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.

Global Awareness:
To me, the purpose of Global Awareness should be understand how the various cultures around the world are connected and how they work together. Therefor, in order to achieve this GOAL, I would like to be able to go on a study abroad trip, preferably to a Spanish-speaking country, in order to experience another culture first-hand. However, I can also partially achieve this by taking classes here in Columbus, such as a Spanish cultural class, that also educates me on the culture, as well as Political Science classes that can help me understand how people organize around the world. It is also important, though, once you have learned about these cultures, to see how you can purposely make a difference as a world citizen. One way that I could potentially do this would be by going on a trip with an environmental club to help build infrastructure around the world.

Original Inquiry:
In terms of Original Inquiry, I will most likely, at some point, look for a research position in either Astronomy or in Physics, and in fact already did research last summer. To expand this Inquiry, though, I also would like to have the opportunity to present projects at conferences, either local or those which I would have to travel to. Another way to expand this inquiry as well would be to complete an Honors thesis, perhaps even on a topic outside of, or not strictly within, my area of discipline.

Academic Enrichment:
My Academic Plan and Honors Contract are both things that will require me to set aside time to focus and make a relatively solid plan for what I would like to achieve during my time at Ohio State. Even with my majors chosen, I will still need to decide which routes I would like to go with those majors (e.g., would I like to go to grad. school after I receive my B.S.?). With my Academic Plan, I will need to really look into what classes within and outside of my majors will set me up for success on whatever route I decide to take. However, outside of my program of study, I will also need to decide what types of courses will best suit me, while also filling G.E. requirements. In my case, one of the most exciting classes that I have found for this purpose is PoliSci 4212: From Dictatorship in Democracy in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. For me, along with satisfying requirements, this class fits with topics I am interested in learning more about outside of my major area. In general, with the Honors program requiring upper-level classes, one is much more likely to chose classes that will be more engaging to the individual so that they do not have to suffer through a 4000 level policy class that they couldn’t care less about.

Leadership Development:
When it comes to leadership, I would primarily like to pursue this GOAL through Student Organizations. I have already started on this in a sense by having been an active member in 5 student organizations during my first semester at OSU. Also, partially though these organizations, I have taken on organizing roles for rallies centered around social, economic, and political change. In addition to student organizations, however, I would also argue that there is much Leadership experience that can be gained through research positions, where you have to learn how to self-direct your work on a project, and know where you will need assistance from others.
It also is a goal of mine, at some point during my time at OSU, to get a job as a tutor in either Physics or Math, or as an IA for Astronomy, which would both require the development of skills as a leader.

Service Engagement:
The main way that i would like to engage in service is to do work in conservation either directly, though university environmental organizations, or more indirectly, through political activism. The direct way is relatively simpler, as it only requires reaching out to one of the various organizations that do conservation projects, such as Buckeye FOSL (which I am apart of), who would be happy to take on volunteers. However, the indirect method of pushing for change through political activism is much more inline with some of my other GOAL plans, along with my interests. In fact, I have already connected with various groups on-campus and off- that are building structures and coalitions to push for this change.

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.]

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 is a reflective description of the artifact that attempts to communicate its significance.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

About Me

[Your “About Me” is an introduction and should provide insight into who you are as a person and a learner.  This should include a picture of you that is appropriate in a professional/academic context. This information should be continually updated.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio.  Delete these instructions and add your own post.]