HONORS PROGRAM | Rebekah's Portfolio

OHIO HONORS PROGRAM PORTFOLIO

OHP CURRICULAR EXPERIENCES

HC 2400: Introduction to OHIO Honors (Fall 2019)

Instructor: Dr. Erin Jordan

In this course, one key takeaways was thinking from different perspectives. In teams, we had to come up with arguments from the perspective on a given stakeholder either in favor of or against fracking in Wayne National Forest. We had to do thorough research and fully comprehend the implications of a complex issue.

HC 2410: Engagement Lab (Spring 2020)

Instructor: Dr. Erin Jordan

For the engagement lab, we were split into interdisciplinary teams to identify a problem on campus for students and come up with solutions to solve it using resources. My group interviewed various stakeholders to come up with a solution to increase accessibility to dining halls to be adjusted to the busy schedules of students. I learned how to effectively work in teams, listen to other experiences, and identify key stakeholders in a situation.

HC 2930: Special Topics in OHIO Honors: Mindfulness (Fall 2020)

Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Fredette

Mindfulness was an extremely valuable course, especially with the uncertain environment I was taking it in. Navigating the pandemic as a full-time virtual student could get exhausting at times. Taking designated time to clear my head and learn about mindfulness techniques taught me to be more patient with myself.

HC 2600: Introduction to Ethical Community Engagement (Fall 2021)

Instructors: Dr. Christy Zempter and Mary Nally

In this course, I learned about asset-mapping, as well as focusing on an asset-based approach rather than a deficit-based approach to community issues. It also strengthened by collaboration and critical thinking skills as my group completed an asset mapping project on first-generation students.

OHP CO-CURRICULAR EXPERIENCES

Scripps PRSSA, Dues-Paying Member (Spring 2020)

I have gained a sense of how important it is to make genuine connections with professionals and learn from others’ experiences. This experience has helped me find people who support me, which is extremely important to my own growth. Overall, I learned more about myself, personally and professionally, as I consider future professions.

1804 Communication, Business Development Account Associate (Spring 2020)

I gained practical business skills, such as research, writing pitch letters, creating pitch decks, and, ultimately, pitching our firm as a resource to a potential client. I have also learned a lot about collaboration on projects and real-world professionalism. I learned how to effectively work in teams to accomplish an established goal.

OHP Engagement Lab (Spring 2020)

See above in Curricular

Pandemic Experience (Summer 2020)

One key takeaway I have made is learning how to prioritize self-care. Initially, it was hard to transition and accept the transition from the college experience I desired, and the reality of going to class virtual in my hometown. By taking time to connect with myself, prioritize balance, and immerse myself in nature as much as possible, I have felt more accepting, open, and positive because of the time I have taken to channel my energy to what I can control versus what I cannot.

Voinovich Undergraduate Research Scholar (Fall 2020)

I have gained a lot of legislative industry knowledge while working with the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress, especially in relation to southeast Ohio and the pandemic, such as coronavirus relief funding, sub-granting, municipal fees, broadband, operations of local government and mayors, etc. One of the most important takeaways for me has been disparity in broadband, especially as many people must rely on virtual work at this time. Advocating for such an issue, so that people understand its importance, is crucial.

OHP Peer Mentor (Fall 2020, Fall 2021)

Through this experience, I learned how to communicate in a manner that is approachable and shows leadership. I have to maintain an open mind, as other people are going to want different things from a mentor; that being said, establishing expectations and an open line of communication is essential. I tried to be as proactive, understanding and engaging as possible.

Scripps PRSSA, VP of Member Relations (Fall 2021)

Some skills and knowledge that I have gained through a leadership position in Scripps PRSSA are understanding operations of organizations (i.e., structure, collaboration, commitment, idea sharing). I also have learned how to cultivate relationships with prospective, new, and existing members of an organization. Being actively engaged and welcoming are two important characteristics to succeed in this role.

PRSSA National, District Ambassador (Fall 2021)

I have learned how to interact with people already in leadership positions and help them brainstorm new ideas and enhance their existing programs. Typically, these ideas focused on recruitment or something that they specifically brought to me. I have become more skilled in how to interact with different leaders and handle situations on the spot. Maintaining an open life of communication and being proactive were also characteristics that helped me in this role.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Community engagement has taken on a new meaning for me, credited to the OHIO Honors Program; it means to be an active listener, create meaningful goals, and leverage already-existing assets to make a difference. I have experienced elements community engagement in arguably all of my curriculars and co-curriculars.

