This semester, I volunteered at the Dunn Dash and the College Club Swimming National Championships. The Dunn Dash is a modified triathlon hosted by the Recreation and Physical Activity Center. Anyone within the Ohio State community can participate in this event, and the proceeds benefit students in the Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars Program. I volunteered at this event for five hours, and I heard about this event through my scholars program, Dunn Sport and Wellness. My second volunteer event was the College Club Swimming National Championships. This event is a swim meet for the best college club swimming teams to compete for the national title. I volunteered at this event for five hours. I heard about this event through a fellow scholar of mine who is on the Ohio State Club Swimming Team.

While at the Dunn Dash, I served the participants of the event by counting the number of laps they swam. While at the College Club Swimming National Championships, I recorded race times for a given pool lane. The service I provided at each event helped each event run as planned and with minimal mistakes. As a result of my service, I recognized the value in effective communication and how poor communication can ruin any good situation. Since the volunteer events I participated in revolved around time, I learned just how important time management and timeliness can be. Overall, due to the community service I recently completed, I have developed an increased sense of social responsibility, a global view of society, and a heart for giving back and helping others.

This semester, I volunteered at Wipe-out and the Akron Children’s Hospital Holiday Tree Festival (https://www.akronchildrens.org/pages/Holiday-Tree-Festival.html). Wipe-out is an event modeled after the TV show, and is put on by the Department of Recreational Sports at Ohio State. This event is for all students who want to put their physical ability to the test on a water-based obstacle course. I volunteered at this event for 3 hours, and I heard about this event through my scholars program, Dunn Sport and Wellness. My second volunteer event was the Akron Children’s Hospital Holiday Tree Festival. This event is a holiday event put on by the hospital to collect donations to fund the hospital. At the event there are various decorated holiday trees donated by local organizations. Anyone that attends the event can purchase the trees, and all the proceeds go directly to the hospital.  I volunteered at this event for 7 hours. I heard about this event because I am a regular volunteer at Akron Children’s Hospital each summer.

While at Wipe-out I served the participants of the event by assisting them in removing their time-recording bands. While at the Akron Children’s Hospital Holiday Tree Festival , I assisted visitors in purchasing the trees available at the festival. The service I provided at each event helped each event run smoothly and as planned.  As a result of my service, I learned that I truly enjoy helping others and making their experiences as memorable as possible. Volunteering has impacted me as a leader because it has enabled me to gain confidence in my leadership abilities. Because of service learning I am preparing for my future career. As a future nurse, helping others is something that I will do on a daily basis.

This fall, I was a participant in the BOSS (Best of Student Startups) Competition ran through the Fisher College of  Business. The BOSS Competition offers a series of interactive workshops to students where they are provided valuable information and coaching to make their business ideas a reality. A dear friend and I participated in BOSS with an app idea our own. Though I am not formally studying business at Ohio State, BOSS allowed me to explore my potential in the business world and apply the knowledge I learned in my classes to expand my app idea. My friend and I did not come out on top at the end of the competition, but it was an experience that we will never forget. In the future, we hope to participate in the competition again to further our app idea.