On Monday, October 7th of 2019, I joined a small group of IA scholars to help direct guests at one of the “On The Front Lines” events put on in the Werner Center for the Arts. This event focused on women living in Afghanistan in times of war and conflict. The first event featured two plays which were performed by OSU students and highlighted life as a woman or girl in Afghanistan. As a group, our responsibility was to direct guests and help answer any questions they may have regarding the play or play credits.

One of the plays performed at the event described the lives of two young girls who lost their father in the war. These two young girls were forced to sell goods on the streets of the city in order to support their family. One day, a man came along and offered the young girls a great deal of money. He tricked one of the young girls into going with around a corner with him. The young girl was then sexually assaulted as the man took advantage of the young girl’s innocence. These girls lost their happiness and their childhood due to the horrendous war they were involved in.

The event also shined light on several rugs that were woven by women in Afghanistan. These rugs were laid out for everyone to see. Two rugs were from pre-war times while another two rugs were from post-war times. The pre-war rugs were beautiful and traditional looking while the post-war rugs portrayed violence, tanks, weapons, and war.

This event depicted how war and conflict effects the lives of people living in Afghanistan. Understanding more about what humans in other countries experience puts things into a certain perspective that us Americans do not see every day. As an IA Scholar, it is important to understand how other countries differ from our own. Many people around the world are treated as less of a human just based on the country they were born in. The young Afghanistan girl shown in the play was punished and scarred solely because of her location and her innocence.

Personally, the event allowed me to learn more and gain knowledge regarding Afghanistan and the impact of war on a country. I am always looking to learn more about the lives of others around the world. This event didn’t challenge me as much as it opened my eyes to a world I’ve never known.

(Professional Development. October 7th, 2019.)

On Saturday, October 5th, 2019, a group of IA Scholars and myself bussed over to Star House in Columbus to learn more about the services the organization provides and help sort out donations in the facility’s donation center. Star House provides resources to kids and young adults from ages fourteen to twenty-four. These resources include clothing, food, shelter, career assistance, and life advice. A high majority of the youth Star House provides for have cut connections with their families and have lost a stability in their lives. Star House is doing amazing things to help these kids and young adults get back on their feet and move forward to a better future. After learning more about Star House’s impact on the lives of Columbus youth, we were asked to sort through clothing donations that were made to the organization.

The IA Scholars Program pushes the ideal that people are people despite all odds. This volunteer trip showed us all that everyone is important and deserves our respect. Being able to see what many young people go through in our society is eye opening. It is important to realize that these problems exist in order to fix them and improve the world we live and grow in. Pushing such problems under the rug will never allow our society to develop.

This event personally meant a lot to me. I have a big heart and always want to help others in anyway I can. Although we weren’t at Star House for a long amount of time, the day resonates with me. It is easy for us all to convince ourselves that our minor life problems are big ones when, in reality, real people are facing real problems. We all must do more to help others and improve the world we live in.

(Service. October 5th, 2019.)