BuckeyeThon and Dunn Dash

For Spring 2019, I had the opportunity to volunteer for BuckeyeThon (12hrs) and Dunn Dash (7hrs). Each event was high-energy and a great way to see how we, as individuals, can impact so many people. BuckeyeThon is the largest student run philanthropy, not only at The Ohio State University, but also in the state of Ohio. Every dollar donated benefits the kids battling cancer at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. Reaching and then surpassing my goal was the greatest feeling, along with seeing all of the kids dancing and playing at the event. For some reason, I had always thought fundraising would be hard, but this experience has shown me that there are a lot of people who want to help. Dunn Dash is an annual indoor triathlon put on by the Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars. With an affordable entry price and one-on-one support from volunteers, numerous people are able to test their limits and see what they can accomplish. I am grateful for having time to converse with the athletes before they began their first leg of the race, running. Each person had their own personal goals, and watching them go far beyond what they originally thought was beautiful. Being loud and cheering in support of the participants showed me how we can all come together to accomplish aspirations.

Because of service learning, I am making a difference for the generations to come.

Links for more information about the organizations and how to get involved:

https://buckeyethon.osu.edu

A Marathon, A Talent Show & A Furniture Bank

Volunteering is a way to gain experience in a wide variety of tasks while helping others. All of the volunteering I performed during this semester consisted of tasks I had never done before. These volunteer opportunities were all found in newsletters from various organizations on campus that advertise them. I was able to gain valuable knowledge that I could have never received from reading books or watching videos.

The Columbus Marathon is an annual event that helps raise money for Nationwide Children’s Hospital. I had known that there were marathons in Columbus, but I did not know that the Columbus Marathon had a deeper meaning. Whether you volunteer or run, it is a great opportunity to give back to the community. As a volunteer, I helped set-up, work, and tear-down the 17.3 mile water station, which totaled to be about 5 hours of work. Although it was a very frigid morning, it was a ton of fun creating layers of water and Gatorade cups, along with cheering on the runners while handing out the drinks.

The Neuroscience department at The Ohio State University hosted a talent show to collect non-perishable food items to support the Buckeye Food Alliance. This organization has a pantry on The Ohio State University campus, which is accessible to college students that can barely afford food. As a part of the department, I decided to volunteer my time and perform my old gymnastics routine as an act. I attended rehearsals, advertised the event, and performed, which totaled to be about 5 hours of work. I did donate some items myself, but my main contribution was providing my abilities to allow for a larger amount of donations. All of the donations were then taken to the organization to supply their pantry.

The Furniture Bank of Central Ohio helps turn used, donated furniture into useful items for individuals and families in need. As a volunteer, I helped take apart old college desks, so they could then be turned into side tables, which totaled to be about 5 hours of work. It takes a decent amount of time to just transform one desk, so my group and I were able to help accelerate the process for the workers.

These amazing opportunities have allowed me to see that I am braver than I believe I am. Being loud to cheer on runners, performing with a spotlight on me, and getting under spiderweb infested items are all things that I would not normally do. These experiences have helped me grow and gain confidence while helping others, which I believe will also help with my leadership skills. Because of service learning, I am constantly becoming a better person and meeting new, wonderful people, which makes me want to continue to explore the variety of volunteering opportunities available.

 

Links for more information about the organizations and how to get involved:

http://www.columbusmarathon.com/volunteer

https://www.buckeyefoodalliance.org/

https://furniturebankcoh.org/

True Colors

Every person has their own strengths and weaknesses. By using the True Colors Indicator, one can see and reflect on their own personal characteristics. It is important to be conscious of yourself. Whether it is knowing your own goals or knowing your limits, you can magnify your abilities and reach your full potential by being conscious of self. For example, I identified as a gold. The main values associated with this color are organization, dependability, and loyalty. With this knowledge, I know that by taking upon certain roles in a group or team setting, like creating a schedule, I will be contributing valuable and useful assets to others in the activity because it is something I know how to do. It is important to be self aware, and identifying one’s strengths is the first step to unlocking conscious of self.

Leadership In Gymnastics

Throughout my ten plus years of gymnastics, I have seen numerous examples of leadership in the sport. When someone is struggling with a skill, an older gymnast will give them pointers from her own experience. When a gymnast falls or lands wrong, typically, one or more person will quickly rush to grab ice and notify a coach. I describe these two common situations in gymnastics as examples of leadership because I believe that a leader is someone who helps others in difficult situations and guides someone to success. A leader is a person who others look up to, so to display leadership one should be able to help control situations that seem out of had and offer words of wisdom.

About Me

My name is Megan Subr, and I am going into my first year at The Ohio State University. I am a neuroscience, pre-physical therapy major. Being a competitive gymnast from a young age, I experienced numerous injuries that required me to attend physical therapy. My physical therapists helped me not only recover, but also, helped me grow out of my introvert shell by maintaining a friendly environment and talking with me casually. I am so grateful for my experiences in physical therapy, and I hope to one day make the same impact that they all had on me.

During high school, I was a gymnastics coach at Performance Gymnastics Academy, where I taught kids ranging from three years old to seventeen years old. With now being in Columbus for college, I will continue coaching during breaks. Being a gymnast for over 10 years and a coach for a couple of years, I have always valued and loved fitness. With my passion for fitness, I joined the Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars program. I am so excited to be with a group of people that share the same interests as me. With the numerous intramurals and sports clubs, I am positive that I will find my niche to use all of the skills competitive gymnastics taught me and make great friends along the way. I am also looking forward to cheering on our football team at games.

Outside of school and gymnastics, I love crafting. Sewing and crocheting are two of my favorites. Recently, I crocheted a bunch of baby blankets to donate to Elizabeth’s New Life Center in Dayton, Ohio. It was so much fun to use a talent to help others. Volunteering is another activity I love to do in my free time. One location I frequently volunteer at is the House of Bread, a soup kitchen that is also in Dayton, Ohio. A group of friends and I spend five hours at a time during holidays preparing and serving meals to the homeless. Another location is Soin Medical Center in Beavercreek, Ohio. At the hospital, I have volunteered over 300 hours working at the front desk. I value my time with friends and family, and I am so grateful that it can have meaning to others too.

I am excited for all of the adventures that wait for me and the path I will create at The Ohio State!