Buck-I-Serv: One Heartland

I have wanted to do a service trip to experience a different type of volunteering. I wanted to see what it would be like to volunteer for a week straight, and how much I can impact something with working on it for more than a couple hours a day like many other volunteer opportunities are. I applied for a Buck-I-Serv trip and got accepted to One Heartland which was located in Minnesota. One Heartland is a camp for youth who have been impacted by HIV/AIDS, and serves as a place for kids to get away and enjoy being a kid for a couple weeks. We stayed at the camp for a week to help complete projects around the grounds to prepare it for the future campers that would stay there the following summer. It was an amazing experience and to hear about the impact you have made and the appreciation from the staff for the changes you were able to make in just a week was heart touching. I look forward to participating in more service trips during my time on campus.

Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity

During the first semester of my Sophomore year, I began the recruitment process of Phi Sigma Pi. Each week I would attend meetings to learn more about the important history of Phi Sigma Pi, what the fraternity entails, and what it means to be a brother within this organization. At the end of the semester, I passed the final exam and I was able to complete the process by being inducted into the fraternity. This fraternity and group of individuals within it have made it feel like home since my first meeting. I have enjoyed growing with them and learning more about each individual in the organization, and having the opportunity to volunteer and participate in different activities around our community.

Following my induction, I ran for the Scholarship Chair and got elected to serve for the position. Due to COVID-19, unfortunately I was unable to fulfill the role as much as I wanted to this semester, but I look forward to the upcoming semester to successfully serve as the Scholarship Chair.

I have been looking for an organization on campus that I felt like I belonged instantly, and this was the perfect fit for me. I am so happy I found this fraternity in the beginning of my Sophomore year, so I can grow in it and make the best out of the years I have left.

The James Cancer Hospital

When I started my college career in August, I received a volunteer position in the ENT Clinic at The James Cancer Hospital. With my position, I volunteer once a week for 2 hours. My duties include cleaning and stocking rooms, picking up any trash in the waiting room, restocking tissues in the waiting room, taking patients to check out, and completing any other duties that may be requested of me by the nurses or doctors. This position has allowed me to get a glance at what working in a hospital would entail, and has also solidified that the medical field is where I want my future career to be. Having this position has given me the chance to interact with the nurses there and has also given useful knowledge about how a clinic runs.

Mid-Ohio Food Bank

Through the MEDLIFE organization that I am involved with, we had the opportunity to go the the Mid-Ohio Food Bank and contribute with their first trunk-or-treat. In addition to the trunk-or-treat, there was also a food line. Some of us were assigned to pass out candy at the cars, some were assigned to serve food to those in line, and others were to work in the kitchen to help make food and clean up. This experience was one of the most amazing things that I’ve had the chance to be a part of. Not only did I get to further some relationships with members of MEDLIFE, but I also got to meet other volunteers at the food bank, and experience the great help that the Mid-Ohio Food Bank provides to others. This opportunity opened up an interest for me that I didn’t know was there, and showed me that volunteering at the food bank is something that I definitely want to look in to for a future, long-term activity.

Steps for Sarcoma

My Biological Sciences Scholars Program got to volunteer at the Steps for Sarcoma walk/run. Steps for Sarcoma raises money for orthopaedic sarcoma pilot research, and promotes improved patient outcomes and quality of life. My position was at the dog station, where I handed out bowls of water and doggy bags to the
participants who had dogs with them. It was an experience to interact with the other workers at the table, and the runner/walkers and their dogs as they came by us.

 

Columbus Zoo: Animal Health Rehabilitation Center Tour

The Biological and Health Sciences Scholars took a trip to the Columbus Zoo. During the trip, we got to take a tour through the Animal Health Rehabilitation 
Center and see where the veterinarians and vet technicians cared for the animals. Animals were brought here if they were sick, injured, or if they needed a check-up. We got to learn about the history of the center and about personal projects some of the veterinarians have done. In the picture below, the picture frame talks about the “giraffe project”, which is one of the projects completed by a veterinarian at the center. The veterinarian on this project got to travel to Africa to complete a blood test on a giraffe to learn more about them. This newly renovated center now allows the staff to have the best space and resources to keep the animals healthy. We got a glimpse at how close the animals are with the staff, and the trust the staff has developed with the animals is unbreakable. They informed us that the trust betweeen the staff and the animals is their top priority, next to their health, because having their trust allows them to complete tasks more efficiently and take care of their health properly. This tour gave me the opportunity to see how the animals are cared for, and what the facilities look like.

Star House

The Biological Sciences Scholars Program went to volunteer at Star House in Columbus to sort through the donations and organize the donation room. We were able to learn about Star House history and what they offer to the homeless youth that come to them. Star House provides the youth homeless and alone with food, clothing, backpacks and bags, and hygiene items. Not only do they provide these basic items, they also offer two full-time therapists who are there to provide individualized treatment. The therapists also connect the youth to other resources in the area to provide them with additional help, and they also serve as advocates to help the youth accomplish their goals. I have attached the website if access is needed for more information on volunteering, donating, or receiving help from them! https://starhousecolumbus.org/services-2/ 

Wesley Glen

There’s no better way to spend an evening than playing bingo at your local retirement home. Wesley Glen Retirement Community gave the Biological Scholars an opportunity to come up to get to know the residents of the community, with a night of Bingo to follow. This opportunity allowed me to get to know some residents in my community, and get to hear some great stories from their past experiences. Pictured is myself with 2 of my fellow scholars, with two lovely ladies we had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know, Virginia and Naomi!