Community service and outreach has always been a central aspect of my character and continues to be as I progress and navigate my college and future career plans. Throughout my high school experience, I partook in several trips to the Dominican Republic to serve o
n a construction and educational trip to the small community of Juan Tomas in southern Dominican Republic. This quaint village of loving and appreciative individuals welcomed us with open arms and helped us feel at home even though we were thousands of miles from home. With roads and homes in disarray, it became a central mission of our mission team to help this community and to build relationships with individuals that last long after our return to the United States. While these trips have provided me the opportunity to explore and assume leadership positions within our team, it also set a platform of holistic growth as an individual and as a maturing adult. These mission trips have blessed me with new relationships and friendships with my team members but also with the individuals in the DR. However, it took an effort of stepping out of my comfort zone to experience the growth that comes with a new environment. I am a firm believer in the concept that we grow through trials of adversity and being uncomfortable. Being dropped into a new country where the general population does not speak my native language, it took a genuine effort to practice and develop better communication skills in Spanish. Looking back, I had nothing to fear. Whether it was late night conversations on the basketball court or working together to build a home for a family, we were all there to serve something bigger than ourselves. It didn’t matter our language, our nationality, our race, or our gender; we were all there to serve and to help others. In retrospect, the DR held a prominent role in my growth as a person, and one that I found a passion for helping others and pursuing intentional and meaningful relationships in any environment that I am found in. As I sought out an educational experience for my collegiate career, I sought out an experience that would enable me to further continue my leadership and service throughout college. Through Mount Leadership Society Scholars, I have the opportunity to continue to lead and to serve on a variety of councils and communities that seek to help others and to be a part of something bigger than myself here at Ohio State.