I have had many opportunities for service during my time at Ohio State. As a Freshman, I volunteered for the Wexner Medical Center, serving at both the Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care Center and the Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital. Also, being a part of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, a service based organization, has allowed me to serve the Columbus community through clothing, food, or school supply drives. These experiences have shaped me into a better community member and have showed me the impact giving back can have on groups of people.
In my second year at Ohio State, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Columbus Free Clinic. The Columbus Free Clinic aims to provide healthcare services to those who do not have or cannot afford health care. The patient population seen at the Columbus Free Clinic, and many other free clinics alike, is very diverse. When I first started volunteering, I was surprised at the number of patients that spoke a different language and at how many did not know English. Volunteering at the Columbus free Clinic, I learned so much about different cultures right in my own university community. Volunteering at the Columbus Free Clinic was also a great opportunity for me as a student interested in a health related career because I was able to gain a better understanding of disparities in health. I valued this experience because I realized how expensive health care is in the United States. Witnessing the demographic of patients at the Columbus Free Clinic has inspired me to one day become an advocate for people living in the United States who do not have access to health care. All people have the right to live a healthy life, but not all people have the resources to do so.