Passion. It is defined as: “A strong and barely controllable emotion.” With that being said, there is one main thing in my life that overwhelms me with satisfaction and is infiltrated into every other aspect of my life.
Helping Others:
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. -Mahatma Gandhi
Service and volunteering is something that has held such a big piece of my heart since before I can remember. Nothing makes me happier than giving up a part of myself to make sure that others feel full and loved.
One of the ways I divulged into this passion was participating in a week-long mission trip every summer throughout my high school career where I was given a variety of opportunities to assist others. I painted houses, installed appliances, worked on farms, mentored children, taught English to immigrants, and so much more. It’s experiences like these that open your eyes to how lucky we are to be able to go to college and gain an education pursuing something that we love. With each trip, I found out something new about myself and that alone was a monumental takeaway.
Not only did I love going on these big trips where I was able to serve others for a week at a time, but volunteering right in my hometown was also very important to me. I often spent time at the Missaukee Humane Society, I tutored children for our National Honor Society, participated in Project Christmas giving families gifts for the Holiday’s, and a variety of other service opportunities.
One of the main reasons I am so passionate about helping others is my life-long goal of continually growing and challenging my personal perspective. With every new person you meet comes a new story, a fresh set of eyes, and an opportunity for growth. It is my hope to help as many people in the world as I can in hopes that I make changes that positively impact the communities that I am apart of.
Here on campus, I wanted to make sure I was still able to give back to the community. That is why LAS has become so important me because of its emphasis on community service. I am involved with the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center here on campus where there are always new ways to get involved.
I have been so blessed with all I have been given in my lifetime, and giving to others in need is one way I try to so thankful for all of my granted opportunities. Through my service, I have been able to do so many other things that I love such as travel, meet new people, and grow in my faith. I am so excited to enter a profession that will allow me to assist others day in and day out, and I can’t wait to see where else my passion will take me in life.
Cassie O'Hagan 