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Author: white.2571
Year in Review
The last two years have been an amazing experience. I have grown as a person, made many new friends, and have been able to truly explore my academic passions for the first time. Over the last two years, I have also been able to explore each of the G.O.A.L.S. categories which has enabled me to become a more well rounded student.
- Global Awareness: My course work has help me expand my global awareness. I have consistently chosen general education courses that explore cultures and ideas outside of the United States. My class in world regional geography and history of migration in particular have explored global issues and perspectives. Additionally, I would still like to participate in a study abroad trip if it can fit into my academic schedule. I am especially interested in the environmental science program that travels to Iceland every year in June. I may also be able to travel to Chile with my research group, enabling me to directly experience a different culture.
- Original Inquiry: My research experience at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research center has been one of the cornerstones of my college experience. My lab work has strongly captured my interest while teaching me the difficulties and challenges of the research process. In the future, I plan to really increase the depth of research involvement. By taking research credit, I hope to be able to consistently dedicate more time to research where I can not only conduct lab experiments, but also start putting together some real data analysis. I also hope to participate in a summer research program either at Ohio State, a government lab, or another university.
- Academic Enrichment: I am passionately dedicated to my major coursework. With my honors contract, I have set up a strong, multi-disciplinary degree program that strongly covers meteorology, climatology, geology, and hydrology. These sciences combined with a strong base in fundamental science like physics and biology, allow me to explore my passions for the earth system. At the same time, I am committed to a strong and diverse set of general education courses. I have always loved history and the social sciences, and my choice of honors courses in these areas reflects my interests. With this wider liberal arts base, I can effectively explore and understand the societal influences and implication of earth systems science. These major parts of my education give me a simultaneously broad and deep education that prepares me for both graduate school and a professional career.
- Leadership Development: My club involvement with Meteorology Club, the American Institute of Professional Geologists, and Sigma Gamma Epsilon have helped broaden my college experience by giving the opportunity to meet many professional researchers, forecasters, and consultants. As vice-president of Meteorology Club and secretary of Sigma Gama Epsilon, I have been able to expand my organizational and leadership abilities. Organizing the annual Severe Weather Symposium especially has allowed me to gain connections and develop my ability to communicate and manage teams of people. All three clubs directly contribute to my career and professional knowledge, and I look forward to helping these clubs grow over the next two years.
- Service Engagement: Through Meteorology Club, I have been able to participate in local school and education outreach. I have also volunteered much of my time to help tutor people in both earth and atmospheric science classes. In the future, I hope to further develop the Meteorology Club’s education outreach programs to local schools. I also want to get involved with some local environmental volunteering groups that help maintain parks and spread information about climate change and environmental challenges.
G.O.A.L.S.
Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc .
I have always loved to learn and understand other cultures; the variety of views and practices throughout the world is truly amazing. I plan to take full advantage of the resources offered at Ohio State to learn about other cultures. Specifically, I plan on taking history courses of non-western cultures, I’m already taking cultural anthropology, and I hope to take some global geography courses along with my major. I also want to leave America for the first time by taking part in a study abroad program. I am especially interested in some of the programs that address environmental problems.
Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
I want to try and make research a corner stone of my undergraduate career, especially considering I am required to write a thesis to graduate in Earth Sciences. I am very curious about the thought process behind actual scientific research and want to get real experience to see if I enjoy it. In my research I hope to specifically explore the overlap between atmospheric science and earth systems science. I have already started this process by working in the Integrated Paleo-environmental Laboratory in the Department of Geography.
Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
I hope to explore a highly interdisciplinary field by exploring classes that allow me to gain an understanding of the whole earth system. In terms of Atmospheric Science, I plan on taking a balance of climate and meteorology classes. In Earth Sciences, I plan on taking a strong core of geology classes and then branching out to other related fields such as hydrology, glaciology, ecology, and oceanography. Additionally, I look forward to many of humanities and social science classes. I especially want to take extra history and geography classes if possible. I also want to take a computer science class or two as a supplement to my major.
Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
I hope to develop leadership mainly with research and internship experience. As mentioned above, I want to pursue a unique line of research. I also plan on participating in as many internship experiences as possible including trying to volunteer at the National Weather Service over the summer, applying to the NOAA Hollings Scholarship, applying to NASA Internships, and applying to the School of Earth Sciences summer internship program with Shell. I value student organizations more for social connection and relaxation than leadership development, but I’m involved in the Meteorology Club, the Board Game Club, and I want to join the Photography Club in the future.
Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.
There are several opportunities for service engagement that I would like to explore. For example, I would definitely like to participate in study abroad or Buck-I-Serv programs that deal with environmental conservation or cleanup. More immediately, I want to participate in the Meteorology clubs yearly service trip over spring break.
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
I grew up in Akron Ohio with the Revere School District. I am the youngest of three boys. I grew up split between my mother and father who lived down the street from one another. If I was ever board of one house, I could simply walk to the other. Academics weren’t always my strong suit. Both of my brothers struggled academically, and I was no different. Before high school, my grades were average at best. I wasn’t in any advanced classes, and I took little interest in any subject. I would have rather stayed home and read a book than go to school. Unexpectedly, however, my outlook drastically changed in eighth grade. With the help of a couple fantastic teachers and some personal motivation, I was able to truly excel in my classes for the first time. I even did well in English, my most difficult subject.
Brimming with new confidence, I brashly enrolled in a full honors schedule. The move was unprecedented for someone who had been in more than one remedial class. I was ill-prepared for the transition. Most of my new peers had been in the honors track their whole lives. They were used to heavy workloads, unstructured environments, and challenging subjects. I was surrounded by people more skilled and more knowledgeable. Most of my friends would say junior or senior year is the most difficult year of high school. Freshman year was, by far, my most difficult. I usually got less than five hours of sleep, and rarely involved myself in extracurricular activities. But I ultimately passed.
As my abilities grew, school got easier. Although I had more work every year, I always seemed have more free time. I joined the speech and debate team freshman year, but didn’t do much else outside of school. Come junior year, better time management and a drivers license allowed me to get involved. I joined the science Olympiad team, got accepted into the math club, and helped start a FIRST robotics team. Above all, the experiences and people in these clubs have shaped who I am today. I learned leaderships skills, gained confidence, and developed talents that have pushed me beyond what academics alone could do. I met friends who have changed my perspective and enriched my life. Perhaps most importantly, I developed a passion for science. Science Olympiad especially opened my eyes to fulfillment and excitement that can be found in math and science. Out all my time in high school , I am most proud of what I achieved and learned with the science Olympiad team.
My journey through high school is a story of growth. I hope to continue that story at Ohio State. Despite my best efforts, I didn’t earn a year of straight A’s until I was a senior. That achievement — five years in the making — may seem small compared to the records of many students here, but it means the world to me. It represents persistence in the face of a change. I hope to use that persistence to cement my long held love for the environment, passion for science, and interest in large, complex systems into a degree of atmospheric and earth science. I’m sure my academics will be daunting , and my peer group may completely change. I’ve faced this challenge before, however, and this time I’m prepared.