Year in Review

This past year has been an extremely transformative year for me as a student, leader, and person in general. Not only did I have to adjust to cooking meals for myself and paying bills while living on my own off campus, I also had to keep up with my increasingly difficult school work, busier schedule, and a job. I took on more responsibilities in my sorority, becoming a leader in the community service aspect of the chapter. I made it a priority to be involved in as many things on campus as possible. I also attended many community service and philanthropy events. I think I really grew as a leader and an involved student on campus this past year.

G.O.A.L.S.

Global Awareness: Being a member of International Affairs scholars and taking classes in International development studies, I’ve had a lot of exposure to global issues and have become very aware of what is going on around the world. Through discussion, research, and my time spent in India, I’ve learned how to be knowledgeable about international affairs and how to live a life that benefits the whole world. I plan to hopefully study abroad again during my time at Ohio State, immersing myself in more cultures and becoming even more knowledgeable about the world.

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Original Inquiry: I plan to study abroad again during my time here, hopefully on my own in Spain. Being on my own in a foreign country would allow me to create my own itinerary and learn on my own terms. I want to truly immerse myself in the culture and learn everything there is to know. I also hope to do research in the psychology lab on campus.
Academic Enrichment: Studying abroad was an extremely academically enriching experience because it allowed me to learn and grow outside of the classroom. It was an amazing, interactive way to really understand the culture rather than just hear about it while sitting in a chair in Ohio. I hope to study abroad again so I can continue to learn this way. I also plan to do research projects in the psychology lab on campus.
Leadership Development: I am currently a member of a program called Mentor A Buckeye, where I mentor a high school student from inner city Columbus and help to keep her on track to attend college. This program has really shaped my leadership skills because I have to make sure I am a good role model for her and a positive influence on her life at all times. I have to be able to answer her questions and be there for her in all aspects of her life. I also hope to be a member of College Mentors for kids next year as well as potentially having a leadership position on the executive board of my sorority.
Service Engagement: As a member of the Chi Omega sorority, community service is a big part of my college life. We hold many fundraisers and events for the Make A Wish foundation, as well as other various community service around campus and Columbus. As a member of the community service cabinet of the sorority, I play a major role in organizing and participating in these service events. I’ve also participated in Buckeyethon both of my years here so far, a 24 hour dance marathon to raise money for the Nationwide Children’s hospital. All of these activities have been amazing experiences and community service is a very rewarding, prominent aspect of my life.

Career

International Affairs Scholar 

  • Participate in events, discussions, and service opportunities related to global events and other internationally themed topics while maintaining at least a 3.3 GPA
  • Serve as a mentor for a younger member of the program, helping him with his transition to college as well as answering any questions he may have about the program and its requirements

 

Chi Omega sorority

  • Volunteer on campus and throughout the community & fundraise for the Make-A-Wish foundation
  • Continuing to gain teamwork, leadership, and communication skills by working together on projects and being a leader on the community service committee

 

Undergraduate Student Government        

  • Sustainability committee general member
  • Work on projects to create the best possible campus for students, specifically an eco-friendly one

 

Mentor-A-Buckeye student mentor

  • Provide consistent guidance, support, and motivation over a four year period for a high school student from inner-city Columbus with the goal of positively influencing her life and getting her on track to attend college

 

Buckeye Leadership Fellows Challenge Month

  • Worked with a team of volunteers to help a local non-profit organization solve a problem
  • Gave presentation of solution to panel of judges at the end of the program
  • Gained leadership, communication, teamwork, and professional skills

 

A Day in the Life of a Buckeye mentor

  • Hosted an inner-city Columbus high school student for a day to show her a typical day on a college campus and influence her to attend a university

 

Buckeyethon                                                                                                            

  • Raised $250 for oncology research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and participated in 12 hour shift of dance marathon

Artifacts

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During the summer after my first year at Ohio State, I was fortunate enough to go on a 3 week trip to India with the International Affairs scholars program that I belong to. We saw numerous incredible landmarks and historic places and focused on immersing ourselves in the culture. I learned so much about religion, education, and daily life of the people of India during my time there. It was truly an eye-opening experience.

