Year in Review-My Second Year at Ohio State

My second-year at Ohio State is coming to an end, and I am feeling a mix of awestruck, excitement, and nerves as I head into summer. I have learned a lot throughout my first two years at Ohio State, but I have significantly grown over the last year as a student, friend, classmate, and leader. I can confidently pinpoint areas of experience and growth within each of the five G.O.A.L.S., outlined by the Honors and Scholars program.

I am continuing to develop my global awareness through coursework and the desire to attend a MedLife service trip this coming December. I took sociology 1101H during the second semester of my freshman year, which sparked a desire to take further coursework in areas of psychology and sociology, so that I can better achieve global awareness. As stated in my contract, I plan to take compstd 3645 and sociol 5450 to build on the foundations that I learned in sociology 1101H. I am also planning to use money from my summer savings to attend a MedLife service trip this December. I anticipate that a trip such as this will encourage global awareness through serving the underserved in a foreign country alongside other Ohio State students.

I have been actively pursuing exposure and first-hand experience to research throughout my second-year at Ohio State that has allowed me to enhance my skills involving original inquiry. I was enrolled in biochem 2900H last semester, and this semester, I had the privilege of working alongside graduate students in the Ottesen Laboratory through enrollment in biochem 2998H. This opportunity allowed me to showcase my work in the form of a research poster, which I created and presented at the undergraduate biochemistry research forum on April 20th. Research has developed my original inquiry and has improved my problem-solving skills as I encountered several roadblocks throughout my research project. In order to continue furthering original inquiry, I plan to return to the Ottesen Laboratory in the fall and I hope to present research on a different project at the 2019 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum.

To pursue academic enrichment, I have outlined a heavy course-load throughout the rest of my time at Ohio State with courses in various disciplines. I am continuing to pursue my degree in biochemistry after enjoying my time in a biochemistry lab as well as learning the fundamentals of biochemistry in biochem 5613, however I plan to utilize my GE courses as opportunities to learn material outside of the sciences.

In addition, I have assumed leadership roles within several student organizations on campus. Last semester, I helped found the Women in Surgery Empowerment Club and I was elected to be the service chair. In this role, I provide numerous volunteering opportunities for our members, and I collaborate with Moms2B at the Wexner Medical Center to facilitate members from our organization as volunteers on the Mid-Ohio food bank days once a month. I am also the current director of Buckeye Tutor Team, a service arm of AED which provides student tutors for the patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. In this role, I work closely with the staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and manage the day-to-day operations by communicating with students and maintaining attendance records. Both of these leadership roles have grown me as a leader in my communication and organization skills, and have provided me with opportunities in two different student organizations.

Lastly, I have pursued service engagement throughout my second-year by volunteering with College Mentors for Kids, Moms2B, and at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Each week, I volunteered an average of 4 hours a week between the 2 hour shift at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the 2 hr shift with College Mentors for Kids. Once a month, I volunteered at the Moms2B mid Ohio food bank days with the Women in Surgery Empowerment Club. I have been able to serve many different populations of Columbus through these opportunities, and volunteering with all of these organizations has enhanced my service engagement. I will continue taking part in these organizations in the coming years to foster relationships with the kids from College Mentors for Kids, the patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the mothers with Moms2B.

In conclusion, I have enjoyed my sophomore year at Ohio State and it has been a joy of mine to grow in all of the areas within G.O.A.L.S.

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