My name is Henry Arthur and I am a fourth-year chemistry major. I toured Ohio State on the recommendation of a few of my favorite high school teachers and I realized this was the right environment for me. I knew I could succeed here and would benefit from passionate professors doing very compelling work. So, I pursued as many teaching opportunities as possible, one of which being a leader in a Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) chemistry program. Through this, I have been leading workshops since my second year.

At the end of last summer, one of the students I taught thanked me for reviving their love of science. They had not been planning to continue in the chemistry program and credited my teaching for reigniting their inspiration. The way they described feeling in my classroom is exactly how I'd hoped to make a student feel. I was similarly honored when I was awarded the Hach Scholarship, given to students who are interested in teaching chemistry at the K-12 level. Receiving this scholarship was critical for me, as contributing to the field of education is a major part of why I’m here. It made me feel more confident I was having and could have a positive effect on people as a teacher. As a result, I improved as an educator and further refined my focus.

My Ohio State professors have shaped the kind of teacher I want to become. Last spring, I had some of my favorite classes yet. I took a course with Dr. Abraham Badu-Tawiah which was a formative experience. His approach to and philosophy behind teaching was compelling and grounded in passion. In his course on Mass Spectrometry and Method Development, I learned about his work creating methods of screening for disease in a more economical and accessible way. I want to continue to grow my own skillset to become capable of new method development for this field in the future.

I also took an elective with Dr. Jason Rawls — R&B and Blues History. I love music and played clarinet in my high school band. For me, music is a stress reliever and an important component of how I find balance with my career. I loved learning about the evolution of blues from R&B to hip-hop. I'll be taking another class next semester on the art and politics of hip-hop.

The most practical lesson I've learned at Ohio State is how to pace myself. I've received valuable mentorship from professors and graduate students and have learned alternative, community-centric approaches to problem-solving. Most importantly, I've experienced what being part of a ground-breaking, innovative and supportive environment looks and feels like.

I'm thankful for the support of folks like you who make these experiences possible — not only for me — but for other students like me and my classmates. I look forward to updating you on the end of my senior year and what's coming next for me in the spring!