 

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I joined the Chi Omega sorority during my second semester at Ohio State. We support the Make A Wish organization and raise funds and awareness through philanthropy events and fundraisers. As a leading member of the community service cabinet, I have organized and participated in multiple community service events around campus and Columbus as well as written an article for our alumni newsletter that detailed the incredible volunteer work our members have been doing.

 

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Being a member of the International Affairs scholars program here at Ohio State not only led me to an amazing group of individuals, it also opened my eyes to global issues, helped me find some of my passions, and made me more inquisitive and knowledgeable about what is going on around the world. I think it’s important for everyone to be aware of global issues and current events, and IA has helped young people like us become more educated and cultured. I’ve learned to think more critically, to see things from all perspectives, and to live a more sustainable life while always keeping a global friendly attitude.

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I became involved in the Mentor A Buckeye program during my freshman year at OSU. It’s a program that pairs up college freshman with inner city Columbus high school freshman. We are paired for all four years of college/high school and we spend time together studying, talking, doing volunteer work, or just hanging out. The idea is that I, as a mentor, will help show my mentee the benefits of going to college and help keep her on track for a successful future. I am a positive role model in her life and help answer any questions she might have. This has been a truly rewarding experience for me because I’ve been able to see her grow and change as a person and know that I played a role in that development. My mentee is an amazing, smart, driven student and I know she will be successful. It’s an incredible feeling to know that I played a part in helping that happen.

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During the fall semester of my sophomore year, I worked as student caller at the Ohio State Calling Center. Although I don’t work there anymore due to schedule conflicts, the job really helped me grow as a person and helped shape my communication and customer service skills. I was able to help the university by raising funds through these calls to alumni, while also creating valuable relationships with them and learning a lot about the university. It was extremely beneficial to both me and the school and I was able to gain professional skills through the process.

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I participated in a 6 week program called Buckeye Leadership Fellows challenge month during the fall semester of my sophomore year. Through this program, I worked with a team to help a local non-profit solve a real life problem that they were having. My team worked with the Greater Columbus Arts Council to improve their marketing techniques to appeal to younger audiences and increase ticket sales. We held multiple meetings with them, worked together as a team, and did research to put together a plan to solve this problem for them. At the end of the program, we presented our solution to a panel of judges. Overall, it was an incredibly enriching experience and it taught me valuable communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. I was able to gain real world problem solving experience working with professionals.

 

About Me

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My name is Evie VanderKaay and I am a second year studying International Development Studies with a minor in Spanish. I’m from Kettering, OH and I attended Fairmont High School, where I took many rigorous AP/IB courses, was involved in numerous student organizations and community service projects, and participated in three sports. At Ohio State, I am a member of the International Affairs Scholars program, the sustainability committee of Undergraduate Student Government, and the Chi Omega sorority. I also work at the OSU Calling Center in the Fawcett Center, where I get to connect with alumni and raise funds for this wonderful school. I enjoy being involved in my community and my school and staying busy, but I also like to read, hang out with friends, and attend concerts in my free time. I would describe myself as a cat lover, dessert enthusiast, and expert in all things Harry Potter.

My goals for my time at Ohio State are simply to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree and hopefully a little bit of an idea as to what I want to pursue after college. I want to travel after graduation and am considering joining the Peace Corps. Eventually, I want to have a job that I love and a family, but that’s about all I know right now. I’m still exploring the countless options that Ohio State has for me and am open to any opportunity that may come my way. I have interests in many different subjects and I enjoy taking a wide variety of classes and trying new things. Through my time and exploration here at Ohio State, I would like to find a passion (or a few passions) that I want to make a career out of, meet as many people as possible that I can grow and learn from and who may be able to provide me with a unique opportunity, and to learn as much as I can.