This February, I participated in BuckeyeThon for the second time. This was a very fun experience, as well as a great way to get OSU students together for an awesome cause! BuckeyeThon was extremely exciting in the sense that, first, they kick it off by bringing all of the kids out. It’s so cool to see the kids who’s lives we are directly affecting by participating in BuckeyeThon. There is something for everybody to do at the event, especially if you bring a few friends. BuckeyThon is a very effective way of raising money for a great cause. I went to BuckeyeThon with my two roommates and some of our other friends. We danced at the silent disco, danced at the DJ, and watched our friend cut her hair for cancer patients. I love this event and will definitely be participating next year.

Last summer I volunteered at a horse-riding ranch near my home in Oak Forest, Illinois. I came to the farm knowing absolutely nothing about horse or how to manage them. By the end of the summer, I was a pro at brushing, bathing, saddling, and getting the horse ready for a ride. I learned how to lead the horse out to pasture without getting kicked or stepped on, which is an accomplish for me. Being at the farm also gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of cool people. I met several other pre-veterinary students from different schools and learned about their experiences, which were unique from mine. Having zero experience with horses prior to this one, this volunteer opportunity was very exciting for me and I really enjoyed spending my summer at the farm.

I got the opportunity to go to the Columbus Zoo on September 24th. I met the other scholars students at the Union and got on a bus to the zoo that morning. I walked to the elephant exhibit and sat and watched for about an hour. After that, I walked to my tour. The zookeepers gave us a complete tour of the giraffe house. The giraffes at the Columbus Zoo are well taken care of! They get plenty of enrichment from the keepers and lots of mental stimulation. As well as getting a full tour of the giraffe house, I also got to feed one of the biggest male giraffes in the Columbus Zoo! It was really cool to be that close to such a beautiful animal. I learned about internship opportunities at the zoo during the summer. An internship at the Columbus Zoo is definitely something that I want to pursue during my time here.

Overall, I enjoyed going to the Columbus Zoo for the first time and getting such a hands-on experience. Being a scholar at OSU has provided me with a lot of opportunities already!

The PAWS Animal Shelter is something that represents me because I started volunteering there when I was a freshman in high school and the work that I do there has really made an impact on my life. I have found my passion for working with animals at the shelter. Doing simple jobs like washing dishes, washing crates, or walking dogs was something that was fun for me because I felt like I was making a difference. I have met some of the most interesting people and some dogs with the most interesting stories. I definitely plan to continue working at PAWS when I go home for breaks.