After graduating from high school, I spent the summer before my first year at OSU working as an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate. For my job, I was assigned to work as a volunteer for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks and was able to experience working for a local summer food program near my hometown. From early June to late August, I provided assistance with preparing lunches for children from low-income households, and I also got to interact with the kids by playing outdoor activities and games with them before lunch was served. By devoting my time to this job, I was able to learn more about myself and how simple it is to make a difference in a child’s life.
It was a great pleasure to work with my fellow volunteers and get to know about them. In addition, I learned that even the smallest things that you can do for someone can go a long way. By spending time with the children, I was able to have an enjoyable experience that I will never forget. A major takeaway that I received from this experience was that doing something that brings you happiness and fulfillment will always be the best reward that you can receive. It’s not about receiving a paycheck at the end of the day, it’s about what you can learn from the job and how you can apply it to other endeavors.
Without a doubt, I benefited tremendously from this experience, and I strive to continue learning about different things and acquiring more skills that will help me grow professionally, spiritually, and personally. I hope to have more memorable experiences like this in the years to come, and I understand that since this is only the beginning of what I have done in my career thus far, I still have much more room to develop as a young adult and become the best person I can be.