Junior wins three Office of Student Life Leadership Awards

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Tewari, Anjali
Anjali Tewari

Chemical engineering undergraduate student Anjali Tewari is one busy woman. In addition to having a rigorous academic schedule, Anjali has made a significant impact in the chemical engineering department through her efforts to spread awareness on student mental health challenges; promote student professional development; encourage diversity and women in ChemE; and more.

Through these leadership opportunities, she gained her own professional, social, mental and academic growth--and recognition for her efforts.

The Ohio State University Office of Student Life's annual Leadership Awards program offers three awards that celebrate members of the Ohio State community who demonstrate exceptional skills in leadership, activism, student experience and community engagement: The Spirit of Ohio State-Individual Award; the Boehm Holistic Wellness Award; and the Diversity Engagement Award.

Anjali won all three!

The Spirit of Ohio State Award recognizes students and/or student organizations that represent the values, traditions, and spirit of Ohio State through their engagement in and commitment to the campus community, adding to the honor and pride of the University in a meaningful way. The Boehm Holistic Wellness Award, sponsored by the Student Life Wellness Center, recognizes Buckeyes who have promoted holistic wellness through leadership. The Diversity Engagement Award, sponsored by the Student Life Multicultural Center, is presented to individuals for leadership in and commitment to diversity programming and initiatives.

Anjali credits the department itself with inspiring her to become active in extracurricular pursuits. While scouting colleges, she visited Ohio State's chemical engineering department and met several students who spoke with her about their experiences as ChemE majors. She immediately felt a sense of belonging. Once on campus, she reunited with these students by joining the student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) as the freshman outreach chair.

"It was important for me that I help fellow freshman students feel connected to the department just like how upperclassmen had done for me," she said.

She also joined AIChE's professional development committee to improve her interpersonal skills and learn about what follows graduation, and became AIChE's main professional development coordinator the following year. During this time she coordinated networking events, resume reviews, information sessions, career fair prep events, and more, by enlisting the help of multiple student committees that she led and advised.

The most profound learning experiences come from meeting new people and stepping outside one's comfort zone. You can create the path that benefits you the most by leveraging different learning opportunities. Everyone's experiences, even with the same extracurriculars, are going to vary. What matters is that it helps you progress towards making a difference for yourself and others, while also having fun! - Anjali Tewari

"Getting involved gave me a glimpse into the 'real world,'" she said. "It helped me realize that there is more to a job or degree than what is written in textbooks. Problem-solving, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, consensus building, and creativity drive innovation and are necessary to a successful career," she said.

Parallel to this, she worked with Professor Jessica Winter to organize "Women in ChemE" events that targeted all students in the department as well as the College of Engineering. During the pandemic they hosted several internal and external speakers on topics such as imposter syndrome and women's issues for an audience that included people of different genders, majors, both undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty.

"Diversity means including new ideas and listening to new perspectives," Anjali said. "Without diversity, the concept of learning would simply not exist. I am so lucky to be constantly surrounded by diversity of thought, beliefs, and identities. It allows me to consider how I can improve myself and advocate for those around me," Anjali said.

"I strive to make sure that every voice is heard, because that will truly represent every relevant perspective and empower the next group of advocates. The most encouraging aspect is how fun it is to meet so many different people who have such a broad range of ideas. It is to the benefit of everyone to keep your mind open, because you never know how much a single voice can impact your life."

"I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from others rather than facing every possible problem on my own and having to work from scratch," Anjali said. "By giving back and being part of a team, I can reflect and learn from my own experiences."

How does she do it all? By learning when to say "no" and prioritizing her own holistic wellness. "As my schedule has gotten increasingly busy, I have realized the importance of self-care. Constantly reflecting on my growth has helped me balance the rigors of my studies with extracurricular activities," she said.

However, she is far from satisfied.

"Though I am excited about my progress, I understand that there is still a long way to go. I'm looking forward to the next learning opportunity and adventure!" 

Anjali and 91 other award winners will be celebrated virtually in the 61st Ohio State University Student Life Leadership Awards program on April 9th at 4 pm, broadcast live on the Office of Student Life's facebook page.

Student Life Leadership Awards

 

 

 

Category: Undergraduate
Tag: awards