To be an active listener means to empower others to tell their stories. By listening, we can understand an issue more deeply. We can also identify opportunities, especially when it comes to asset-based community approaches. A relevant example related to listening is my co-curricular experience as a Business Development Account Associate/Executive in 1804 Communication. While considering potential new clients, we could identify some issues that we thought existing in their communications and/or strategy. Ultimately, we gained the most insight by talking to the client and listening to their experiences. For example, we could assume that they don’t know how to use a specific function of a social media app to reach consumers. In reality, the scenario could be that they lack the resources to hire a full-time employee to focus solely on social media. By listening to how they operate and letting them explain their challenges — and strengths! — in more depth can help us fully understand the scope of a situation, which translates into more meaningful proposals/solutions.

The essence of community engagement is togetherness. Community engagement means creating meaningful goals. During my participation in Scripps PRSSA, we spent our summer planning for an exciting return to campus in the fall. We prepared through brainstorming sessions and goal setting. Each member of the executive board wrote three Chapter-related and three personal goals. These goals set the expectation of how we can contribute to a larger group and a larger mission. Dealing with the impact of the pandemic on participation, we were dealing with a decline in involvement, as well as several other specific challenges. By identifying our roles in the overarching goals we set, we saw success as we defined it. Our average attendance numbers went up 25%, we committed ourselves to establishing relationships with organizations on campus that foster diversity and inclusion to gain a new perspective on community, and we found creative ways to increase our brand identity, such as custom merchandise and fundraising, which helps us engage with the community.

How can this all come together to make a difference? Leveraging each other’s strengths. Through every single one of my experiences, it has been reinforced to me that we all hold unique skills that can, collectively, make a bigger difference. Therefore, it is so important to rely on one another and work in collaborative settings to make our ideas a successful reality. All of this leads me into my OHP journey:

MY OHP JOURNEY

Being a student in the OHIO Honors Program has greatly elevated my experience at Ohio University. The OHP provided opportunities to challenge myself in new ways beyond my current involvement. During my first semester at OHIO, being encouraging to get involved in community-based activities allowed me to feel like a community member of Athens, OH, rather than exclusively a student on campus. For example, going to the Athens Farmers' Market on the weekends allowed me to bond with friends and meet new people.

I was often encouraged to consider issues from various perspectives. I also was required to discuss with a variety of stakeholders, including individuals and organizations, during projects. It became such an important learning experience. For example, during HC 2600, I learned about individuals who are first-generation students. That allowed me to reflect upon their experiences and how, as someone who is not a first-gen student, there is room for additional resources for them to feel more integrated by listening to their unique experiences (i.e., understanding their assets).

Another important learning lesson was how important it is to respectfully reach out to individuals. Some topics can be vulnerable, and having the right intentions and approaching communities graciously in a project is crucial.

Reflection was a large part of the OHIO Honors Program, and it is incredibly important. Reflecting before, during, and after a project or experience helps you understand aspects more thoroughly. In instances of experiential learning, I have had the opportunity to reflect during each stage, and it has allowed me to be intentional during each step of the project process. An example of an experience that captured this well was my first semester working as a Voinovich Undergraduate Research Scholar. I was tasked with revising the regional policy priorities on behalf of the local leaders for the upcoming year. By reflecting initially, I was able to acknowledge what I know and do not know about legislative needs in southeast Ohio. Furthermore, I was able to consider questions to ask and key stakeholders that could answer such questions. After developing a list of seemingly key issues, we sent out a survey to our members, which allowed them to provide additional feedback. I then reflected again by asking questions such as “which of these issues are most important collectively?” and “what about these items makes them an issue?”. Finally, after creating a list of policy priorities with a given description, it was important to reflect once again, asking “what can we do with this list to make these priorities also priorities for others?” By sending out the document to key legislators for the region, they can greater understand and advocate for the needs of the region. Without reflecting on each step, we would not be able to be as intentional in our decision-making.

What's Next:

In my next role, I will be working with a variety of individuals, ranging from public relations professionals and journalists to economic analysts. The interdisciplinary nature of the OHIO Honors Program has set me up well to be able to effectively work with a wide range of individuals. Learning to be understanding of others' experiences and use their unique skillset as an asset will translate well in my immediate next role and beyond.