Author: jones.6328

First semester volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to get to help people and to get your community service hours. From volunteering with a club or organization, to just going on your own, there are many different ways to get involved. I’ve volunteered at my local elementary school for years and have loved it. Now that I’m in college I’ve had the opportunity to do multiple different types of service. My bioscience group had volunteered with the Wesley Glenn Nursing Home for their Halloween party. It was so cool to help out with their party because We got to work with so many age groups from the tricker treaters to the residents. We heard so many stories from the residents and were able to connect so much with them. It was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to see what other opportunities that I can find in volunteering. 

Year in Review

While it is not a year, it has been a semester and what a semester it has been! I found that a lot of what I have done in high school to study and stay organized will not help me at all in college. I have applied for multiple volunteer programs and seeing if I can find a place that fits. I scheduled classes for next year and I’m very ready for Winter break. I’m still deciding on my major but I think that I need to find a career path and major that matches me. From football games and work, to friends and exploring Columbus, it has been a great first semester. Go Bucks!

G.O.A.L.S.

“G.O.A.L.S.”

  • Global Awareness: “Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences.” I love to work with people and learning more about other cultures. I am planning on attending Graduate School abroad and possibly do a field school abroad as well.
  • Original Inquiry: For original inquiry, I would like to take on more internships and get involved with higher coursework in my majors.
  • Academic Enrichment: I want to get the most from college and what I can learn from both inside and out of the classroom. My Scholarship has given me this great opportunity that I do not want to give up and not push myself to make the most of my education. Which is why I have chosen to double major and
  • Leadership Development: Leadership comes in many different forms which is why I joined APOP.  This way I gain many different experiences from working with others and working by myself. I am also in the scholars program which promotes leadership in the self and within the group.
  • Service Engagement: Giving back to the community is very important to me because I’m from a small town and very tight knit community. Working with Columbus Gives Back has given me multiple diverse opportunities to volunteer within Columbus and APOP has plenty of volunteer opportunities for members.

Career

Work ethic is a large part of my values that my family has impressed upon me. From my mom’s side of the family that work more with the community or with their hands, to my dad’s side that work with multiple people and companies. My hometown is surrounded by many labor intensive jobs and agricultural jobs. It’s also great because the community wants to help their children gain work and life experience that they will hire and let students be workers and students. I’ve gotten both of my jobs from hearing through the grapevine and knowing the local families or students that worked for them.

I’ve been working since my sophomore year of high school at my local elementary school as a Summer Cleaner. While it is not the most glamorous of jobs, it did make me work hard and not be afraid to do what I need to get the job done. I  worked there for three years and have been part of a team, working jobs on my own and even appointed team leader last summer. I learned about hard work and how everyone’s jobs are important no matter how insignificant it seems to others.

My other summer job that I started was at a local Apple Orchard. I worked in the store with customers and other workers. Since it was a family run business I got a more hands on training and instructions both from peers and the owners. It was a really diverse job because I learned about the different produce, how to sort them, how to deal with customers and more about customer service. It was a agricultural job and even if I do not pursue a career in that aspect, I can still appreciate learning about it and what exactly goes into running and maintaining an Orchard. I also learned that I hate buying produce at a chain store any more (the fault of too much knowledge of fruit).

Artifacts

One of my most important artifacts at the moment is my scholarship to The Ohio State University. I was given the opportunity to be a Land Grant Scholar which helps pay for college and is awarded to two students from every county in Ohio.

The Land Grant Scholarship is awarded to those who show academic merit and financial need. It is awarded to two students in each county and is based off of which county the student lives in (my high school was in a different county then my permanent address). It lasts for eight sememsters and the student can choose to use it for summer courses or for an academic year. Since Ohio State is a public institution it was one of the first universities to become a Land Grant college. To be awarded the student must show financial need through their Fafsa and a high academic merit. It does however take the student off of work study. Each student is assigned to a First Year experience advisor who will help them and they have an open financial aide help about the scholarship.

I am incredible grateful to have received this scholarship. It helps me not worry so much about how I was going to afford  to pay for my education and focus more on being a student. Now I strive to work harder than before to do my best and to not waste my education.

About Me

Hello Everyone!

My name is Samantha Jones and I’m from a small township near Oberlin, Ohio. I love to read and find new places to explore and take photos.

I am currently a Anthropology & International Relations major participating in the Biological Sciences Scholars program. However, I’m still trying to find my footing in college and to see how I want to make my mark on the world.

My goals for the upcoming years are to constantly be learning and to keep an open mind. I wish to challenge myself to push outside of my comfort zones.