One of my favorite events of my freshman year was Taste of OSU. I got the opportunity to try amazing food and watch fellow Ohio State students perform various cultural performances. The best part of the event, of course, was performing myself! As a member of the dance group J2K on campus I performed in front of a huge crowd. I had never danced in front of such a large group, and although I was nervous the energy was great and it was such a fun experience. I hope to perform again next year, or at least attend the event to support other performing students.

 I was fortunate enough to be inducted into the freshman honorary Alpha Lambda Delta Phi Eta Sigma, ALDPES for short. I keep these pins among others to remind me of my membership in the group. In order to get more involved in the group, I decided to run for an officer position and was lucky enough to be appointed ALDPES’s Philanthropy Chair. I’m really looking forward to organizing fun and meaningful philanthropy events for my fellow members. I believe that philanthropy is a good way to not only connect those who volunteer but also to connect the group to the community in which they live. One aspect that I really missed out on my freshman year was volunteering, and I’m looking forward to doing more of it sophomore year!

 This year I started working in food services at The Ohio State Union Market. I had never had a job before and was hoping to get some experience. I did gain some good experience in customer service and food preparation. Working at the Union Market has done much more for my freshman experience, however. The people I’ve met are some of the most amazing, genuine and hard-working people I know. I’ve made lots of friends not only with fellow students but also with the chefs and managers. The endless persistence and willingness to do any job no matter how dirty of my coworkers surprises me every day. Through working on campus I’ve become a better person and met some amazing Buckeyes! I wouldn’t take back the experience for anything.