Like Riding a Bike

I have never successfully ridden a bike without training wheels. I grew up in a rural area with vast changes in landscape from hills to mountains of trees and a gravel road with no sidewalks in the outskirts of town near me and I was never taught how to ride a bike. This may seem like an obsolete skill but has proven to be the foundation of many other childhoods and quite a difference for not knowing how. For my spring project I plan to enlist the help of friends who currently jest of my odd upbringing to teach me how to ride a bike and the newly popular scooters seen around campus. This time dedicated to learning new things with friends will not only aid in my own inquiry of trying to branch out of my comfort zone but bring us all closer in what may be a trying test of patience. I also learned of a very interesting study abroad trip that seemed so amazing until I saw the daunting bike tour in each city. I knew then that it was finally time to broaden my physical horizons to reach new academic ones with such unique opportunities. As I learn how to ride a bike I plan to see the importance of them throughout many cities as I keep track of my progress and what I will ultimately be working towards, seeing the world with a new set of eyes and wheels.

Columbus To Do List

Columbus To Do List

~Nature and Outdoor Recreation~

 

        I chose the nature and Outdoor recreation to give myself a chance to escape from schoolwork with still having a purpose, this also gave me the opportunity to explore many fun places with my friends, that I’d heard about in Columbus. In this time I have visited places such as the Topiary Park in the discovery district, Schiller Park in German Village, the Scioto Mile Greenways, one of Clintonville’s Ravines and its Park of Roses.

       Visiting the Topiary Park modeled after the “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” painting by Georges Seurat, i was inspired by the drastic landscape difference from just the city and the change in section from buildings to an open figural voided area. This related many of the things we have been learning in class to something I previously wouldn’t have noted and can enjoy something like this even more with many other perspectives and understandings.

        I visited Schiller Park with Justin Hamilton after briefly seeing it in our Explore Columbus class. We both wanted to spend more time wandering the site and wondering why the house there paid millions for such a view. It was quite beautiful and we understood the desire for the prestigious location even with so much history behind the park and relating back to German Village’s unique character.

         The Scioto Mile Greenways are a defining characteristic of the Scioto Mile River and a great start to greening the city. I have visited multiple times now as you come across the green landscape throughout many parts of Columbus and crossing into Franklinton. The many different ideas of a very manicured landscape and even structured water park areas contrast with other landscapes around the rivers in Columbus such as the Olentangy area which is unruly and seems overgrown and unkempt despite it being very well planned out.

        The ravine in Clintonville was accidentally discovered after asking for directions and heading in the wrong direction. Clark, Doug, Tori, Tyler, Calvin and I got on a bus and headed out not knowing exactly where to go and quickly made a friend on the bus to figure out where to go, which was the smart move. After wandering around and getting food at the famous Hot Chicken Takeover, we ventured out down an unmarked road and found signs for the ravine. We decided to take a spontaneous photo shoot, my idea after climbing trees and finding a gnarled tree right along the edge of the water. I climbed into the frigid water and bravely hung on to a tree to give my friends the Instagram photos they deserve. We also caught a glimpse of the wildlife with deer roaming the area.

      Lastly, the Park of Roses was in Clintonville, and was certainly a sight to behold, and very romantic for ceremonies that mostly would be held there, we didn’t spend as much time here but it was still nice to see another manicured landscape full of more color.

       Overall, this project allowed us as a group of friends to explore the city in many different ways and from all perspectives as we had different lists to experience a bit of everything Columbus has to offer.

Columbus To Do List

I have chosen the Parks theme for my to do list. I was intrigued by this choice as I’m an avid lover of walks in the park on chilly days such as the ones before us now in October. Along with being an outdoor enthusiast, this appealed to my inner child as well, since some of the Parks around the city have moments specifically for young children, but these moments can bring out the child in anyone, and I wish to see what each of these parks has in store through different perspectives and their own unique landscapes. I wish to feel separated from the big city of Columbus when exploring these parks and allow myself to be lost in the landscape. I hope to learn how these different organizations and park types can transform spaces and how you feel in them. This ideal will ultimately influence my own work in studio and classes when I can relate how certain aspects change the way you feel in different environments. So far, I have visited the Topiary Park in the discovery district near the Columbus Metropolitan Library. The Topiary Park transports you right into the painting, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” by Georges Seurat. The topiaries are shaped into each figure in the painting and the park even has a small water feature represented in the painting. The park creates a feeling of wonder and sparks the imagination with beautiful color and creative use of the shrubbery.

A Bit of Advice

 

“Forever trusting who we are, and nothing else matters.”

        My mentor is Becca Finkes, she is from Westchester, Ohio and has wanted to be an architect from the age of seven.When she was twelve she was awestruck by The Ohio State University’s campus and fell in love while attending a Metallica Concert with her mother. This worked out perfectly when she grew older and OSU was known for their Architecture Program in the Knowlton School. She joined the Arch Scholars program her freshman year and joined Servitecture for a trip to Milwaukee to aid Habitat for Humanity. The close community from these groups helped Becca thrive and make new friends on campus, involvement is important for these aspects. After her first semester on campus, she made a drastic change to her major by switching to City and Regional Planning. One class of this course changed her outlook and she fell in love with with the major. Now she works with real clients such as leaders in different communities like Linden and German Village here in Columbus. As a group, the CRP students imagine how the city can be redone to sustain itself for the next 50 years as Columbus grows while keeping its historic character.

My mentor and I talked for over an hour getting lost in conversation of how impactful and different this first year is, she gave me many tips on life in my major and even exploring minors early on like CRP which I am now even more interested in. I also can’t wait to really get involved with my own scholars community and other groups on campus. Our mentors are the perfect relatable resource for us and I plan to stay in contact with Becca. Overall, the best advice is to get involved while being yourself and trusting your own decisions.

A New Beginning

My name is Liliana Yocum, I’m a first year architecture student at the Ohio State University, and I’m honored to be a Knowlton Scholar.

I’m from Neffs, Ohio, a small town near Wheeling, West Virginia. I attended Bellaire High School, where I graduated valedictorian of a class with less than 50 students. In high school, I made the most with limited resources and opportunities, I was editor of my school’s yearbook, a varsity cheerleader, and a thespian with many other talented actors and actresses. I also started a tutoring program while in our National Honors Society chapter to help other students gain the most from what is offered. The vast difference from a small community to a bustling campus is quite a change but made easier with a university focused on the individual.

The Ohio State University is a diverse campus and full of opportunities, that as a student I plan to take advantage of. I’ve already begun searching for opportunities to get involved such as the Fashion Production Association, which allows me to discover and practice an interest in fashion design, and Servitecture, an organization that gives back to the community while still involving my field of study, architecture.

Having no experience with the actual basis of architecture, I decided that it was the career I wanted to pursue the most. I always wondered which option would be best for me, but discovered that I had to actively make a choice for my future and went with something that would be challenging and exciting for me. This major captures a love for creativity and history while still being well rounded with other interests. In my future, I hope this path and career will allow me to aid any community affected by the impact of a building or landscape in terms of a better environment, better economy and even better relationships through society.

Join me as I track my progress and journey throughout my four years here at the Ohio State University as a Knowlton Scholar.

Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
  • 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.
  • Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]

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 guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]