Intramural Volleyball

The autumn semester of 2022 was an extremely rigorous one. I was taking 18 credit hours, working a part-time job, actively involved in my scholars group as a committee chair and struggling to maintain a sense of balance, which took a major toll on my motivation and energy. This semester I focused on prioritizing my physical and mental health and wellbeing, and one of the ways I did so was through intramural volleyball. 

I played volleyball competitively for six years prior to college and nearly forgot my passion for the sport! It was a great way to take a break from schoolwork, deepen my connections with friends, 

and simply enjoy doing something I love in a stress-free environment. It provided me the opportunity to strengthen my coaching skills (and patience) teaching my friends new skills on the court, and gave me a space in which I could exercise a healthy amount of competition.

Overall, I’ve noticed a huge improvement in both myself and my academics this semester. By focusing on my health first, I’ve been more successful in balancing my workload and more productive, both inside and outside of the classroom. Maintaining a sense of balance has definitely been one of the more difficult lessons I’ve had to learn in college, but intramural volleyball helped me remember the benefits of prioritizing your wellbeing!

Deaf Coffee Night

Communication is an essential key in any relationship and environment, which stresses the importance of language. My native tongue is English, and I’m working towards both fluency and a major in Spanish. However, I got to broaden my language horizons even more with American Sign Language my senior year. 

Besides learning how to sign, I also gained knowledge about the Deaf community both inside and outside the classroom. This course introduced me to DCN: Deaf Coffee Nights, every Friday evening at Gross Donuts. Before long, every Friday night I wasn’t at work you could find me at this Deaf event. It connected me to an incredible community, one that accepted me with open arms. I found that even though my signing was still novice, a language barrier couldn’t prevent connections and friendships from forming. It opened my eyes to the importance of communication and the privilege I have – being hearing in a hearing world, speaking English in an English-dominated region. With just an open mind and some introductory ASL classes, I was able to make lasting friendships, communicate with Deaf or Hard of Hearing people that came into where I worked, and learn more about this community of amazing people. In my pursuit of a medical career, I don’t want any barriers (such as language) to keep me from providing the best care I can to anyone in need.

 

One Place Church

Service has always played an important role in my life, and one way I’d use this is through the kid’s ministry at One Place Church. I eventually became the Head Team Leader in the elementary room, which taught me many valuable skills and gifted me with many enriching memories.

One of the most influential experiences as the Kid’s Team Leader was my time as a summer camp counselor. As a leader working with children, I learned a whole different level of responsibility and organization. Following the schedule, keeping count of all the girls, holding everyone’s bags and making sure everyone had sunscreen is a small piece of a much longer list. But beyond the essential leadership skills this position taught me, it showed me the importance and value of relationships. The highlight of my week, beyond singing songs and teaching lessons, was forming connections with my girls and seeing their friendships form. By establishing a relationship with them, they respected me more as their leader and I gained a better understanding of them. It made goodbyes difficult, but imparted lasting memories that we all will treasure. Forming relationships and building connections is an important part of life, essential to growth and new understandings.