I have always wanted to volunteer, I greatly enjoy helping people and seeing their smiles or their appreciation for the time I have given to them. However, my like of time and lack of resources didn't allow me to volunteer, at least until I came to Ohio Northern University. During move-in weekend at ONU everyone had an opportunity to volunteer to help the neighboring communities around Ada. They call it, "Ada Community Engagement Day" or "ACE Day" for short and it was a wonderful opportunity and I greatly appreciate the fact that I was able to sign up.
This year's ACE Day was the 5th year that this has been done and the process of signing up was easy and efficient. During summer orientation, I was introduced to the volunteering for the community and was given the website to where I could sign up. I did so and checked every single box that I was interested in or that I could manage to do. I ended up checking every box minus two or three, which is a lot. I also was a little excited about the free T-shirt, I like T-shirts. Once I finished signing up, I spent the rest of the summer being excited for my first volunteering opportunity. I eventually forgot about it until a week before move-in and my excitement was sparked again.
On August 20th, 2016, ACE Day actually took place. I started off the day like any normal freshman on campus, a quick breakfast and early enough wake-up time. I then went back to my dorm and put on my new sweatpants, a tank top, and a T-shirt of my own over it. Around 8:30 am I went and signed in for the event today. I was a silly goose though and forget to just wear a tank top instead of a T-shirt with it because I was already receiving one today for my services. So, I had to rush back to my dorm and switch shirts and be back in time to meet everyone before the call time to leave.
I wasn't expecting much from these four hours of volunteering but it turned out really lovely. There were a few speeches from the President of ONU, the Mayor of Ada, and the Chaplain of ONU. We then parted ways in our groups, mine being five, I was greeted with a little surprise. I love bus rides and I was lucky enough to find out my group was heading out on a bus ride to a neighboring village to do some painting. There isn't much to see in Ada, everything is pretty flat, but I loved it nonetheless.
When we arrived at our site, we split up into two groups to paint two different buildings. I had never had to paint a building, a fence, a wall, or anything before and so I was a little nervous. I didn't want to get paint on my sweatpants since they were new but I handled it well. I played some of my music and sang along, I talked a bit to the guy who assigned our jobs, and I painted with my team members. It was a fairly easy job and fairly nice day, minus the bugs that clung to people's legs and arms. I also managed to get some paint on my T-shirt, nice marks to remind me of today. I also managed to get paint all over my hands and a little on my arm, I have no idea how I got some on my forehead, but it happened.
Overall, the day was absolutely lovely. I talked to quite a few people, one being from Japan and she was just adorable, so sweet. The guy who assigned our jobs was nice too, I learned a bit about his daughter and about the community. I really enjoyed my time volunteering and I found out there will be another opportunity around Halloween. I was told we'll participate helping kids Trick or Treat around the campus and we get to dress up! I'm already thinking of a costume! Anyways, that was my day. I loved it so much and I plan on participating every year of college.
Go Polar Bears!
