Me: “Hello? (*awkward pause*)
Me: “Hi, this is Victoria and I am a sophomore here at Ohio Northern University, how are you tonight?” To me, this phrase is much more than a simple phone introduction.
I have been employed with Ohio Northern’s student fundraising center, Phonathon, for little over a year now. If you would have asked me what I thought about phone at this time last year, I would have said it was a way to get extra beer money. Today, I realize this position is much more than a work study job. Since being hired I have had the opportunity to help raise funds for the university and keep our alumni up-to-date with the evolution of campus. This all starts with a simple “hello.” This simple yet eloquent word is what allows ONU to continue implementing its mission statement and in reality it allows us to stay one of the top universities to study at in the Midwest! I am proud to say I am a student fundraiser and I hope you will appreciate the importance of this job by the time this article ends.
Let’s start with my story. Phonathon is one of many work study jobs offered at the university. In the past 15 years, this calling center has helped expand scholarship opportunities, continue to create student and faculty research studies, and also renovating our campus! Who would have thought there was no on-campus coffee shops just two years ago? When I first heard about the position, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. To be honest, the job title is misleading. “Student Fundraiser,” I mean who else thought this meant sitting in the basement of Hill on a nightly basis? I know I didn’t! Although we call out of a sketchy basement, we are able to assist in providing all of ONU’s students with a renown education. From here I was able to learn the importance of giving back to the community. Since being hired, I have had the opportunity in raising more than $100,000 for our students, expand my knowledge in university development, and acquire skills that will last a lifetime.
The first thing I learned from working at Phonathon was “Once a polar bear, always a polar bear.” Talking to alumni has been by far my favorite thing about the job. Nothing is better than hearing others share their stories about a campus which means so much to you. As a Zeta Tau Alpha sister, I love having the opportunity to connect with ZTA alums and sharing our great experience about a fraternity built on love, “The greatest of all things” (Excerpt from ZTA creed). Nothing is better than having an alum pick up the phone who went to school for communications and being able to talk so highly about our department. We might be small, but we are mighty! And nothing is better than having an alumni answer the phone who immediately acknowledges that I am calling from ONU and proceeds by talking about his wonderful experience! It does not matter if I am speaking with a Pharmacy, Engineer, or Law alumni, they all have one thing in common, they love ONU, which is why they have no problem “polar bear-ing up” at our annual alumni events. So thank you alumni, for continuing to remind me why I chose to become apart of the polar bear family!
The second thing I learned from Phonathon was the ONU mission statement. If you Google, “Ohio Northern University mission statement” you are lead to the ONU website where it reads, “Ohio Northern University’s mission is to provide a high quality learning environment that prepares students for success in their careers, service to their communities, the nation, and the world, and a lifetime of personal growth inspired by the higher values of truth, beauty and goodness.” Phonathon gives you a first hand look at the application of the mission statement. It is because of this job that I am able to how the money our alumni invest in our student’s education has allowed us to continue with high success rates and uphold the university’s values. These funds are not limited to student and faculty research. These funds also allow us to send students around the country to sprinkle a bit of ONU so they to can have a successful network profile like ourselves.
The third and most important thing I have personality had the opportunity of learning was “what I want to be when I grow up.” This phrase can be scary, especially if you are 19-years-old and have quite a few loans out like myself. However, it is because of Phonathon that I found my home in the communications department. This job was literally my “calling in life.” Prior to Phonathon, I had thought of many things I wanted to be when I graduate, mainly in the line of medicine. But since Phonathon, I have come to the conclusion, God did not plan for me to become a doctor. I believe God lead me to this job for a reason. And because I have continued to follow God's path, I have now had the opportunity of earning many leadership roles within this organization. I have also landed two internships thus far, and I am currently working on receiving my third. Although this path may see untraditional, I believe this path will continue to lead me down the road to success. I can say with confidence that I would like to stay in the field of development. As a student who relies entirely on scholarships to attend such an illustrious school, I can personally relate to students in situations similar to mine. I would also like to stay in this field because I want to work for a nonprofit.
I am fortunate to say both ONU and Phonathon have taken equal parts in preparing me for a successful career and I am excited to see where this paths leads me! So as you go to class this week remember, it is because of generous and supportive alumni and staff that you too will be able to continue leaving your legacy for future students.
