Peer Mentor

Us out exploring the Columbus Expo center in downtown Columbus!

In the scholars program I was lucky enough to be allowed to obtain the position of peer mentor for the incoming class for Dunn Scholars students.

In this position I was tasked with answering all of the students questions, leading them around campus the first week, and being their guide all semester to all things at OSU. If the student wakes up and is sick and doesn’t know what to do? They call me for advice. If the are trying to schedule their classes and want to know the difficulty and amount of time they will need to put in they talk to their peer mentor.

Shown above is one of the meal outings we had as a group

I was lucky enough to work with 3 other mentors to be in charge of a group of four incoming freshman and help them in the transition from high school to college. Some of the requirements of this position included “family” outings with the other mentors and students, one on one discussions with students in order to connect with them, and social media engagement via GroupMe.

Skills: Leadership, communication, teamwork, and patience.

We were the “yellow” family at the Dunn Scholars family volleyball tournament

 

 

Neighborhood Services weekly volunteering

Every Monday morning 9:00am-12: 00 pm this spring semester I got the chance to volunteer at the same place that I first visited this past December the neighborhood services Inc. This branch of the mid-Ohio foodbank is an amazing place that many people around the Columbus area rely on for food and supplies every week. Its community of neighbors volunteers and management is such a rare blend of people who care for one another truly. I have seen and learned so much more from this experience volunteering every week. I highly recommend this volunteering opportunity for anyone that hopes to reach out to the community. Martin Butler the manager of this foodbank is an amazing guy who cares about the volunteers and neighbors that are being served. I have highly enjoyed working with him. In this foodbank, I have worked mainly as the muscle. Many of the volunteers are older and cannot carry as much so I have mostly helped with lifting and moving the heavy food pallets and objects. I especially work with packing and organizing the freezers of meat for the neighbors.  Listed below are the websites for this company. I can’t wait to continue to help this organization in the coming months when I return to Columbus in the fall where I will volunteer on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-12. This was a fantastic opportunity that taught me how to empathize and care for others and push myself physically and mentally to work for the community.

https://www.midohiofoodbank.org/

https://www.neighborhoodservicesinc.org/