Author: wilson.3763

My remaining Time as a Buckeye

Vision Statement/Statement of Action

College is a period of extreme change marking the transition between a state of dependence, to one of self-sufficiency. When I arrived at OSU, I was overwhelmed by its enormous size and I felt like a small fish in a big pond, but the abundant resources available to help the new students become successful allowed me to explore my interests and focus my course of study. I have recently completed my second-year as an undergraduate student pursing a degree in Molecular Genetics, with a pre-medical designation. I’ve known that I wanted to work in the medical field from an early age, because I want to make a difference in people’s lives, and I work effectively under high pressure conditions. Ultimately, I want to graduate medical school and practice medicine, although I am not exactly sure what type yet.  I am eager to gain clinical and research experience while I am attending OSU.

With the remaining time that I have left here at OSU I intend to make the most of the resources that the campus in Columbus has to support students. I am extremely excited to join a research team in the fall and gain valuable experience working in a labratory setting. I also want to continue my involvement in extracurricular activities like Helix tri-Beta, and take my leadership in these clubs to a new level. Finally, I will strive to keep my academic rigor high, I am currently adding a minor in Bioethics offered by the College of Medicine, as well as considering a minor in Evolution/Ecology, I am taking classes in both during the next semester and hopefully I will add them both. I plan to graduate in four years on time!

 

Abstract- What to expect in my e-Portfolio

This e-Portfolio has been a valuable tool in documenting significant achievements and milestones throughout my time at Ohio State. It begins with a brief reflection on my high school career, in Northern Virginia, where I was an active member in several honor societies and community service organizations. Then as I transitioned to my new home at The Ohio State University I joined student organizations, such as the Biological science scholars group, Helix tri-Beta, Pre-med club, and crew (a Christian organization), as a means of staying involved in the university and meeting new people. I have also gotten swept away by the magnitude of the Ohio State football team and I love cheering them on from the stands every home game! As my academic career has progressed I switched from a general biology major to become more specialized molecular genetics major, and the classes are incredibly interesting and align well with my goal to pursue a career in medicine. As an Ohio State student I have been encouraged to reach outside of my comfort zone, I have been actively seeking leadership roles, for example, running and winning the president position of Helix tri-Beta honorary, as well as completing a leadership STEP project this coming summer. I still have two more years of undergraduate studies left, and I cannot wait to see what amazing opportunities are still to come.

Helix Tri-Beta Presidency

Ohio State has a plethora of student organizations, that allow students to be active with their diverse interests. I am extremely focused on my academic advancement, so an honorary was the perfect fit for me. I applied, interviewed, and was inducted into Helix Tri-Beta at the start of the autumn semester in my second year at OSU. Helix is the biological sciences honorary for The Ohio State University, and I have come to admire and cherish their hardworking and inviting community of dedicated students and faculty. Since joining the honorary a year ago, I have made many friends and had opportunities to prove myself and my leadership capabilities. Through the honorary, as an active member, I was able to engage in networking events, community outreach, and next generation recruitment efforts.

As of this last election, I am the president-elect of the honorary, so my term as president is for the 2020-2021 school year, when I am a senior. For the upcoming year I am the president elect, so I will be working closely with the current president and learning how to best lead the organization. Upon reaching presidency, I with strive to uphold the honorary’s core values, to further the interest in biological sciences among students, and provide both assistance and resources for the scholarly students and faculty members who work to make advancements in the field of biological sciences here at The Ohio State University.

Second Year Transformational Experience Program (STEP)

At the end of my freshman year, I began the process of choosing a STEP cohort, which was the group of students that I then met with once a week, every week, during the first semester of my sophomore year. We were lead by an experienced faculty member who helped us develop our projects. My independent project fell under the category of leadership. For my project, I am taking a phlebotomy class during the summer of 2019 to learn the proper way to safely draw blood, and furthermore, to enhance my exposure to the medical field. This experience will be incredibly valuable, because at the end of the course, there is a 40 hour externship that allows me to be in a hospital or clinic, getting patient exposure. This project will allow me to grow in my career field, without the financial burden, as OSU has funded this project. The process of writing the grant proposal was extremely involved, as the size of the grant lead to a severe vetting process. However, I am grateful for the experience, as I hope to one day be writing research grant proposals.

I have included my abstract below as well as a link to my full proposal.

