Service as a fresh start

Athens, Ohio is seen as a college town overrun by crazy Ohio University students taking advantage of the freedom of leaving home. The endless opportunities and ability to reinvent yourself is intoxicating on its own, but after the initial rush, the thrill tends to wear off and many people are left feeling lost and looking for a way to feel needed. Some become involved in academic clubs, sororities or fraternities and find a connection there. For me, I found the answer in doing service.

Doing service in the Athens area is a way to learn and experience the unique community we live in. It is quite possible to go four years without venturing out of the cozy confines of the OU campus: living in dorms, going to class, partying on the weekends. This bubble can easily become your whole life. By taking a step outside and acknowledging that we live in Appalachian Ohio, one of the poorest areas in our nation, it can be overwhelming and empowering. You can do something about it. You can help.

One of the great ways to do this is to find out who needs help and how you can get involved. To figure this out, I joined Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity. It is a group where guys and girls who are motivated to do something more with their college experience can come together and do service to the campus, community and nation. We get involved with ATCO, an employment and training center for adults with disabilities; Big Brothers Big Sisters at the local schools; Good Works, the only homeless shelters in 7 counties in Appalachian, Ohio; Passionworks, Monday Lunch and so much more.