Class Review: Biochemistry 5613

One of my favorite classes I have taken as an undergraduate so far is my first biochemistry course, Biochem 5613. My professor, Dr. Ottesen, makes the content extremely interesting by providing us with real world context for the information we learn. She often gives us research articles on different proteins and their functions on different organisms or studies on the coronavirus proteins. It makes the content so much easier to learn and makes me realize I’m learning science that is fundamental to our day-to-day lives. We have learned so far about amino acids and proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and DNA/RNA, lipids, enzymes, antibodies and immune response, and so many other topics. I love the content so much in this course because its really is where the concepts I’ve learned in previous biology courses and chemistry courses intersect. I have developed a greater understanding of biological processes as a result of my class learning. I am excited for next semester to continue the biochemistry sequence and apply the fundamental concepts I learned in this course to new ideas. I know we will cover some of the topics in more depth in the future, and I can’t wait to deepen my understanding. Eventually I will also take a biochemistry lab where I can apply the laboratory techniques I learned in 5613 in real life. I am extremely passionate about this topic and am excited to continue to learn about it for the rest of my life. Even as a doctor, the concepts I learned in this course will apply and my knowledge on the topics will be enriched throughout my career.

Vision Statement and Statement of Action

My vision for myself in the future is to graduate from OSU and continue on to medical school and become a physician. On my journey to this goal I want to learn more about myself and what skills I have that I can apply to my future career. I also want to serve my community through more volunteer work to develop a greater understanding of others’ circumstances. I want to gain more networking experience and social skills during the next two years.

The actions I plan to take to reach these goals are to participate more in UHAC, the campus organization I joined this academic year. This organization is focused on serving those with minimal access to healthcare and to increase health literacy in the Columbus community. I also plan to volunteer at my local hospital again when it is determined to be safe, so I can help patients and visitors feel welcomed. Additionally, I want to work on my professionalism by having a job during the school year that allows me to interact with others in meaningful ways. I also plan on working hard on my studies and doing all I can to be a good student by focusing on my future goals and taking active steps with my learning to achieve them.

Volunteer Experience at the James Cancer Hospital

Starting in January of 2020, I was able to become a part of the volunteer team at the James, Ohio State’s cancer hospital. My position this year has been a Wayfinding Ambassador in the Brain and Spine building of the hospital. Going into this experience, I  could have never imagined the role I would play in helping the patients through some of the scariest and most uncertain events in their lives.  My job was to approach patients who looked in need of assistance, answer questions, provide support to visitors and staff at the hospital, and help navigate the building. I also worked closely with the information desk staff and was able to assist them in anything they needed. I would transport patients from one end of the hospital to the next and help alleviate some of this burden during their visit. The James is a very large hospital with many buildings connected by long hallways and many places for patients and visitors to park. It is very easy to be overwhelmed initially. I wanted to make this large, scary hospital where patients were receiving their cancer treatment seem like the warm and welcoming place I knew it to be. I was able to take away some of their fears and connect with these patients on a deeper level during my time as a volunteer. It was so rewarding to be able to brighten their days with a smile or comforting words and be one of the first people to welcome them. I felt a deep connection with every person I helped and found so much pleasure in this position. When I started, I didn’t realize how supported I could make each patient and family member feel through my presence and assistance. I have grown as a person through this experience, and it has increased my passion for working in a hospital so much more. I want to help others in a hospital setting for the rest of my life. Working at the James has allowed me to see how I can impact the lives of others and add happiness to their lives through kindness and empathy. I plan on continuing this experience throughout my undergraduate career and finding new ways to get involved in our hospitals.