Project Abstract:

The STEP project that I intend to complete falls under the category of leadership, and includes participating in a phlebotomy certification course. The course has a seven-week program offered by the Ohio School of Phlebotomy beginning June 17th , 2019 and concluding August 5th, 2019. Through this program, I will be exposed to clinical techniques in a highly structured setting with a 40-hour externship during the final week. The capstone of my project will be my sitting for the Phlebotomy Certification Exam, which will permit me to practice phlebotomy and related practices in a professional setting. This experience will be transformative in that I currently have an aversion to working around blood, but my desired career path is to be a medical professional practicing emergency medicine, so the process will be a means of easing a transition and ensuring that I am prepared for and accustomed to the environment in which I want to work, well before I reach that point in my career. This opportunity will greatly enhance my experience as an Ohio State student by allowing me to explore my interests outside of the classroom, and the skills I gain from this will only further assist me as I continue to learn and grow in my undergraduate course study in biological sciences with a pre-medicine designation.

STEP Signature Project- Wison.3763

Summer 2018 Summer Administrative Internship at Beacon Roofing Supply

During the summer, I had the opportunity to work as an administrative intern at Beacon Roofing Supply’s corporate headquarters in Herndon Virginia. My daily duties included filing expense reports, coordinating travel, and prepping meeting materials for several of the executive officers of the company. I worked closely with the executive admin team to learn the inter-workings of the office. This was my first full time job, and I believe the experience I gained from it was invaluable. I thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with coworkers as well as working on independent projects for the company.

In addition to the day to day tasks that I performed, I was also assigned several different, special projects which spanned across multiple areas, including the accounting, supply chain management, and finance departments. Within the accounting department, I assisted with the filing of the state and federal taxes for Beacon. There was a lot of very detailed work that went into meticulously ensuring that each tax form and record was filled out accurately and in full. I was surprised to see that several states still require the taxes to be filed via paper rather than electronically. Separately, I worked very closely with the Chief Supply Chain Officer to coordinate a meeting, which I then contributed to as an active team member. This was my first time participating in a large meeting, and I was able to share my ideas, which was an incredible opportunity. Finally, my most involved project was in accordance with the Directors of Finance. For that project, I compiled a comprehensive list of investors and contacts with arrays of their respective information in preparation for the annual investor day.

Although my intended career path does not include working in a corporate office, I believe that the experience was still valuable, and the plethora of soft and hard skills that I learned are transmittable to any career field. It is important to be able to work with and assist your team, as well as to understand how to direct your own work as a member of a multifaceted and complex system of working peers.

Semester in Review

This past semester has been a transition from the very supported high school environment to a very independent situation. College is the first time for so many things and you are facing them on your own. I’ve been told that the first semester is the most difficult because of how independent you have to be. There are no parents reminding you to do your homework and no teachers constantly emphasizing the deadlines for things.

This past semester I was enrolled in five classes, chemistry, physics, french, and two freshman seminar classes. It was difficult at first finding a balance between the classes, but after the initial weeks I was able to find a study pattern that worked effectively for me. The most challenging class this semester was general chemistry, because unlike a high school class where the majority of the material covered in a class college courses require a lot more work outside of class. From this first semester I solidified study skills that will be useful in the coming semesters as well.

College extends far beyond the academic sphere. Especially since I live in a dorm, there is very little separation between school and home life. In addition to simply living in a dorm, I am also a part of the Biological Sciences Scholars, so I live with other students with similar interests as me. It was much easier to make friends and find study partners because of the scholars events and service opportunities. The community that I built with my dormmates  made the transition from living with family easier.

There are so many unique opportunities offered to students at OSU that I am just beginning to get involved. I have joined the Pre-Med club and Cru. Pre- Med club is designed to engage students on the pre-med track in service and present talks from current med students and doctors. Cru, short for campus crusaders is a Christian organization designed to be a community on campus. I look forward to getting involved with USG, the student government next semester.

In the coming semester I look forward to new challenges with a more rigorous class schedule. Hopefully I’ll find more clubs to be involved with too!

H&S Tailgate

Although the Honors and Scholars program is designed to facilitate academic endeavors we are also concerned with community building, which entails interaction outside of the academic sphere. Some of the events hosted by the Biological Sciences Scholars are study sessions, volunteer opportunities, and social events. Buckeye football is a staple at The Ohio State University and it commands Saturdays in the fall. The scholars had a tailgate before the game against UNLV at home. We got together and played Buckeye trivia and corn hole! We also had a great pancake breakfast! It was an excellent way to start the game day! The Buckeyes won 21-54 that week! GO BUCKS!

This event reminded us to couple the rigorous academic agenda with some fun events in order to maintain a balanced schedule. Those who work together should also have fun together!

