On March 1st, I had the opportunity to see the United States Women’s National Soccer Team play at MAPFRE Stadium. The game kicked off the 2018 She Believes Cup, held to bring awareness to girls in sports and to show younger athletes that they can do anything they set their mind to. This night was particularly special to me for a few reasons. Ever since I was a young girl, I had dreamed of watching this team play in person. Players I had grown up idolizing were competing right in front of me. I also enjoyed exploring career interests. In January, I changed my major from Agricultural Communications to Sport Industry. I am exploring the idea of working primarily in women’s sports, and it was great to see that women’s sports are still growing and that soccer has a bright future. My favorite part of the game was when the crowd began the “U-S-A” chant. It was a reminder that while the fans came from all around the state and country, the sport brought them together to cheer for a good cause. On a larger scale, the United States played against Germany. The teams did not speak the same language, but they both understood the game of soccer and communicated through the ball. Being in this environment showed me that I could have a career in this field and I know I would enjoy it every day. I am excited to see where my new major takes me!

 On Saturday, November 4th, I had the opportunity to partake in community service at a wheelchair basketball tournament held by the Buckeye Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. I spent my morning with several other Mount scholars keeping score, recording statistics, and running the clock for a nationally sanctioned wheelchair basketball event. The players and coaches were genuinely excited to take part in the tournament and their skills reflected the time they had surely spent preparing for their games. This experience was especially significant for me to see athletes with disabilities enjoying themselves and eliminating their limitations. With a mother who is currently confined to a wheelchair, this gives me hope for the future to know there are opportunities for her to thrive. I also appreciated how the athletes were not treated differently because of their physical disabilities. They were basketball players. This activity provides a great example for inclusion in society for everyone, no matter their physical ability. It made me think about different assumptions that we may give to people with disabilities that are not true in any way. The organizers of the tournament were thankful for our commitment and we were proud to make a difference. I am interested to see what I can do to make sure we have the same opportunities on campus and how we can be inclusive to all college students, and I look forward to more experiences like this in the future.

On August 23, 2017, I had the chance to attend Back to School Bash, courtesy of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The event was held at Fred Beekman park. This was a pivotal moment in my experience as a student at The Ohio State University, as it exposed me to the different clubs and student organizations in my college and my specific major. I had the chance to talk to faculty and students about the opportunities within the college and my department, all while enjoying the outdoors and time away from our busy campus. This event was also particularly beneficial to my social skills because it gave me a relaxed environment where I could make connections and friendships. Specifically, I learned about the different student organizations that the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has to offer. I was surprised by the variety of majors that the clubs applied to. I gained knowledge about ways to get involved with other students in my major. I also learned how to respectfully approach students and faculty outside of a classroom setting. Ultimately, I learned how to make connections that will benefit my career path when I graduate.