Final Reflection
Being a part of the University Honors Program is more than an elite group of scholars or keeping a certain GPA. It means being a global scholar. Making a difference in the world doesn’t have to be as extreme as serving an orphanage in Africa. It can be as simple as smiling to the kid you cross paths with. The little things are important because you never know how extreme your impact is. To you, it may mean nothing. But him, that smile means everything. My time in class has made me realize that everyone wants to make an impact. My altruistic quality defines my selfless need for the well-being of others. I strive to focus on the little interactions. I’ll let my peers find a cure for cancer, so I can genuinely focus on everyday happiness.
Mini Self Designed Experience
What?
As a travel interest group restricted to stay within the boundaries of Cincinnati, we decided to metaphorically travel around the world during an hour spent at Findlay Market on a Friday afternoon. We started off visiting the desert with the miscellaneous array of cacti and fellow low-hydration plants. Following that, our England visit was with a tea shop owner who explained different types of brews to me. We had a layover in Belgium and eventually ended up back in the United States with a fruit producer.
So What?
As silly as our make-believe trip sounds, we were very invested into our time at the market. There were moments where we were all chatting and enjoying ourselves; there were also moments where we were silent, thinking. My time there encouraged me to take a step back and look at how all these cultures came together to exist under the same roof (literally). I thought back to the summer camp I work at, a place that means so much to me it’s hard to put into words. Our staff consists of people from across the world- England, Ireland, Finland, South Africa, Australia and countless others. Somehow we all end up in the same place, at the same time, and are able to create unforgettable memories together. I stood there admiring the cacti and the all-natural honey soaps, thinking about how lucky I am to have ended up with such great people in my life. I think it was that moment where I differentiated myself from my peers, that moment when I realized that people can do the exact same thing, but have completely different viewpoints.
Now What?
I’m not really sure what will come next, I imagine most people don’t, but I can try to shape my future by what I just learned. Now that I have experienced this “ah-ha” moment in the middle of Findlay Market, I don’t want it to sit in a corner to collect dust. I want to grow. I want to go forth with my everyday life remembering to live in the moment and not to wish it away. I want to accomplish the next steps of my life but also remembering to leave a positive impact on others. I don’t want to live to forget, I want to live to experience.
As a travel interest group restricted to stay within the boundaries of Cincinnati, we decided to metaphorically travel around the world during an hour spent at Findlay Market on a Friday afternoon. We started off visiting the desert with the miscellaneous array of cacti and fellow low-hydration plants. Following that, our England visit was with a tea shop owner who explained different types of brews to me. We had a layover in Belgium and eventually ended up back in the United States with a fruit producer.
So What?
As silly as our make-believe trip sounds, we were very invested into our time at the market. There were moments where we were all chatting and enjoying ourselves; there were also moments where we were silent, thinking. My time there encouraged me to take a step back and look at how all these cultures came together to exist under the same roof (literally). I thought back to the summer camp I work at, a place that means so much to me it’s hard to put into words. Our staff consists of people from across the world- England, Ireland, Finland, South Africa, Australia and countless others. Somehow we all end up in the same place, at the same time, and are able to create unforgettable memories together. I stood there admiring the cacti and the all-natural honey soaps, thinking about how lucky I am to have ended up with such great people in my life. I think it was that moment where I differentiated myself from my peers, that moment when I realized that people can do the exact same thing, but have completely different viewpoints.
Now What?
I’m not really sure what will come next, I imagine most people don’t, but I can try to shape my future by what I just learned. Now that I have experienced this “ah-ha” moment in the middle of Findlay Market, I don’t want it to sit in a corner to collect dust. I want to grow. I want to go forth with my everyday life remembering to live in the moment and not to wish it away. I want to accomplish the next steps of my life but also remembering to leave a positive impact on others. I don’t want to live to forget, I want to live to experience.