Community Service: How being a helping hand enriched my Ohio State Newark experience

Roman Lee, public affairs, 2021

Community service goes a long way and has a positive impact on the issues, people and community being served. I love volunteering because community service is one of my core guiding principles. The Ohio State University at Newark gave me the opportunity to not only learn and set myself up for my future career, but also to continue volunteering in both the campus and Newark community. I was a part of Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge, Journey Campus Ministries, COTC Ambassadors and the Laurel Collegiate Society. I served as the student body president of Ohio State Newark and Central Ohio Technical College. In my opinion, service to others is very crucial today because society faces many social, economic, racial and political obstacles that strike a divide among people. I see taking time out of my busy schedule to give back as a way to not only give back to those in need, but also to establish a connection with someone who comes from a different walk of life.

I first learned the importance of service from my mother who taught me to live a selfless life. I’m also driven to help others due to the experiences I had as a child growing up on the west side of Cincinnati, Ohio, in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood in a single-parent household. Because of the actions of others to help us, my mother always taught us to lend a hand to those in need and to never ignore issues that may occur in our world. One memorable moment of selflessness and generosity was when my mother reached out to a homeless man who didn’t have enough money for a single banana at a grocery store despite our own struggles. My mother took a sandwich, pop and bag of chips from our groceries and gave it to the homeless man sitting outside the store in the cold. My mother later told us, “He needed it more than us. We may be struggling but there are some people out there with absolutely nothing. Never be selfish. If you can give, then you should give.” Her words and that simple act of kindness made an impact on me and how I decided to carry myself from then on. Because of her words, I started to help those in my community with cleanups or by doing lawn work for elderly neighbors who couldn’t. Doing service in the community was reinforced during my years at Elder High School. I’ve discovered that service is an action that can make a big difference in difficult situations. It can bring attention to critical issues that affect our communities.

When I came to Ohio State Newark, my experiences of community service drastically expanded. I joined the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge enabling me to go on two spring break trips to help build homes for those in need in Fort Smith, Arkansas and Monroe, North Carolina. Both trips taught me the importance of giving time to not only help one person but a whole family. I was able to help put a roof over a family’s head to provide a place for shelter, comfort and growth. I got to meet different people who have been affected by poverty or hard times in more ways than one. I also got the opportunity to build relationships with my peers who participated and those who oversaw the building of the homes. I learned why they do it and why the organization means so much to them. Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge expanded my eagerness to help others in need. It also pushed me to challenge my peers to pay attention to issues that we face and to think of someone else when throwing away food or clothes that could be donated. Participation in community service expanded my knowledge of the world’s growing issues and inspired me to seek out more ways to aid communities. These experiences have helped me to decide what to focus on with my degree and what I can strive to accomplish every day. My college career and values as an individual are not complete without community service. Service to others helps build important characteristics within ourselves and makes a difference. My Ohio State Newark experience wouldn’t have been the same or complete without my involvement in community service.

Service to others will always be something that drives me to seek ways to fix issues that grip our communities. Ask yourself, ‘What am I doing for others? What could I do right now to help?’ There is no greater feeling than lending a hand to those in need and creating a positive connection with those around you.

Kasey and Karaoke Update

Guest Blogger

Kasey “Aaliyah” Jackson, Sophomore, Forensic Science Chemistry, COTC & Ohio State Newark

Hello again everyone, 

Last year my karaoke journey ended in Las Vegas as I placed 30th in America after I had placed 2nd in the Ohio Karaoke Championship which took me to Las Vegas. 

In Vegas, I did well but not well as I could’ve because I got sick and lost my voice two days before we left. I tried to press on anyway. 

Because of my hiccup for 1st place in the Ohio Karaoke Championship was a music arrangement error, I have decided to re-enter and I have gone through the proper lengths to purchase my own rights to the karaoke songs I have chosen this year so that I can practice and guarantee my practices and performances will be the same. 

This year the Karaoke World Championships have moved up so Karaoke Nationals has also moved up, which also means Ohio Karaoke Championships has moved up placing me in the first round of qualifying on April 3 at 9:30 p.m. Instead of having two songs this year for the first round they are only accepting one. The event will be held at Pastimes Crossroads, 121 E Campus View Blvd in Columbus. It is free and open to the public. If I qualify on April 3, the semi-final round will be held on April 24 and that will determine if I move on to the Ohio Karaoke Championship on July 12. I’m hoping for the best and I’m coming for that 1st place spot! I’d like to thank all the students and staff here at the college for all the support they’ve shown me throughout this journey. The best is yet to come!

Kasey and Karaoke

Guest Blogger

Kasey “Aaliyah” Jackson, Sophomore, Forensic Science Chemistry, COTC & Ohio State Newark

My singing history is very long, so I’m just going to touch on my recent success. About a year ago I auditioned for Ohio State Newark’s Got Talent where I placed second. After that performance, fellow students Elizabeth Beatty, Melissa Tobin and Hunter Spittler and Assistant Director for Student Life Justin Khol told me about Karaoke Night, so I started to going. I don’t think I’ve missed a karaoke night since.

This past spring the karaoke night event holders Tim and Vickie Craft asked me if I wanted to compete in karaoke. I told them I usually go home for the summer and that I wouldn’t be back until school started again. They said they would take my information and contact me when it was starting up. I came back and I went to the qualifying round, where I qualified and was the female winner for the first round. We were supposed to have a semi-final round but that round was eliminated and I immediately became a finalist. Finals were held at Woody’s Pub and Grill in Buckeye Lake, Ohio. We went two rounds; my first song was ‘Georgia On My Mind’ and my second was ‘And I am Telling You’ by Jennifer Hudson. The second was a little difficult because the arrangement was slightly different than what I had been practicing so I got stuck in the beginning of the song and the judges penalized me for it. I ended up getting second place still qualifying for Vegas; but only the first place winner had their fares paid. A very generous anonymous giver believed in me so much they offered to pay for me and my boyfriend’s way to Las Vegas so I could compete.

In Las Vegas, I will be representing the State of Ohio and in competition to win a prize of $1000 and a chance to represent the USA in Helsinki, Finland.

Las Vegas Karaoke Competition Schedule

ROUND 1 is Thursday September 28, and Friday September 29th.

I will compete Thursday between 10 am and noon.

I will compete Friday between 7:30 pm and 10:30pm.

ROUND 2 is Saturday September 30th if I make it.

I’m so honored to even be considered in this event and on this type of platform. I’m hoping to win, but if I don’t I am very happy to have had this opportunity to represent my state and schools.

After this competition is over I’m looking forward to finishing my education strong and seeking more venues to perform at. I want to thank those who have pushed and believed in me. Thank you to Justin Khol and Vorley Taylor for always making a way for me to perform. Thank You to my voice coach Perry Meyer. You are the reason I am going to Vegas, without you this would be impossible. Thank you to Vickie and Tim Craft for having so much faith in me from the beginning. Thank you to my entire family and all my friends. I appreciate EVERYONE!!!

My performances can be found on my facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/aaliyah.jackson