PSL Mentor Profile

If there’s one thing Becca Salamacha is familiar with, it’s the power of a Two for One Sale. If it weren’t for the Common App having one a few short years ago, applying to Ohio State may never have been on her radar, and her life would undoubtedly be very different.

After being born and raised in Pittsburg, Becca planned on attending college close to home. But after applying to OSU on a whim and getting competitive scholarships, she paused. There was a lot to consider. Columbus has much more of a Midwestern feel than she was used to, and she couldn’t help but notice that the restaurants were all much slower than they were back home. But after a short visit to the campus, Becca decided that being a Buckeye was the right fit for her. Looking back, she’s certain she made the right choice.

Being at OSU has afforded Becca a wide array of opportunities. Most notably, she was accepted into the Politics, Society, and Law Scholars program, the organization that she mentors me for. Although Becca always had a lingering interest in politics, she was motivated to join the PSL by the divisive 2016 presidential election. Once she was accepted, the program’s engaging content inspired her to add a Political Science minor to her History major, and she’s made a series of great friends through the program.

Beyond college, Becca aspires to become a lawyer. The field of law she’s most interested in pursuing is intellectual property law, which includes things like copyrights, trademarks, and patents. She hopes copyright law is eventually reformed to be less strict, which would allow more people to create and/or purchase things ranging from music to textbooks. Becca is also interested in serving in a local public office, especially as a member of a school board.

Becca is confident that Ohio State, especially through the PSL Scholars, has helped her work toward attaining these goals. Her freshman year, she managed to secure an internship in Ohio’s state government, which has helped her build connections and gain experience in the legal community. Looking back, Becca is grateful for all the opportunity that has stemmed from that one special on the Common App.

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 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. 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 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. 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

Rocky River Municipal Court / Deputy Clerk

June  2018- PRESENT,  Rocky River

  • Responds to citizens’ complaints and requests for information and services
  • Assists the Clerk’s and Probation Offices in day-to-day tasks, such as computerizing files and preparing tickets for use in court
  • Observes various court proceedings to become familiar with the judicial system

White Oaks / Bus Boy

June 2017- October 2017,  Westlake

  • Set and cleared tables as needed
  • Answered questions about the restaurant’s history
  • Baked and served bread for patrons

Artifacts

[Artifacts are the items you consider to be representative of your academic interests and achievements. For each entry, include both an artifact and a detailed annotation.  An annotation includes both a description of the artifact and a reflection on why it is important to you, what you learned, and what it means for your next steps.  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. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

About Me

Hello,

My name is Shawn and I’m from Westlake, Ohio. At Westlake High School, I was a member of Speech and Debate and Model United Nations. I was also a member of Boy Scout Troop 208, and I’m an Eagle Scout as of this past April.

My current major at OSU is Political Science, but I intend to double major as soon as I decide what my second major ought to be.

I’m currently a member of the Politics, Society, and Law Scholars, which, true to its name, is an organization dedicated to discussing and debating the myriad of issues troubling the world and its peoples. I’m also a member of the Morrill Scholars and the PASS Scholars, both of which are groups formed with the purpose of exploring and expanding diversity and inclusion at OSU.

After I conclude my studies in college, I intend to go to law school. Ultimately, I hope to work in a court of appeals, with a focus on legal work involving civil rights.

Aside from all of that, I’m an avid reader of high fantasy novels (Harry Potter included), and I’m an avid binger of a wide variety of Netflix shows.