The Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars Program has allowed me to grow substantially over the past two years. Our weekly meetings have provided me with multiple opportunities to grow my network, and develop on the professional level. Because of DSWS I was presented with the opportunity to work for the Rec Sports Department last summer. Through that job I gained valuable experience with customer service and improved communication skills. I believe that my experiences from last summer helped develop me and are the reason that I have my current job. I am currently the Student Assistant in the Occupational Therapy office of the Hand and Upper Extremity Center at Ohio State. This job has been the highlight of my college career thus far. I want to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy, and this job allows me to take in so much information and knowledge from the field. This experience will really make me stand out when it comes time to apply to graduate school.
Through DSWS I have learned to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. This is a real challenge for me. I do not like stepping out of my comfort zone and prefer to do things I am familiar with. This semester I stepped out of my comfort zone and decided to apply to partake in a Buck-I-SERV trip. I hesitated to sign up because of the fear of the unknown; I did not want to do the trip by myself and I was not sure what activities we would really be doing . Little did I know that this trip would be so impactful on my life. We went to the impoverished town of Biloxi, Mississippi and serviced the local community. We removed invasive species and served as mentors for the local school children. This trip made me realize how lucky I am and the impact that service has on a group of people. The community members were so appreciative of us.
Through the DSWS program, I have seen myself mature. I am more willing to try new things. I no longer care if my friends are doing it; if I think it will be beneficial for me, I am going to go out and do it. DSWS has brought me some of my best friends and unforgettable memories and I am sad that it is almost over. However, I know that the connections and bonds that I have formed will last forever.