Thinking back to my summer before college, I remember feeling both nervous and excited to be a freshman at THE Ohio State University. I expected the transition to be tough, however, I did not expect to learn so much about myself. So much has happened during my first year alone. I have made wonderful friends, I survived chemistry, and I attended my first OSU football game. I was also chosen to be a part of Health Sciences Scholars. Being a part of this program has exposed me to many health professions that I did not know existed. I am glad that I was chosen to be a part of HSS and I hope to gain more experiences during my second year.
I think the biggest change that occurred during my first year was my change in major. I started out as a Pharmacy major and soon found out that this field was not for me. I struggled with finding what I want to do so I started utilizing the Career Counseling Services here on campus. My counselor helped me tremendously and I am closer to knowing what I want my major to be.
My goal as a 2nd year HSS member is to find community service that I am passionate about. I have always had trouble finding volunteer programs that suit my interests. The HSS 2nd year service project provides a great opportunity for me to find an organization. I am excited to see how much I grow during my sophomore year of college.
One of my favorite places to volunteer is Abilities First. It is an organization that helps children with disabilities by educating them, taking them on field trips, and assisting parents on behavior techniques. I have been volunteering in this program since my sophomore year of high school and my job is to work with autistic children, usually around the age of four. I continue to volunteer at Abilities First during my summer, winter, and spring breaks.
My most memorable service experience took place during a field trip at Camp Kern. I was taking care of a group of kids. I played games with them, took them on a hike, and I even went zip lining with them! Once we returned to Abilities First, a couple of parents came up to me and thanked me for taking care of their children. I was surprised to hear that a couple of kids had talked about me.
It is such a rewarding feeling when someone thanks you for your community service. The parents at Abilities First work hard to make sure their children are in the right environment. I am glad to help as much as I can. When parents tell me that their children have learned the alphabet, numbers, or types of animals, I feel so proud to be a part of this program. I hope to continue volunteering this summer. I have become very close with the director of this program and I hope she will be a great reference in the future.