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This semester, I had the privilege of joining DSWS and the greater OSU community in the fight against cancer. For twelve hours, we danced, laughed, and cheered for those whose lives have been affected by the disease, as well as hose who have yet to be affected. We danced for a better today and a better tomorrow.

The Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars group has become prominent in this fight more recently, and this year we were able to raise the second-highest amount of any scholars group. Considering our size, that is pretty impressive. Even more than bragging rights, however, this money has an impact beyond what we see at BuckeyeThon. This money is a hope, a promise, and I am so thankful that we get to contribute to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in such an impactful way. At times it was difficult to ask people for donations, especially since the majority of people I asked were family, but I believe that this was an important skill to develop. In developing this skill, I realized the implications it has for leadership potential: not only did I learn how to still show appreciation even when I did not receive the outcome for which I hoped, but I was also continuously amazed by people’s generosity. It was important for me to learn that asking people for time or money can be uncomfortable, but it is often times necessary. Because of this service learning opportunity, I am humbled by Ohio State’s commitment to its community and my ability to be a part of it. I am constantly reminded how fortunate I am to study at THE Ohio State University, and I look forward to continuing to serve the campus and Columbus communities during my time as a student.

This semester, I had three distinct opportunities to give back to the community through volunteering. The first weekend of school, I volunteered with the RecSports department on campus to make their Wipe Out event the success that it is. My job was to provide clean, fresh towels for participants post race for 3 hours. Participating in Wipe Out previously helped me feel connected to the campus community and cultivated a sense of belonging, so it was cool this year to be a part of helping others have that same experience. This volunteering helped me realize that I value providing people with opportunities, which I realized I could reflect in my leadership style! I would ideally love to mentor someone if my leadership position allowed it.

The second volunteering opportunity I had this semester was going with the RPAC Members Services department to make furniture at the Columbus Furniture Bank (shown in the attached picture). Although there were only seven of us who went, we were highly optimistic about what we could accomplish. We split into two groups, one to build the furniture and one to paint. At the end of our three hours, we stood by our furniture very proudly while the furniture bank employee commended us for our job: “Nice! You guys did about average.” Average?! What a let down! All kidding aside, I learned from this experience that my favorite type of volunteering is one that provides me the opportunity to use my hands. Also, it was awesome to know that this furniture would be placed in homes where families need it most – I cannot tell you how excited I am knowing that a little kid will be excited to have his own night stand.

As for my third and final volunteer position this semester, I participated in DSWS’s Day of Service. I was a part of the group that went to Goodwill, where we helped organize the front of the store. This was actually kind of a frustrating situation for me, as I felt that they didn’t have enough work to occupy as large of a group as we had so they gave us jobs that were very tedious and did not have very impactful results. This was very insightful for me, because it taught me that when I am in a leadership position, I should not give people assignments just to keep them busy – I should take a few minutes of my own time to give them some project to do that will actually help them and be productive.

Every time I volunteer, the more sure I am that a core component of my future career will be around helping those around me. Because of these three service learning opportunities, I feel better prepared for my future. I learned a lot about myself and my leadership style, which are indispensable for my development as a professional

My first weekend on campus, I was eager to explore the city that surrounded me. I enlisted the help of my directionally challenged friend, which probably wasn’t the best choice in hind-sight, and we made our way through the shops that lined the Short North district. Those readers who have visited the Short North know that there are many novelty shops that sell unique, one-of-a-kind items that cannot be found elsewhere, except in Columbus, so I am a little embarrassed to admit that the only item I purchased that day was a cookbook. A COOKBOOK. Of all the interesting items that the Short North has to offer, I walked away with detailed instructions on how to assemble a taste bud-arousing bowl of Dhal Tadka, which is a traditional Indian dish composed of lentils, onions, and an arsenal of spices that I didn’t have the money to buy. I knew when I bought the book that I would likely have to wait until Christmas break until I could hope to smell the Tadka roasting in a pan, so I honestly shouldn’t have purchased the book. But really, I’m not surprised I bought it anyway.

Food is what always brought my family together. Since I was a little girl, my mother would prepare a home-cooked dinner every night, a labor-of-love over which my family would share our lives. As I got older, I naturally found myself gravitating towards the kitchen. I was quickly enlisted in the troops of stirring and sauteing, though it was a few years before I was promoted to the ranks of chopping. Before I knew it, I was cooking meals, creating recipes that were the fruit of my own interpretation, but I never really understood the impact that food had on my life until we found out about my sister’s allergies. During my freshman year of high school, my family learned that my sister is allergic to wheat, eggs, and milk. This revelation called for a massive overhaul of our diet, and we realized the impact that healthful eating has on every aspect of a person’s life. It was through this process that I began to view my passions – food and fitness – as passions that I could spend the rest of my life sharing with other people.

The cookbook that I purchased, Bowls of Goodness, now sits atop the shelf of my desk, eagerly anticipating the trip home. It doesn’t look like much sitting there, but its significance transcends its humble appearance. To me, this book is a reminder of where I’m from and the promise of where I’m going.