Year in Review: Second Year
My second year at the University of Cincinnati has been an amazing one! Leaving the trepidation of a first year student behind, I was really able to come into my own as a Bearcat this year, and found my stride while building wonderful friendships, learning a lot, and having fun.
As an Honors Retreat Leader this year, I actually started the year in the same place as I did my first year. This time, though, I was the older student welcoming freshmen onto campus and into life as university students. The mentoring role that I first experienced at the Honors Retreat in August was one that I would assume a number of times throughout the year. As new students in the Connections Dual Admissions and Medical Sciences Programs started to find footing on campus, for example, I found myself stepping into the role of a mentor, but also that of a friend. This year has seen me reconnect with old friends from high school, strengthen relationships that I built here in Clifton last year, and create bonds with new friends that have become integral to my UC experience. Academically, this year has been the most challenging for me thus far. Balancing a science-heavy courseload with classes in the humanities has been a test, but a rewarding one. I benefited from the experience and excellence of world class professors this year, and made connections across courses and across disciplines to further ground newfound knowledge. I am particularly thankful for professors like Dr. Kenneth King for helping me to explore the inner workings of the brain in Functional Neuroanatomy, and like Dr. Juli Uhl for teaching a Developmental Biology class that was my favorite of the year. I also reveled in the opportunity to take classes that broadened my experience and contributed to my self-designed study of public health. In particular, classes in Health Psychology, International Human Rights, and Minority and Vulnerable Populations were eye-opening, and renewed my interest in a global health career. Also helpful in affirming my career interests was the traveling that I was able to do this year. Through an Honors Seminar taught by the wonderful Dr. Jason Blackard, I had the chance to learn more about infectious diseases in Southern Africa, specifically HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Dr. Blackard's class also culminated in an unforgettable two-week trip to South Africa and Botswana, where I had tremendous opportunities to explore the cultures of these two countries, the healthcare systems and treatments that are being orchestrated by their governments, and the research that is being done on-the-ground to combat infectious diseases. The trip was unlike any I had ever taken, but definitely in the same vein as many future travels that I hope my career will lead me on. For good measure, I also traveled to Paris on my way back from Southern Africa, and was amazed by the many wonders of the City of Light. This trip was meant to help reignite the artistic and literary passions that took hold of me in high school, by have somewhat fallen to the wayside in college. While I have definitely done my best to hold onto my love of art, it is unfortunate that school, work, and the many other pressures of college life have stolen much of my time away. Even after sporadically attending wonderful concerts like an orchestral performance inspired by Debussy, Monet, and the sea during the school year, Paris was a wonderful breath of fresh air. During the school year, balance was a bit hard to find with the many groups and organizations with which I was involved. This school year saw me take on new jobs as a Supplemental Instruction Leader and Peer Leader, which were incredibly rewarding, but also very taxing. I also continued my internship at the Crossroad Health Center, where I did a lot more translation for Spanish-speaking patients after returning from Spain last summer. Over the school year, I also stayed involved in organizations like the ROAR Tour Guides, Bearcat Buddies, and Honors Ambassadors, and built on my involvement in groups like GlobeMed at UC and Student Government. As the Director of Advocacy for GlobeMed this year, I had a tremendous time reaching out to students across campus and helping them to learn more about issues of public and global health. Next year, I will be building off of my experience by serving as the coordinator for the Grassroots On-Site Internship that will see me and four other students travel to Mae Sot, Thailand, to work directly with our grassroots partner. In Student Government, too, I have seen my involvement grow. After a first year in the Student Government First-Year Leadership Program and as a member of the Naab-Griggs campaign team, my involvement in the organization was lessened for the majority of my second year. I became excited about the future of Student Government, though, when I learned that my good friends Mitchell Phelps and Brooke Duncan were running as a Presidential/Vice-Presidential slate. After joining their campaign team, conversing with students about the changes they would like to see, and helping our team to victory, I have stepped into a role as the Executive Director of Mental Health Services for the upcoming school year. I could not be more excited to expand access to resources and help remove stigma on campus beginning in the fall! This year has also been a time for me to further explore my interest in medical research. In the summer before this second year began, I had the amazing opportunity to join the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience Program at the UC College of Medicine. After being paired with an amazing mentor in Dr. Mindy Call -- who has been incredibly supportive and has taught me so much -- I have been working in the lab ever since. This summer, I have also returned to the lab full-time through the Medical Scientist Training Program's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, and have really found my stride as a researcher. I look forward to continuing in the lab, and further honing my skills, in the upcoming year. Indeed, there are a number of things that I am looking forward to in my upcoming year. One major new change for me will be the start of my Masters in Public Health degree, for which I am very excited. I also look forward to getting further involved with my Medical Sciences minor coursework, and to completing my undergraduate thesis in Latino Mental Health in Cincinnati. Overall, after two great years at this institution, I know that my third (and last) undergraduate year will be bittersweet. I am grateful for all that I have been blessed with, and am excited to make this year the best yet. Go Cats! |