During my time at UGA, one of the most significant contributors to my sense of community has been my service work. 

Beginning my second year, I volunteer with City of Refuge Athens, 
a faith-based organization serving Georgia by providing groceries, supplies, and tutoring services. Predominantly serving in the Northeast region, I assist with packing groceries and delivering them to hundreds of families at various sites each week. Additionally, I have gained new insight into the inner workings of federal nutrition programs through the mentorship of my supervisors. I now have a better understanding of SNAP, the FDA, and the Georgia state government, all agencies that may impact the health of my future patients as a dental clinician. I am also excited to share that I will join City of Refuge as a Health Promotion Intern in Spring 2026!

I have also had the pleasure of serving as a tutor for one semester at Oasis Católico, an after-school program serving a rural Latino community, tutoring children in grades Pre-K to 5th in English, math, and world studies. I served as a mentor and tutor to two kindergarteners. As a tutor, I gained experience in problem-solving and time management by creating lesson plans and activities tailored to individual needs and progress. As a mentor, I became more emotionally intelligent and faced many ethical challenges working with children in vulnerable home situations. 

Lastly, during the summers when I was home in Virginia, I served as a coach and mentor for my former volleyball program at Herndon High School. As a coach, I led girls aged 12 to 18 through various drills and matches. I learned how to balance providing praise and constructive feedback, a necessary skill for when I eventually lead a team in my dental office. As a mentor, I promoted my former middle and high schools, which my players would soon attend. This mentorship instilled in me an appreciation for giving back to my former schools, a practice I aspire to continue one day for both UGA and my future dental school.