In what way(s) did you personally grow this year? How did you demonstrate or rebuild the resilience needed to move forward? How will you utilize resources and your support network to hold yourself accountable in continuing this growth?
This year was, without a doubt, the most challenging year of my life academically and in other areas of life. It has also been the year of extreme personal growth. I grew deeper in my faith (thank you Catholic Bearcat), took and passed extremely difficult classes, finished an honors experience and am currently working on another, and did so much more. I have also found where my priorities lie and have made sure that is where my time is.
Academically, I had to take Anatomy and Physiology I and II as well as Biochemistry I and II. These classes were so incredibly difficult, and nothing like I had ever taken before, so it challenged me in ways I never expected. First semester I stressed myself out so much that I could not calm my nervous system down for a week after. I cried so much over studying, barely had time to spend with people, and was going through a lot in my personal life as well. After I slept for almost an entire week straight over winter break, I told myself I would never let myself get that stressed about my classes again. Second semester, I prioritized planning time to study, committed to starting to study 4 days before an exam, and also told myself that spending time with those I love is more important than studying for hours on end. I ended this semester so much better than the one before, and with the same final grades. I actually felt like I could breathe this semester.
While these classes felt so difficult and horrible honestly while I was in them, I can honestly look back and say I am beyond grateful that I took them. I would not have grown into the person I am today without these struggles.
I have also learned this year, that even when I plan for things, it doesn't always go in the way I wanted, but something better is always right around the corner. I had planned to get an internship this summer, but with my major it was not super realistic. Instead, I am nannying and teaching pilates group fitness classes. Teaching classes is something I have wanted to do since I was fourteen years old, so I am looking forward to this immensely and it is one of my honors experiences.
I am looking forward to next year, and whatever it has in store for me. To maintain this personal growth, I have the Catholic Bearcat community, my family, my friends, and my classmates to keep me accountable. I also keep a calendar which I will be taking into my future years as well because it allows me to utilize my time the best I can. This year truly shaped me into a stronger and more mature person and I am extremely grateful.
"What specific experiences (honors or otherwise) in the past year have had the most impact on your personal, academic, or professional goals and life trajectory? Which future experiences will further encourage this growth? Please articulate specific academic and/or professional goals for the next year."
One experience this past year that had a large impact on my personal life was volunteering at the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry. For the College of Allied Health Sciences, all first-year students were required to volunteer twelve hours at an organization that relates to health and aids the public. When I was searching for the organization I wanted to participate in, I was drawn to St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry. I have volunteered with St. Vincent De Paul before, as I am from Cincinnati, and my Church helps with them as well. I was familiar with the organization and the good they do, so I chose this one. I remember being extremely overwhelmed as I needed to complete forty-two hours of volunteering, without a car on campus, and with a ton of other stuff on my plate, so a familiar place was a perfect choice. In this volunteer experience, I was a “shopper helper”, which included walking neighbors through the food pantry, guiding them on how much of each product they could take, and explaining what some products were. St. Vincent De Paul refers to anyone in the community as neighbors, because, like neighbors, we all should help each other.
It was a beautiful opportunity, and there are some people I helped that I will never forget. I remember the family that spoke only French, and none of the volunteers did, so we did our best to help them. I remember the father who told me he had to walk many miles to get home, hopefully before dark. I remember the neighbors who spoke Spanish and I was able to communicate with them. I remember, and cherish, the woman I was able to talk with for half an hour, and she told me I would make a wonderful mother someday.
All of these people changed how I look at the world, and how I look at myself. I will certainly be volunteering there next year, to help more people. I loved hearing everyone's stories and was deeply saddened by others. I feel such a strong pull to continue volunteering here, because of how many people St. Vincent De Paul helps. This has impacted my life trajectory because I know I will want to continue to volunteer for my whole life. My family has already taught me to give back and pray for others, and this experience was able to solidify that thinking for me. Future experiences that will further my growth will be continuing to volunteer at the food pantry and other places around Cincinnati.
My academic goals for next year are to excel in my classes and learn as much as possible, while also taking care of myself. I am motivated to make the Dean's List again, as I did both semesters this past year. I also hope to find an internship next summer in something related to my major of Nutrition and Dietetics.