I volunteered 12 hours this semester at a philanthropy event Ohio State hosts every year, Buckeyethon. This is a 24 hour dance marathon with the mission of raising money to help defeat pediatric cancer. It is an extremely large event that takes up practically the entire Ohio Union. At face value this event is a large group of college, and some high school, students who come together to dance, play games, and interact with families who have experienced pediatric cancer. Although, this event has a much deeper significance. Children and families who have battled pediatric look forward to this event every year, and for some it may be the highlight of their year. Then, on top of that, by seeing these families and children all of us begin to visualize the children currently in the hospital who are physically unable to make it to the event. This dynamic of the event hits deep because it is upsetting to imagine all the children suffering in the hospital while we are having fun dancing and playing games. It makes us, as healthy students, think about everything we take for granite and how our lives could be changed in the blink of an eye with the diagnosis of cancer. This disease carries immense weight within our society because it affects so many lives every day. Setting aside all the political topics that may divide people in our country there is a common purpose and commitment behind the cause of curing cancer embedded within everyone. So, I find myself honored to have the able to effect change within our local and global community fighting for a just and powerful cause. In acknowledging that, my leadership has grown to reflect these newly gained values and prioritize the importance of taking action.