Making a Difference for Generations

When I decided to come to Auburn University I knew I would do the regular sorority things and get involved with my academics, little did I know what else would consume my time at Auburn. While going through recruitment I had consistently heard about this Dance Marathon the university put on, so I decided I had to check it out, boy did I check it out.

When I decided to get involved with Auburn University Dance Marathon, I had no idea the impact that it would have on my life, inside and outside of Auburn. Originally, I believed I just had to dance for 12 hours and was good to go, but it is so much more than dancing for a specific time - it's a year-long impact you make on families you may not even get to meet. Dance Marathon is partnered with Children's Miracle Network. We are raising funds and awareness for kids who need critical life-saving treatments and innovative healthcare services that they can't receive at just any old hospital.

With this now being my third year on AUDM's staff and now holding an executive position, it is incredible to see the impact I am making right before my eyes. It has taught me many things like responsibility, time management, leadership, and compassion for others. While we, of course, get to do all the fun things like silent disco, playing fun games, doing an inflatable obstacle course with a soon-to-be best friend, and so much more, I get to make connections with these parents who can do nothing but sing the praises of this organization because, without it, their child may not be where they are today. Not only do I have emotional awareness for the families we get to help, but also the people around me. AUDM has brought me some of my closest friends here at Auburn and without it, I would've never had the friendship and love that I have felt the past three years.

While I may never get to meet every single family and child that AUDM impacts, I know that I am constantly changing lives for so many. Especially because after 12 years of AUDM, our local CMN Hospital, Piedmont Columbus Regional, is starting work on a stand-alone children's hospital! This will allow them to have a specific spot for kids to not just be treated, but just be kids. Right now children are most often treated in the midst of adults at the same time so it can be hard to process all of the big emotions that come from a hospital in an unknown and intimidating place. While the hospital will be finished long after I am gone, knowing that I will make one family's life just a little bit less overwhelming is something that will last a lifetime. In the words of Children's Miracle Network, "Together, we can change kids’ health. Together, we can change the future."