I was raised to believe in the power of optimism. I was raised to believe that if I have faith in myself and my abilities, I can and should do everything I can to make a better future for myself and others. It was those beliefs that encouraged me to make my life about service to my community. As a teenager, I became active in my school, founding a local chapter of Amnesty International and volunteering with The American Red Cross.

I had caught the service bug. I went on to coach a middle school girls softball team, volunteer as a summer camp counselor, and write for a local newspaper promoting activism and global awareness. I continued to volunteer in local schools and organize events in my community until it was time for me to make the transition into college.

I attended Ohio University and proudly became a bobcat. While at OU, I continued my tradition of hard work. As I excelled in my schoolwork, I also worked as a university representative, coordinating events, giving tours to prospective students, and making presentations to high school students about the importance of education. During my time away at school, I helped with and participated in the establishment of an out-of-state student ambassador program in which students traveling from outside the state of Ohio would have the opportunity to be mentored by a current out-of-state student.

After four years, I graduated summa cum laude from Ohio University’s Scripp’s College of Communication Studies with a degree in Organizational Communication, specializing in Public Communication Management of Social Issues.

Currently, I volunteer as a mentor to high school students and as an event coordinator and fundraiser for an organization dedicated to providing homes for animals. I am proud to work at DEETER, where I am able to develop my passion for helping others, cheerfully.