It is hard to believe my undergraduate career is already half over, especially realizing that more time has been remote than on campus.
The biggest source of stability in my life was continuing to work and research at the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital. I soon found myself taking on new, larger roles in our massive IMPRINT study, and have gained a new fondness and drive for research, something which I did not anticipate. Last year, I had some difficult, and honestly, terrifying, conversations about whether or not I would ever consider doing research more extensively in the future, such as an MD/PhD program. This is something I have always been firmly opposed to, because of the daunting undertaking a degree and further, a career, in research would require. I now understand that although I enjoy and appreciate my work immensely, I do not want to pursue this degree and still think that an MD better suits my career goals. Returning to research and adapting our study to the pandemic taught me the importance of flexibility and taking advantage of difficult situations.
I also began serving as the social media coordinator for UC's Generation Action, a Planned Parenthood affiliated organization that encourages college students to advocate for reproductive justice on campus and in their city. This was during such an important and tumultuous time in our lives, not only because of the pandemic, but also because of the 2020 presidential election. This position forced me to stay alert and up to date on important news and bills entering Congress. I found a cause that was near and dear to my heart, and was able to make a real impact towards helping it. I will be stepping into the role of Co-president for the 2021-2022 school year, where our on campus presence and activities will return and allow us to achieve more than we could this year.
My appreciation for the Honors community and pride in the program lead me to applying to become a UHP Ambassador in the spring. Our current ambassadors are incredibly motivated and diverse individuals who I am so excited to be working with. I am looking forward to showing prospective students how incredible the opportunities afforded to us are, and how unique our program is in fostering personal and professional growth. I cannot wait to see all of my classmates and professors in person again during the next school year, and am looking forward to figuring out new ways to strengthen our sense of community.
The biggest source of stability in my life was continuing to work and research at the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital. I soon found myself taking on new, larger roles in our massive IMPRINT study, and have gained a new fondness and drive for research, something which I did not anticipate. Last year, I had some difficult, and honestly, terrifying, conversations about whether or not I would ever consider doing research more extensively in the future, such as an MD/PhD program. This is something I have always been firmly opposed to, because of the daunting undertaking a degree and further, a career, in research would require. I now understand that although I enjoy and appreciate my work immensely, I do not want to pursue this degree and still think that an MD better suits my career goals. Returning to research and adapting our study to the pandemic taught me the importance of flexibility and taking advantage of difficult situations.
I also began serving as the social media coordinator for UC's Generation Action, a Planned Parenthood affiliated organization that encourages college students to advocate for reproductive justice on campus and in their city. This was during such an important and tumultuous time in our lives, not only because of the pandemic, but also because of the 2020 presidential election. This position forced me to stay alert and up to date on important news and bills entering Congress. I found a cause that was near and dear to my heart, and was able to make a real impact towards helping it. I will be stepping into the role of Co-president for the 2021-2022 school year, where our on campus presence and activities will return and allow us to achieve more than we could this year.
My appreciation for the Honors community and pride in the program lead me to applying to become a UHP Ambassador in the spring. Our current ambassadors are incredibly motivated and diverse individuals who I am so excited to be working with. I am looking forward to showing prospective students how incredible the opportunities afforded to us are, and how unique our program is in fostering personal and professional growth. I cannot wait to see all of my classmates and professors in person again during the next school year, and am looking forward to figuring out new ways to strengthen our sense of community.