G.O.A.L.S Year in Review

Global Awareness allows students to develop an appreciation for the world around them and to sharpen their perspectives regarding their roles as citizens of an international society.  Thus far, I have engaged in several activities and learning opportunities to develop my personal Global Awareness.  To begin with, I am the Secretary-General of Ohio State’s Model United Nations conference and an active member of the Collegiate Council on World Affairs: the organization that sponsors the aforementioned conference.  Engagement in this club allows me to constantly stay up to date with international news and at Model UN conferences I, quite literally, take upon the role and stances of other countries to help develop collaborative solutions to both historical and modern international issues.  Furthermore, as a history major I have taken several classes that have allowed me to sharpen my global perspective.  In my readings seminar on Modern European History, we explored the modern refugee crisis in juxtaposition with international refugee crises throughout history.  Finally, I am an active member of the Jewish community at the Ohio State University.  I meet Jews from across the world at Chabad gatherings and events at Hillel.

Original Inquiry is also integral to one’s education.  I have taken great initiative to involve myself with several research and creative projects in an effort to further this specific clause of the G.O.A.L.S.  To begin with, last semester, I was a research assistant for an Environmental Historian at the university.  In this position, I developed a timeline of court cases relating to or directly involving the domestic and international use of Agent Orange.  I also analyzed and assembled collection of internal memos, court depositions and other documents for information on Monsanto’s use of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.  This semester I am participating in a research project that investigates and subsequently publicizes the lack of legal environmental compliancy among Columbus companies.  I also wrote a historiographic review that investigated Soviet Jewish Immigration to the United States from 1987-1991 that subsequently won an award in the history department.  Before graduation, I intend to further engage in Original Inquiry as I plan to write a thesis in either History or English and then pursue a PhD in that respective topic.

I believe that my Honors Contract demonstrates an exceptional dedication to Academic Enrichment.  I am not only pursuing a double major in History and English, but also a minor in Hebrew.  By the time I graduate, I will greatly exceed the amount of university required classes and credit hours.  I have a passion for learning and want to collect as much information as possible from a variety of subject matters before I graduate.  Additionally, my planned classes pair perfectly with my intended future aspirations.  I plan to pursue a career as a professor in either History or English.  My focus in both will revolve around turn-of-the-century Modernism and/or Jewish history.  I intend to take classes that cater to both of these unique interests.  My GE courses, such as Anthropology classes, will enhance my knowledge on these topics and provide a scientific background to my humanities-dominated majors.  Finally, my Hebrew minor will allow me to apply to more competitive graduate school programs, as most graduate schools that focus on the humanities prefer that their applicants have fluency in more than one English.

Leadership Development well also contribute to my efforts to obtain a well-rounded education at the Ohio State University.  I have pursued several leadership roles in my two short years at the university.  Currently, as I mentioned earlier, I am the Secretary-General of the university’s Model United Nations conference.  In this position, I managed a staff of over 60 people as we arranged a conference for over 200 high-school students.  The three-day conference sharpened my skills in organization, management, and communication, all of which are integral to leadership development.  Similarly, as a Philanthropy Chair for my sorority, I helped plan a basketball tournament that raised money to fight cancer.  This event was attended by over 150 people and required acute planning and management on my part.  These leadership roles will contribute to my career goals, as professors must consistently capture the attention of their students and plan carefully for both their personal research and their syllabi.

Finally, I have engaged in several Service Engagement based activities to help enhance my engagement with my community.  To begin with, I often tutor students in my sorority and my dorm in History and English.  Though this is not an official form of volunteering, I still make a contribution to the education of those around me.  Additionally, during my breaks, I volunteer at a local youth theater in Cleveland, Ohio.  Theater helps young children enhance their artistic abilities and take a new perspective on the world and I am honored that I receive a role in this aspect of their education.  Finally, the Collegiate Council on World Affairs often organizes trips downtown to volunteer with various environmental organizations.  For example, last week, we paired with the Undergraduate Student Government to help clean up Columbus and plant trees in park areas.  I intend to continue these activities and also engage in the various volunteer opportunities offered by my sorority’s philanthropy.

