building a model is not one of them. During the process of building this, I was able to think more clearly about my intentions of why I was creating a certain aspect. However, as much as I wish I did, I didn’t magically pick up all the skills and craft of making a model. This really bothered me throughout the term and at one point I was ready to rebuild the model to make the lines cleaner and craft an overall better quality, I even bought more materials to do so. Then, through some consideration and talking to a couple of peers, I realized that I didn’t have to be perfect. For lack of a better term, I had an excuse to not have mastered the craft, being that I learned how to use these tools less than two months ago! So, what I took from this model is just what the title says, I am always learning and due to that, I can’t be perfect with something right away, even soccer and math. Mistakes are inevitable and that’s why we practice.

Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “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.]

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.   For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Always Learning

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When I would tell people I was majoring in architecture many would tell me that the students are always in Knowlton and it is a very time consuming major. I’ve been given a taste of this during my first semester at OSU and I must say, what I’ve been told is true. Pictured above is the first model I have ever created, in which the assignment was to take an abstract painting and break it down to its different aspects, then for us to distort these aspects and create an outside, occupiable space. Not many of the students knew what we were doing but that was the point if this course, to learn by doing. This project taught me that while creating a structure, everything must be done for a purpose because if not, you’re just making it harder on yourself. There are many different sets of stairs in which I changed the size of them to denote a public versus private area, this was a main attribute of the model that was liked during the review. But what I learned while creating the model is that I did put spaces in the structure that were not needed and thus making it harder on myself in the end. This learning experience has allowed me to think critically while in my architecture studio, as well as, in any other classroom or life experience…I must have a purpose in my actions and must think before I do. Another learning experience through this project is that something might be daunting, but you must give it a try and trust yourself to manage your time, put in effort, and never become lazy…an equation that will ultimately lead me to success.

About Me

Rachel Van Bramer is currently a first-year honors architecture major at The Ohio State University and is looking into a double minor of real estate and city and regional planning. She is from Pickerington, Ohio where she took many AP and honors classes through out her high school career. While at OSU, Rachel hopes to gain knowledge in her particular interests and push herself to take harder classes where she can be challenged. She is currently contemplating going to graduate school for Architecture after obtaining her BS degree in Architecture. As far as careers go after college, she is mainly focused on finding a career in which she can help to redevelop areas in which are inflicted by poverty and/or crime and aid the people in those communities. Also along those lines, Rachel would like to be able to develop neighborhoods and homes. Besides excelling in her academics while at the university, Rachel would like to find different clubs and organizations that are part of her hobbies and interests. Considering she has just completed her first semester, college life takes some getting used to and she has not been able to explore this aspect as much as she would like. The spring semester of her first year, Rachel is hoping to become more involved across campus. A couple clubs she is considering are a running club or CHAARG, 4 Paws 4 Disabilities, club soccer and Block O (possibly for her second year). She has also been appointed into the direction of Habitat for Humanity, in which she plans to look into in the near future. During her four years at OSU, Rachel is looking forward to becoming a well-rounded student in and outside the classroom!