Stephanie Renner wanted a big campus and the opportunity to find a small community of people with shared interests. Luckily, The Ohio State University had everything Renner wanted for her college experience.
Why did you choose The Ohio State University?
I went to a small high school and wanted a big university with more anonymity, yet the opportunity to find a close community of people with common interests. I have always been a Buckeye football fan, and most of my Saturdays in the fall growing up revolved around kickoff. My older brother attended here also and graduated in 2018. Whenever my family came to visit him, I had an excited, giddy feeling in my chest that I was at my future home.
Why did you choose Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics (PPE) as your major?
I switched into Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics (PPE) as a major when I realized that my initial major, linguistics, wasn't my passion. I remember sitting in freshman survey class and there was a presentation on PPE. It was a new major at the time. I decided to sign up for it on a whim. I knew I didn't have a passion for what I was doing, but I didn't know exactly want I wanted to do instead. It turns out, past me made a great decision because I am thriving in my PPE major. I have a solid study group and I learn a new perspective about the human experience almost daily.
How has The Ohio State Scholars Program contributed to your college experience?
Honors and Scholars made me more community minded in general because it forced me, a natural introvert, to get out and do things with people who were like me and had similar interests. I knew right away that Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars (DSWS) had the core value of service and giving back to the community. DSWS took a service trip to Atlanta in December 2018. It was a life changing experience to help young, at risk boys at Goshen Valley get on a better life path.
What does #TogetherAsBuckeyes mean to you?
#TogetherAsBuckeyes means that when we work together, we are that much closer to being able to do the things we love again. Distance now will bring existence later. If we get through this, we will have learned how to look out for each other in times of need and sacrifice for the greater good of our community.
Are there any professors or staff who have helped you?
I had Ali Aenehzodaee as a Teaching Associate for two semesters in a row for philosophy courses. He was so helpful and broke down the complex concepts in ways that were much easier to understand. Something I really appreciated about his teaching style was that he asked questions that would help us to think for ourselves rather than just giving us the answer.
What are some of your most memorable moments at Ohio State?
The Michigan game in 2018 and the Penn state game in 2019 were two of the best memories I have. We rushed the field both times and I was surrounded by an indescribable atmosphere of energetic Buckeye pride.
What are your goals and plans for the future?
One of my long-term goals is to be fluent in Spanish. I hope it will open up opportunities for me in the workforce, whatever my future career entails. I want to be able to balance my personal life and work life so that I can get married and have a family. I also want to travel the world, and I'd specifically love to go to Spain to use my Spanish.