Update: Autumn 2017
The past six or so months have encouraged tremendous personal growth. Three months abroad, the first half of my sophomore year, the 20th year of my life - a lot has happened lately. I will be catching up with friends and family over break, of course, but here are a few major updates regarding what I've been up to and what's currently in the works.
Academics
Since I am officially an Ecological Engineering major, I was able to start my major coursework this semester and round out the end of my basic science and math education with evolutionary biology and this semester's menace, differential equations. I finish my finals Thursday morning. For the first time I took on a full credit hour load, I am proud of I handled this semester. Next semester will be more of the same.
In November I officially declared my double major in German! I need one more class to have earned my minor but wish to study German far longer than one semester. Luckily for me, if I play my cards right, I won't have to extend my studies in order to complete the double major. In other news, I have had two opportunities to wear the beautiful dirndl I bought in Munich this summer, once at the activities fair and again at the Columbus Oktoberfest. (Turns out corsets aren't fun in 90+ degree weather.) Studying abroad did wonderful things for my speaking abilities and confidence - even more incentive to keep working. German this semester went swimmingly, and for anyone who knows what this means, my professor says that I am currently B2 level. The next time I am in Germany for a reasonable amount of time, I will attempt C1 certification at the end of my trip. Speaking of...
CBYX - Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals
At the beginning of this month, I submitted my CBYX application. This is a year-long fellowship (yes, 12 months) sponsored by the U.S. Congress and German Bundestag which includes two months of intensive language training, five months of university studies, and and a five month internship. It will be many weeks before I know whether or not I will be returning to Germany in July, but until then, I am working on other plans - my STEP project.
STEP Project Planning: Sustainable Agriculture & Food Insecurity
Ohio State has a program called the Second Year Transformational Experience Program (STEP), or at least I think (acronyms for everything here!). In order to enrich our college experience by providing us the means to do something we would otherwise be unable to do, sophomores have the opportunity to connect in the fall with a small cohort of people led by a mentor, with whom we work to write what are essentially grant proposals. Study abroad through OSU, internship supplication, creative endeavors, research, you name it - if you can devise a plan the university will accept, you can get up to $2,000 from the university to accomplish this goal.
My staff mentor is Dr. Ratcliff, an Introductory Engineering professor I had for two semesters last year. Through GrOSU, a student organization connecting students to various projects and programs which approach problems with food insecurity in Columbus. I have volunteered multiple times with Franklinton Community Gardens and been inspired by the work they are doing to establish accessible and healthy options for the people of Franklinton to feed themselves. (If you want to learn more, visit their website. They do such amazing work, and the holiday season is a wonderful time to support them. Please consider donating!) I have attended seminars this semester
This summer Dr. Ratcliff will be running the student farm on campus, lifting it back off the ground and testing sustainable agriculture methods like hydroponic systems. The hope here is that progress will eventually lead to opportunities to engage the Columbus community using economic incentives and education about food and the environment. It will be a test project for a micro-economy of sorts where the community will be able to sell produce to the university using a modified community-supported agriculture system (CSA).
My STEP program will most likely be devising an internship on this farm, working with Dr. Ratcliff to get engineering experience and put my years of working on a CSA farm to use in Columbus. This gives me the opportunity to take summer classes as well, something which I will be talking through with my professor. I look forward to the opportunity to be actively involved in finding solutions to problems about which I am increasingly passionate.
Exchange Partner
This semester I was paired with a German exchange student studying in Mannheim, Germany. Luckily for me, I got to meet him this summer while I was in Dresden because he is originally from the area. For my birthday weekend he and I went home to enjoy the usual fall stuff one does in rural Ohio - peaceful, colorful Sunday drives, going to the range with Dad, going to a Cavs game, and watching high school soccer. It was wonderful to share my home with him on such a beautiful weekend! He heads to Cali this week after his finals for a quick adventure in Cali before returning home for Christmas. I cherish his friendship dearly.
Swing Dancing
For those of you who don't know, I picked up swing dancing last winter through OSU's student organization and even got to dance a couple times in Germany this summer. In October I got to experience my first swing weekend at Rocktober during Fall Break. I ended up rather sick that weekend, something I'm sure was a sinus problem related to my traveling issues in Austria, but I am glad I fought through. What an experience!
Winter Break
Later this week I will finish my exams and head back home. After a long, productive semester, I am looking forward to being back with my family and puppies, not worrying about math. I will be home until the end of December, so if you want to get together, please let me know! :)