STEP Expo

I had heard of this program at a Morrill Scholars meeting where some of the mentors were talking about the opportunity to submit a proposal to receive $2000 to participate in something you are interested in. Therefore, on Thursday, November 1st I attended the STEP Expo to see what students had done this year. Students were able to choose from six categories which were creative/artistic endeavors, internships, leadership, service-learning/community service, education abroad, and undergraduate research.

One of the mentors that was at the scholars meeting was there and had focused on creative endeavors to pursue her passion for photography and travel. She used her funding in order to travel the United States and take pictures of monuments and other famous locations. I thought this was a great experience and she was able to combine travel and something artistic.

After the expo I decided to look into the requirements to participate and found out that all second year students are enrolled in the program when they apply for eligible housing. You can chose to opt out but, if you choose to participate you meet with STEP Faculty to create a proposal and must complete professional development co-curriculars.

I look forward for next year to be able to do do this. I would certainly like to do something in creative endeavors,internships, or study abroad. It would be great if I could be able to do one and incorporate travel and therefore incorporate the study abroad option with one of the others like how my Morrill Scholars mentor did.

Second Year in Review

My second year at OSU started out even better than the first!

Academically, I began taking courses that were focused on my degree. These courses gave me a better insight on what chemical engineering is about and I really enjoyed them even though they were difficult. I was able to find a studying format that worked for me and began a study group with some students that I shared several classes with.

I became more involved with STEM Scholars by being a Teaching Assistant and a First-Year Mentor. I enjoyed both positions and would do them again but I will be working at OSU’s nanotech facility. I began working there in September and have enjoyed learning about nanofabrication and being in the lab.

Of course, Covid-19 affected class at OSU which meant that after spring break, classe were online. The transition was difficult but I am glad that the university and my professors were flexible and accommodating to the situation. I was also disappointed because I had planned to do my STEP project over the summer. It was going to be a research opportunity at the University of Louisville focused on using nanotechnology to asses cell-transfection. I still have the position for Summer 2021, but I would be much more interested in an internship since I want to go into the workforce after graduating.

I look forward to my third year at OSU. It will certainly be different since I now have a mix of online and in-person classes but I look forward to seeing my friends (taking proper precautions) and getting to live in an apartment!

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 guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu.

  • 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.

Artifact 1

On September 26 I went to the Engineering Expo at the Ohio Union. I went in order to experience what a career fair is like and possibly speak to some of the employers since I would like a summer internship. It was overwhelming seeing how many people were there and Iwas nervous to talk to the employers. I knew that it was important for me to get out of my comfort zone and I was able to talk to one of the employers.  While I wasn’t at the expo for very long I thought it was a good experience to at least go and walk around. I learned that a lot of the companies wanted upperclassmen since they have taken courses related to their major which is why it is usually hard to get an internship your first year. It was also a bit difficult for me with the employer that I spoke with because I am in engineering undeclared and still don’t know what major I would like to pursue but the employers are often looking for specific majors.

For my next steps I want to improve my resume and try to decide on an engineering that I’m interested in which will help narrow my job search and help me pick my career path. I want to go to more career fairs to get more practice with speaking.

https://expo.engineering.osu.edu

About Me

Growing up Mariana had always enjoyed playing with Play Dough and Legos which allowed her to make whatever she imaged. These toys were not only the building blocks of her creations as a kid but also the building blocks of channeling creativity and problem solving. Because of these skills she wanted to become an engineer to create new products and ideas that help others. Mariana’s passion for STEM grew in high school as she took AP classes in chemistry, math, and physics, as well as learning valuable skills in CAD, Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

Now, Mariana is a Junior pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering at The Ohio State University. She is part of STEM Scholars, a program for high achieving students in STEM majors which focuses on personal and professional development . In her first two years in the program, Mariana has held positions such as Service Committee Leader, Teaching Assistant, and First Year Mentor. This group has allowed her to meet and collaborate with new people who share similar interests and goals. 

In her second year, she started working at  Ohio State’s Nanotech lab facility as a student assistant. As a part of the laboratory staff, Mariana has learned about the machines and processes used in nanofabrication. She enjoys being in the lab environment and being able to learn about topics outside of her degree.

Aside from school, Mariana partakes in artistic activities such as painting and drawing. She also enjoys watching Korean Dramas and cooking with her family.