This was an interesting year. Call it what you want, but you can’t call it boring. I have learned to expect the unexpected. All of my classes were online, which has brought new, unique challenges. I have now taken 3 Spanish exams and written 2 compositions (in Spanish) in the dark while my roommate slept.

I have joined a research team. We work under Dr. Bill Maher and Dr. Teresa Long to create weekly summaries for the Ohio Department of Health’s COVID-19 response. Specifically, we focus on vaccine development, attitudes towards vaccination, and outbreak reports. These summaries have been published. It has been a cool way to use my knowledge of Economics in a real-life scenario, and I feel like my research is important and relevant.

Over winter break I worked for a law firm in Cincinnati called Bartlett & Weigle Co, L.P.A. I worked on projects involving Spanish-speaking clients dealing with issues pertaining to personal injury law and seeking protection in the form of U visas. I was very excited to be able to use my Spanish skills in an environment where they were truly valued.

I have begun working as a tutor for Ohio State’s Economics Learning Center. It is fun to revisit intro classes and see what I do and don’t remember. It is surprising how quickly I have forgotten basic fundamentals. It is almost as if the students I am tutoring are teaching me more than I am teaching them. I hope my boss is not reading this.

Finally, I am really happy with the work that is being done by the Eminence student org that I co-founded, Cultivate Columbus. We created educational materials that were distributed to over 7,000 Columbus City Schools teachers. We have partnered with another student org, Pass the Class, to utilize their $30,000 grant to create a community garden focused on sustainability at Franklin Manor. We have two other gardens that we are in the process of creating.

I am not sure what exactly I will be doing this summer. I have tentatively decided that I might not want to go to law school anymore. I might want to do something more business-y. I am taking a CSE class this semester involving Microsoft Excel and Access, and I actually really enjoy it. I might do my Capital Program concentration in Computer Science & Engineering. Stay tuned. I’ll keep you updated.

My first year as an Eminence Fellow at tOSU was a year of growth. I came into college as an Industrial and Systems Engineering and Business double major. I decided that this was not for me the second I saw that I would be taking Calculus 3, Chemistry, and Physics during my first semester. I took some time to reflect and reconsider what I value from my education. I know that I want to be studying subjects that I am truly passionate about. I thought what classes did I really enjoy in high school? Like, actually look forward to the time I spent in class and complete my assignments with zeal? I thought long and hard and realized that there were two subjects that fit the bill: Economics and Spanish. I knew that I did not want to be a business major, though. Thankfully, the Economics major at Ohio State is offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, so I am able to learn about Economics through a wide-scope lens. I am also be a Spanish minor. I can choose to go to law school after graduation or go get my MBA or do whatever the heck I want to! This year I completed my first internship, earning valuable experience as a Law Clerk for the Legal Aid Society of Columbus on both their benefits and education legal teams. I joined Greek life. I survived Bradley Hall without A/C. I have a lot to be proud of. I also have a lot to look forward to. Go Bucks.

G