 

 

 

 

My G.O.A.L.S

Global Awareness is an essential part of one’s education.  Even before I began my career at OSU, I loved to travel and was and still am fluent in three languages.  In my case, global studies will resonate in my efforts to study abroad, and participation in several cultural organizations that relate to my religion and the languages I speak.  To begin with, I intend to study abroad in Ireland or Scotland.  I have a passion for Irish and Scottish literature, as these greats works are usually overshadowed by the works of England, yet remain just as beautiful.  Furthermore, I am an avid participant in Chabad–a Jewish organization–activities on campus, which helps me maintain a connection Israel and to my religion.  Starting my sophomore year, I will take Hebrew language at the university in an effort to make sure I remain fluent.  I also intend to join a Russian culture organization so I may retain my language and remain connected to the cultural aspects of the country my family ran away from.  With all of these efforts, I will enhance my Global Awareness throughout my time at the Ohio State University.

I will find a multitude of opportunities for Original Inquiry at the university through both my majors and my clubs.    I am already a part of Mosaic Magazine–an arts and literature publication for students.  I serve as a literary editor for the publication.  Furthermore, next semester I am taking a class in writing poetry and will continue on to the next level of that class in the semester that follows.  I have been writing poetry for many years, but an official class will help me organize my thoughts and perfect my poetry skills. In my history class, I am currently working on an original research proposal.  This assignment has already enhanced my original inquiry beyond its previously established limits.  Furthermore, I intend to pursue research in one of my majors–I have yet to decide which.  I will start with assisting a professor in their research and eventually writing my own Honors thesis.  All of these activities will enhance my Original Inquiry, as they require intense focus on topics that nobody has ever explored before.

I truly believe that my Academic Plan encompasses Academic Enrichment.  Not only am I pursuing a double major in History and English, but I also have a minor in Computer Science.  History and English will work very well together, as there is a great deal overlap in both content and worldly significance.  I chose these majors because I am passionate about the English language and how it affected our history and still affects the current world around us.  My Computer Science minor, though a direct contrast to my majors, will help me develop a well-rounded academic background.  In a new age of technology, I believe that the ability to code and understand our computers is essential no matter what career one decides to pursue.  In terms of my GE courses, I attempted to select classes that intellectually excite me.  In particular, I am very excited for my Slavic Literature class.  While I am fluent in Russian, I do not have a vast background in Russian literature.  After this class, I will be able to discuss books with my parents that they have read and I might have never read had I not taken this class.  My Academic Plan definitely exceeds minimum university requirements, as I am taking over 160 academic hours.  I simply want to learn as much as I can throughout my time at the Ohio State University, which highlights my passion for Academic Enrichment.

In order to achieve a well-rounded education, I will also embrace Leadership Development as part of my Ohio State University career.  I have already started making this aspect of my education a reality by joining the Collegiate Council on World Affairs, or CCWA at OSU.  This club houses a Model UN team and a political magazine titled Alger Magazine.  This club helps me keep track of both domestic and international political affairs.  We also travel to conferences and debate important UN topics.  I plan to run for a leadership position in this club and am already an assistant crisis director for the upcoming conference that the team organizes for high school students in the spring.  Furthermore, as I mentioned earlier, I am already a literary editor for the arts and culture magazine at OSU.  I am going to try pursue leadership positions in Jewish organizations at the university to further my leadership.  I also intend to pursue internships in the summer at publishing companies in an effort to further my leadership in the workforce.  With all of these positions, I will enhance my authority skills and accomplish Leadership Development.

Service Engagement is a significant aspect of knowledge development.  I intend to volunteer with elementary school children.  I love to share my passion for learning with kids and I think I could truly make a difference if I volunteered at a local school.  This will also help me develop teaching skills for when I become a professor. Furthermore, CCWA occasionally organizes service trips in local volunteer areas downtown.  I will go on these trips whenever they are available.  My friends and I also intend to volunteer at Planned Parenthood in order to combat any government defunding of this organization.  These diverse volunteer opportunities will help enhance my Service Engagement at the Ohio State University.

 

 

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 information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. 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 information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. 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 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

[Your “About Me” is an introduction and should provide insight into who you are as a person and a learner.  This should include a picture of you that is appropriate in a professional/academic context. This information should be continually updated.  For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio.  Delete these instructions and add your own post.]