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During my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to be a part of a service learning class, where 2 days a week I would go out and do service in my community. I was assigned one site location for each semester to do service. I was also responsible for creating a service project that benefits the facility and satisfies their needs. I had my hands full my first semester, as I had the responsibility of supervising kids at recess and initiating a recess program centered around inclusivity and teamwork. During my spring semester, I was able to work with the elderly in an assisted living facility. I was able to connect with the residents through 1-on-1 interaction and running group activities.

My artifact is the project I coordinated for the assisted living. Although I wasn’t able to fully complete the project due to Covid-19 and the quarantine period last spring, I was able to introduce my project to one resident. My project consisted of bringing virtual reality to the residents at the facility. Since many residents aren’t able to leave their beds or go outside, I wanted to bring the outside world to them, where I could give them virtual reality goggles and they could go wherever they imagined. I partnered with Immersive Cure, and they gave me the ability to film my own videos of local places the residents requested. I wasn’t able to film the videos due to the pandemic, but I was able to show a pre-made video to a war veteran on hospice. I was told prior that this resident wasn’t communicating with anyone and was feeling depressed. In the video, the resident felt as if he was in the locations shown, and one scene included a first-person point of view of people in an airplane standing up, applauding, and commemorating him for his service. After being shown the video, the resident got emotional and was talkative for the first time in months.

This experience was significant to me because since the resident’s living situation was dire, I was able to brighten up his day and let him know he is supported and appreciated. Although I was only able to bring virtual reality to one person, I was happy to have the opportunity to show the resident that his service hasn’t gone unnoticed and that he is supported and loved.

Attached is a picture of the resident trying on the VR headset while Jessica Benson, founder of Immersive Cure, is holding his hand.

College is a big adjustment for everyone, and for me, I had mixed emotions upon my move-in day. I was nervous about leaving my comfort zone at home, venturing out to meet new people, and to live independently. It’s also daunting to think about how I’m in full control of the decisions I make. However, those feelings of adrenaline and uncertainty were minimal compared to the feelings of excitement to start a new chapter in my life. I am fortunate enough to be a part of the Mount Leadership Society and to have met so many great people through the scholar’s program. Upon move-in, I would say I was ready for a new start, and to meet fresh faces, and also to get involved in the Ohio State community. Given the circumstances, I was concerned that it would be hard to meet people around campus if classes and student organizations were held virtually. However, I consider myself to be good at adapting and making the best out of situations even if they’re out of my control. Move-in day was a special and momentous day for me, as it involved putting myself out there, which entailed introducing myself to others in my dorm. In the past, I’ve struggled to find the confidence to introduce myself to new people, and my first day at college was great practice for me to gain the willingness to put myself out there even if it was uncomfortable. My first-day set the tone for the semester, and I learned to be more open with others and to also be a good listener. I was able to form connections with others that had similar interests, and I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to bond with new people!