by Annika Thiim
Before beginning my second year at UF, I sought out opportunities to get involved in the Gainesville community through a service-based organization. While I had found several organizations offering occasional community service events, I was hoping to find an organization that I could commit to for the coming three years. I was looking for an organization that I could grow within, as an aspiring physician hoping to become more aware of community issues and also as a leader. I am grateful to have joined the Pre-Health Scholars (PHS) program, because it has been exactly what I was searching for.
During my first semester being in PHS, I was in a service group with four students whom I had never met before; it was special to experience our shared passion for finding ways to help the community despite being newly acquainted. At our first meeting, my group bounced around several different ideas for our monthly projects: writing letters to hospice patients, baking desserts for dining hall staff, conducting campus cleanups, and playing with kids at the local daycare center. I appreciated the independence to choose our own focus for community service. My favorite service project from Fall 2022 was visiting the kids at Baby Gator Daycare during Thanksgiving time, where we sat down with the kids to color turkeys on Thanksgiving-themed coloring sheets. Although this was a simple activity, seeing the joy in their eyes while getting to be creative and make new friends was heart-warming; I ended up returning to Baby Gator a few different times because this was such a special experience.
The following semester, my group took a different and more laborious approach to our service projects: we used two of our monthly meetings to construct outdoor sheds at the Helping Hands Medical Clinic that are now used to house medications, medical supplies, and other necessary materials. The construction of these sheds required teamwork as we all took on different roles to maneuver the walls and roof together while screwing them together with a power drill. I enjoyed this collaborative effort and found it very satisfying to see a tangible representation of our hard work.
All in all, the freedom granted by PHS to choose service projects that aligned with my passions has been invaluable. Moreover, the program's inclusivity impressed me, fostering a belief that no limit exists on the amount of good we can do for our community. As an aspiring physician, I've always found fulfillment in helping others with health-related issues. However, PHS has reminded me that this sense of fulfillment extends beyond medicine; it's found in providing service for non-health-related issues as well. Any act of service, no matter how simple, can create profound connections and joy.
