Global Awareness:

My very first semester at OSU I was a part of the London Honors Study abroad trip. In the fall semester I took a course that covered many diverse topics from the history to pop culture and London. Then for 10 days over winter break the class traveled to London. I fell in love with city and the culture in London. It was the first time I had been in a place where at any given time there were people speaking five different languages surrounding me. This trip was the first time I had ever been out of the country and I can not wait to travel more. I was a part of the STEP program this year at OSU, and I plan on using my funds to do research abroad for a summer. I am excited to have the opportunity to not only conduct research that I am very passionate about, but immerse myself in another country and culture for an extended period of time.

Original Inquiry:

I have been volunteering in the lab of Dr. Brandon Biesiadecki since late Spring 2017. In this short time I feel that I have learned a lot about the research process. This summer I am staying in Columbus to work on a research project that I am very excited about. We have spent a lot of time this fall building my background knowledge for the project that I will be completing. It has been very exciting and rewarding as I begin to truly understand what I am doing in the lab, and not just know I am adding this chemical to this chemical because that is what the procedure is telling me to do. This summer I will be doing research full time and I expect that I will be learning a lot from this experience, and hopefully will generate some useful data. After undergrad I plan on going on to graduate school to obtain my Ph. D. in Neuroscience. I am very passionate about science and original inquiry and hope to be able to make a career out of it.

Academic enrichment:

I am majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Biochemistry. I chose Neuroscience, because I find the study of the brain and the research involving it to be very interesting. I want to pursue a Ph. D. in Neuroscience, so my undergraduate major is supplying me with an excellent background. After taking Biochemistry 4511 I decided I wanted to minor in Biochemistry because I felt it would greatly enrich my education. Biochemistry has given me a deeper understanding of a lot of neurological concepts I have covered in my Neuroscience courses, such as the biochemical mechanisms that cause Alzhiemers. Biochemistry has also helped me to have a better understanding and appreciation of how many of the methods I use in the laboratory actually work. When picking GE’s I wanted to focus on picking classes that interested me and were completely different from my academic path. I think it is important to have a well rounded education, even if it is just a basic understanding of certain topics from GE courses.

Leadership Development

I have been involved with Buckeyes Raising Awareness In Neuroscience since my first semester at OSU. This year I was treasurer for the club and I was re-elected to be treasurer again. This year we held our 2nd annual run/walk for brain injury awareness, which as treasurer helped to organize and run. I have also organized several fundraisers throughout the year to raise funds for I am excited to continue my involvement in the club next year and have a lot of ideas to bring to the club next year. I have learned a lot about what it means to be an effective

leader through my involvement with BRAIN, through my own leadership involvement as well as observing the style of others. A personal goal I had for myself for college was to become more confident, my leadership position in BRAIN has helped me to find confidence.

Service Engagement

I have volunteered through BRAIN and Nu Rho Psi at various events. These have included Dodd Brain and Spine Hospital, at events put on by The Epilepsy foundation, making crafts with Kind Carts, and other various one time events. Next year BRAIN is looking to get a more steady volunteer basis with Dodd Hall, so I plan on being involved with that. I also am looking to begin volunteering with Moms2B at the Wexner this summer, and as a tutor with the Boys and Girls Club this upcoming fall.