Overall, I feel that my second year at OSU was very productive both inside and outside of the classroom. I was very busy not only with classes, but also with my second year project for my scholars program, International Affairs. For my project, I participated in a mentoring program for refugees and had an amazing experience. In the classroom, I feel that I’ve been able to expand my knowledge and outlook on many different issues. Because of this, I feel that I have grown as a student and a citizen. Now, more than ever, I feel focused and prepared to take on my goal of becoming an international social worker and I couldn’t have asked for more from the year.
Second Year International Affairs Project
For my second year project for my scholars group, I decided to volunteer for the local non-profit Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS). I was a mentor through their community mentoring program. For this program, I was paired with a family of Somali refugees and acted as a mentor for them for around six months. Each week I would go to their house for hour long meetings. I would help the kids with their homework if they needed it and other times we would practice their English pronunciations. Overall, it was an amazing experience. I feel that I learned a lot about the refugee experience and Somali culture. I also feel that I gained valuable experience that will aid as I pursue a career in international social work.
The Problem with Inspirational Narratives
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This spring semester, I took an English writing class that focused on the disability experience in the U.S. One of the topics we discussed is how inspirational narratives that center around disability can often be problematic. For this assignment, we had to locate an inspirational artifact and analyze it and its messages. I decided to do my analysis on a newspaper article telling the story of a recent autistic high school graduate. In my analysis, I concluded that the article offered an honest portrayal of autism that details techniques used to lessen the challenges that come with autism, describes a supportive community, and offers a platform for the individual to share his voice.
Sex, Drugs, and HIV
During fall semester, I took a social work course on AIDS. In this class, we had to read the book Wisdom of Whores:Bureaucrats, Brothels, and the Business of AIDS. After reading the book, we then had to write a paper reflecting on the topics addressed in the book including raising awareness, barriers faced in research, and the complexities of human behavior.
Everything’s a Remix
In the fall semester, I took an English course on popular culture. In this class, we had to write five application papers where we related topics discussed in class to popular culture texts outside of class. For my final paper, I decided to write about a documentary we watched called Everything’s a Remix and relate it to the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. In this paper, I discuss the ways Disney movies display the basic elements of remix culture.
Freshman Year
My first year at Ohio State went by astonishingly fast and has served as an incredible learning experience. Over the course of the year, I have crossed paths with amazing faculty, as well as other students, who helped to make the transition from high school to college a smooth and easy one. Personally, I feel I have matured greatly over the past year due to the experiences I have had at college. The best part is that I feel confident about my major choice and am excited to move forward in my studies.
Intersectionality Self Reflection
This paper was written for my Minority Perspectives class. The assignment was to create a multiple identities diagram, and then use that diagram to explore the concept of intersectionality in our own lives. The concept of intersectionality analyzes the various ways minority statuses are connected and effect each other. In class, we also learned how the ways these statuses interconnect effect out perceptions. For example, a white woman will experience a situation differently and have a different outlook than a black woman would, because that black woman experiences both sexism and racism. The majority of the class revolved around this idea of intersectionality. With every discussion we seemed to be able to tie it back to intersectionality. By applying this concept to my own life, it made it easier to identify the concept when it related to other examples. I often found this concept applicable in discussions in my other classes, as well as in daily life. By understanding this term, one can then understand those around him or her as well as the ways different systems of oppression effect and relate to one another.
Veteran’s Mental Health Policies
This presentation was a group project I was assigned in my Introduction to Social Welfare class. The presentation was made using PowerPoint with the help of two other group members over the course of the semester. The assignment was to explore a U.S. policy and a specific population effected by that policy. After receiving the broad category of mental health in the U.S., my group decided to focus on veteran’s mental health policy. We focused particularly on the newest enacted policy: Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014. After researching, we discovered various ways this policy failed to serve U.S. veterans. For example, because the system is so backup, veterans can go years and years without receiving care for mental disabilities resulting for combat. As a social work major and future social worker, it will one day be my job to advocate for my patients within the legal system. This assignment was great practice for the future when it will be my job to research and be aware of policies that effect my patients.
India After Colonialism
“India after Colonialism” was the title and subject of a presentation I made for my Comparative Studies class. The assignment was to create a presentation relating to the book A Passage to India. Many of the discussions we had in this class related to colonialism and its effects on native people. Likewise, the novel A Passage to India focused on colonialism in India, which is why I choose to research the effects colonialism had on India after the country gained independence. After researching, I was shocked to see the numerous way colonialism still effects India today. For example, before the British crown took control over India, the Indian economy was the second largest in the world. Under British rule, Indians were forced to buy goods from Britain instead of domestically, causing India’s economy to plummet. In a way, India is the poster child for the long lasting and damaging effects colonialism can have on host societies. This is why I feel that it’s important to realize the effects past injustices had on societies and how those past injustices play a role in present day societies. By doing this, one gains empathy and understanding about the way those societies function today in the wake of colonialism.
UN Millennium Goal #1 Presentation
This presentation looked in depth at the UN’s first millennium goal, which was to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty by 2015. The presentation not only explained details of the goal, but why the goal was important. My group then applied this goal to the regions of Latin American and the Caribbean. We explored the causes of extreme hunger and poverty in these regions and causes around the world and how the UN planned to combat these causes. Finally, we looked at the progress that has been made towards eradicating extreme hunger and poverty. Researching and presenting our findings to the class was necessary so the class could understand and learn more about the millennium goals as a whole. Understanding the goals is important because the new UN goals are currently being set, and it is important to understand and be aware of what is going on in the world.