BuckeyeThon Dance Marathon 2019

On Saturday February 9th I participated in OSU’s annual BuckeyeThon Dance Marathon, the largest student led organization in Ohio, for 12 hours. I was lucky enough to be able to join the Dunn Sports and Wellness Scholars Team where we were the third top fundraising team, contributing to the $1,704,184.19 that were raised for the children at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. BuckeyeThon is an event I had always dreamed about being apart of as I this cause is very special to me, and being a part of this day allowed me to witness the impact that thousands of people coming together for this cause can have on the lives of those suffering on a daily basis. Being a source of hope and inspiration for the kids by participating in games, dancing around the clock, and raising money for childhood cancer was just a small aspect

of this day that will stick with me for many years to come. Through this experience, I learned that fighting for those who can not reminds me not only of the importance of creating purpose in my everyday life but also the direct impact that my presence can make in the lives of those dealing with serious illnesses. BuckeyeThon truly lives out the saying of “Every Kid Deserves to be a Buckeye,” providing a perfect reminder to fight for what is good, no matter what position this may be in. Because of service, I am grateful for people around me who fight for better tomorrows.

<3 FTK

 

 

Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Columbus

On Sunday, November 18th I volunteered at another local race, the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k and 5k run in downtown Columbus for 6 hours. This race promotes its runners to run for chocolate all while benefiting the Make- A- Wish foundation. Their website, https://www.hotchocolate15k.com/columbus/learn/about-us , provided helpful information regarding both the race and the volunteering opportunity. While volunteering here, I worked at the finish line, filling and handing out Gatorade cups to the finishers. As a result of my service, I learned that even while in college, I have the capability to become connected to the community. By making connections with those outside of OSU’s campus, I can gain more knowledge from the people and stories that I encounter along the way. This will help me grow as a person, and thus a leader. Because of volunteering I am better connected to the community in which I live in.

2018 Columbus Marathon

On Sunday, October 21st, myself and many of my fellow Dunn Scholars peers volunteered at water stop 12 in the Columbus Marathon for a total of 5 hours. I learned about this opportunity through our weekly scholars email and thought it would be fun to be apart of the event. I had previously watched my sister run in this event, but after hearing the director of the Columbus Marathon speak at our scholar’s meeting, I was amazed at all of the work that goes into this. In my volunteer hours here, I helped set up tables of Gatorade and water cups that the runners would receive at mile 17.3. Through this event, I learned that I could make a connection with someone, regardless of how fast they were passing by. Many runners stopped and made funny comments about their struggle in the race, but I learned that even by being a volunteer at water station, I could continue to provide encouragement and motivation to the runners. Volunteering has allowed me to see how even the smallest efforts make a big event possible, because without volunteers, this event would be missing a major component that makes it run smoothly. Because of volunteering I am more aware of how a small amount of time can go a long way and really make someone’s day.

True Colors Reflection

After taking the true colors indicator test, I was able to distinguish myself as a gold color, meaning that I value family, organization, loyalty, and dependability. This category applies greatly to the work I hope to accomplish with the DSWS scholars group because it reflects the structure and concern required to develop as a leader. Implementing the practicality that I embody will contribute to successful approaches to group work and new initiatives. This quality will not only allow me to be attentive to the tasks that I am working on, but also the different colors of people that I am working with. Being able to integrate both my color and other people’s colors will prevent us, as a DSWS community, from missing out on the important details that create successful environments.

Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

  • Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc.
  • Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
  • Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
  • Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
  • Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Leadership Reflection

Leadership means taking the initiative to create an atmosphere of openness and acceptance that will benefit all of those in community. I have witnessed leadership throughout my high school career on the tennis team, where the captains have set a positive example for their peers. These captains first exemplified leadership in their role by ensuring that their teammates always stayed positive, even through their mistakes and failures. This positive energy is extremely important for the success of the entire team, because without it, no one will be able to grow from those experiences. My tennis captains also displayed leadership by being a role model for the entire team. They did this through their commitment to making sure that important information was passed on to everyone and not being afraid to step up and fix a problem. Their leadership not only benefited the team on the court, but also in the offseason and beyond.

About Me

My name is Sydney Smith and I am from Lyndhurst, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland. I am confident that Ohio State is the perfect place to help me achieve my goals, so I am beyond excited to begin my next journey here. Because I have always dreamed of becoming a teacher, I will be majoring in Middle Childhood Education, with a concentration in Math and Science. Joining the Dunn Sports and Wellness Scholars program as a freshman will not only allow me to interact with those share the same passion for a person’s overall well-being, but also provide the opportunity for a smooth transition to this new environment. Also, through this program, I hope continue to stay active through intramural sports and spontaneous activities with my friends.

More of my hobbies include spending time with family and friends, shopping, playing tennis, crafting, eating ice cream, taking naps, and exploring new

places, whether they be in Cleveland or beyond. Traveling to Europe with a group from high school exposed me to unique cultures and terrain that I feel could benefit me in my future learning, such as studying abroad. I have grown up with relatives always just minutes away, so family is an important part of everything I do. My mom works as a Medical Assistant and Office Coordinator, while my dad serves as the VP of Key Accounts for Philips Sleep and Respiratory Care. I also have an older sister, Taylor, who is a graduate of The Ohio State University and an older brother, Ryan, who recently graduated from the University of Cincinnati.

Go Bucks!