I am on a pre-dental track, so I am also a part of the pre-dental club here at Ohio State. Within this club, we learn a lot about what it takes to get into dental school, as well as have opportunities to meet new people, volunteer, and participate in different activities. The way I found out I could volunteer at the Ohio Dental Association Convention was through the dental club meetings. The events are also posted on their website: https://u.osu.edu/predentalclub/ . I worked the convention from 8-11am at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Here, I helped take a part rooms/events, hand out flyers, and helped promote the ODA. After the work was complete, we were able to mingle and explore the convention ourselves. From working this convention, I was able to gain more confidence when approaching people, and asserted myself more. Additionally, I was able to network with some of the dentist there, and learn more about where they were from, where they went to school, and asked for advice. Both off these things aided my leadership skills because it enhanced my communication skills. So, because of service learning I am increasing my networks and gaining advice for my future.

For welcome week at tOSU, Wipeout is one of the main events where students of all ranks come and do a water obstacle course that is based off the popular tv show. For this event, I volunteered from 4-7pm at the aquatic center. Since freshman year, I knew about this event, and I was able to volunteer through Penny Barkhurst,  the outreach programs coordinator that works for the department of recreational sports. While I was volunteering, I was stationed in the lobby. Here, I helped all the contestants put on their ankle tag, in which allowed them to be timed when going through and completing the course. Because of service I am learning more about myself. I realize that I am an approachable person with a friendly face because I always had more people come to me than my other co-worker. I always greeted them, told them what to do, answered their questions, and wished them good luck after they were all set. Volunteering helped my gain more leadership because it helped me developed more soft skills, or being positive and confident for the people I am helping, and volunteering for.