G.O.A.L.S

Ohio State is known as a city within a city, Columbus, which provides unique opportunities, but also encompasses 60 thousand students. When I was applying to The Ohio State University the large student body was daunting. The idea of becoming “just a number” in a 500 person general chemistry class caused me anxiety at first. However there are numerous resources that the university offers to make the large school feel small. One of the most influential programs that I am involved in is the Honors and Scholars program. I am part of the Biological Sciences Scholar community and it has afforded me so many unique challenges and opportunities throughout my time at OSU thus far. Through the program I have had the opportunity to live amongst peers with similar interests, which provides a great support system as I begin my time at OSU. The H&S program also helps provide structure to outline my future plans as they align with the H&S G.O.A.L.S. These goals include involvement with Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement, that will produce a well rounded person by graduation. My specific goals are outlined below:

Global Awareness: I grew up right on the outskirts of Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, and a center for domestic and international affairs. I have been exposed to a wide variety of cultures and this has allowed me to cultivate and develop an appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. However, I plan to continue to explore diversity by taking classes that are centered on cultural diversity and comparison between different parts of the world.

Original Inquiry: Since my future goal is to do genetic research as a career after Medical school, understanding the research process by engaging in the opportunities OSU has available is very important. Research begins with effective in class participation, and extends beyond. Many of the faculty at OSU are engaged in research themselves and are usually willing to discuss it with you. Professors are always looking for students to work in their labs and these are great opportunities to work with incredible mentors. Also there is the Wexner Medical Center and the James Cancer Research Center on campus, both offering volunteer positions.

Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom. Being a scholar has allowed me to immerse myself in my studies. I am surrounded by like-minded peers who are willing to engage in collaborative thinking to improve the learning experience for everyone. My short term goal is to earn a high GPA and become an honors student in addition to a Biological Science Scholar. The academic aspect is not the only important factor, but since my goal is to go to medical school following the completion of undergraduate studies my academics are of paramount importance.

Leadership Development: In the medical field it is incredibly important to hone leadership and communication skills. I have never been an outgoing person, however I understand the value in becoming involved in leadership positions. I am in many clubs this year as a freshman and when I am an upperclassman I will apply to be on the leadership boards to become even more deeply involved.

Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community, and through the program there are many science related opportunities offered. I have joined OSU’s Circle K club, which is the collegiate level of a club that I was actively involved in throughout high school, called Key club. We perform a wide variety of service in the community that can be tailored to fit my specific interests. I have also applied to be a volunteer at the Medical Center on campus, and unfortunately I was not assigned for the fall semester, but I will apply for the spring as well.

 

Chantilly High School Alumni

The time I spent at Chantilly High School was some of the best of my life. During the four years I explored the academic field that I would eventually pursue at OSU, I got involved with extracurriculars that expressed my broad interests, and I formed lifelong relationships. As a driven high school student I learned how to balance work and leisure time effectively. As I recently entered my first semester of college I’ve realized that Chantilly was a valuable stepping stone in my academic career.

Chantilly High School in Fairfax, Virginia offered a wide variety of AP courses as well as unique elective classes. Throughout high school I took a total of nine AP classes that better prepared me for the rigor of college.I graduated as an AP scholar, because of my dedication to high achievement in AP courses. As a senior I was able to take an elective course in Genetics and Biotechnology that allowed me to recognize that I have a passion for genetics. The course load in my later years of high school was heavily science related, but all of my classes were interesting and I was motivated to work diligently because I was interested in the subject. In addition to classes there were also several nationally recognized honor societies that I was a part of. In total I was in five honor societies, National, Latin, English, Tri-Music, and Science. These allowed me to engage with my peers outside of class in an academic setting, as well as providing additional motivation to maintain a high grade point average.

Although the honor societies required community service involvement, I became most involved with key club, which is a national service organization dedicated to facilitating high schoolers in their desire to serve the community. Circle K is the college equivalent of Key club, and I have already joined at OSU. Another extracurricular that I was very passionate about is that I played cello in the philharmonic orchestra, playing the cello was a great way to alleviate stress, while also engaging in the Chantilly community. Although I decided not to continue playing the cello in an organized setting at Ohio State I still thoroughly enjoy playing for fun occasionally. Outside of school I was part of the Cardinal Cloggers dance team and regularly swing danced with Gottaswing. Through my dance team I was also able to do community service by performing in nursing homes and at community events. It was also through dance that I became involved with Chicago Honor Flight, an organization that provided aid and financial assistance to WWII, Korean, and Vietnam war veterans who want to travel to Washington D.C. to visit the monuments and memorials. Over the summer I was a guardian to a veteran and I guided them around D.C. for the day. Growing up outside of the Nation’s capital I took it for granted, but it was excellent to be able to assist our veterans in visiting the monuments.

The Chantilly community extended far beyond the school walls, and I was able to make some of my best friends in high school. My peers and I would meet for study sessions and projects. Collaborative work was highly encouraged and I learned the value of group discussion. Living in a dorm this year is very conducive to group study, for example we have scholar study sessions in the lobby of our dorm. The people who are in classes with me have become some of my closest friends and we spend a lot of time doing school work and social events. The Chantilly community is very similar to the buckeye community, and I am incredibly glad to be a part of both!

I loved being a Charger, but I am even more excited to be a Buckeye!