Wow, what a year. Sophomore year has brought on so many different challenges and successes that I could have never expected. Starting with the fall semester I found a research lab that I am truly passionate about. I am a member of the Sizemore lab, which investigates the growth factor receptor beta, PDGFRβ, which is believed to initiate breast cancer brain metastasis. For the first time in my life I was able to apply information that I worked so hard to learn in high level science courses to real life research. It was a very fulfilling experience and allowed me to appreciate the things I am learning so much more. Also during the fall semester I joined Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity at Ohio State. Service has always been one of my greatest passions so finding a group of people with similar interests that I can volunteer with was life changing. Some of my favorite events that I volunteered for included the Down Syndrome Gala where I helped with the silent auction, wheel chair basketball where I helped set up concessions and played basketball with people with disabilities, and the Columbus Women’s Respite Center which helps women who are victims of human trafficking get food, health check ups, and resources to help them out of their terrible situation where I helped to organize and distribute clothing. All of these volunteer events have really allowed me to learn about so many different populations of people. I have been touched in so many different ways by APO and I can’t wait to grow as a leader and person within the organization for years to come. Overall, I had a really great first semester of sophomore year and alot of personal and professional growth happened during the time.
The second semester of sophomore also started out really great, I continued to volunteer with APO and have gave myself the goal of taking on a leadership role in the upcoming year within the fraternity. I also continued to learn more scientific technique and information about Breast cancer brain metastasis and more. With the closing of Ohio State and the rapid initiation of online classes with the onset of COVID-19, I started to face some challenges with focusing and concentrating on school work as my whole family was also working remotely. I learned just how important it is to stick to a morning routine and more importantly properly plan my day. If it weren’t for my planner I wouldn’t be able to keep track of the assignments and studying. Around the mid April I went back to Greenfields, a local nursing home a rehab center and my passion for the elderly and helping others was reignited. Even though working through a pandemic in one of the most susceptible places has come with a lot of challenges it has taught me so much about medicine and my life professionally and personally. I have grown so much from this pandemic and although I wish it would have never happened I learned to make the most of the situation and continued to help those in dire need of mental and physical support.