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.

Community Commitment
I volunteered through community commitment which was organized at the Student Union during the first weekend of the school year. It was a five hour commitment where we were organized into ‘teams’ and sent into the community to volunteer for a variety of different things. Our ‘team’ was assigned to a local middle school that needed help with their garden. A women welcomed us outside of their school and she directed us toward their garden. The garden was a huge component of their school because, not only did it provide some food for the school and for the community, but it gave the children a place to learn about the environment and learn how to grow their own food. So it was great to be a able to help weed, pick fresh vegetables and fruit, and plant a few new flowers to liven up their garden. This service helped me learn that people rely on food in a variety of ways. That garden is crucial for some of the kids attending that school who need those meals and nutrients. Also, I learned how beneficial it can be to know how to grow and keep up with a garden effectively. My leadership was largely impacted by the woman who greeted us and led the entire event while we were at the school. She had to stay extremely organized to be able to take care of the garden and teach at the school as well. She was taking time out of every weekend to come to the school and take care of the garden along with coordinate other adults to do the same because she had people helping her while we were there too. Because of service learning I am a more well rounded individual who understands how to lead in a variety of ways.

The Corner
Unfortunately, I was unable to volunteer at the marathon, hot chocolate run, or DSWS Day of service because I was either injured or out of town for previously planned events. So I got my other volunteer hours through an organization I volunteered for in high school. This organization is called The Corner and it is run through the church I attend back home in Toledo, OH. I volunteered two separate Mondays for 3 hours each Monday, totaling 6 hours of volunteer service. This organization feeds a fresh, hot meal to whoever comes to the church (usually 70-110 people) every Monday of the entire year. They also give out free food and sometimes clothes at the end of the night. I have learned so much from volunteering at The Corner. It has exposed me to a very diverse crowd which is incredible because reminds me everyone has a story and some of the best conversations I have had are with people who eat at The Corner. I have also met and formed great relationships with many of the other volunteers. One specifically being Jodi Schmidt, who is an unbelievable woman that runs The Corner with two other fantastic ladies. Jodi has shown me what it means to combine hard work with a passion along with the fulfillment she receives from her work. Also, Jodi does this every week for absolutely no pay. It is simply her desire to help others that pushes her to keep this amazing organization going. Watching Jodi lead the volunteers and get to know the people who eat at The Corner has shown me a great deal about being a leader. I hope to encompass the passion, hard work, and ability to connect with others as well as Jodi does. Because of service learning I am pushing myself to better incorporate those values into my actions and leadership roles every day.

http://www.cpctoledo.org/the-corner.html

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