Emilia Reutimann

My name is Emilia Reutimann and I am a senior public health student at the University of South Carolina. I will graduate in May of 2024 with Leadership Distinction in Community Service. I am also a member of the university’s division 1 equestrian team. Throughout my time in high school, I found a passion for serving others through community service in organizations such as Sisters of Service and the National Honor Society. I attended an incredible small private school, Statesville Christian School, that encouraged students to jump feet first into their interests and provided us with the resources to do so. I was able to spend free learning blocks doing service and planning events such as a large blood drive that was supported by both my school and community. Upon arriving at the university my freshman year, I was amazed at the number of community service opportunities provided to student-athletes and immediately felt the pull to be involved. 

 

The Generation Gamecock Mentorship Program was the first community service program I experienced during my freshman year. This included being a mentor to a middle school student at a local middle school. I would regularly visit the school to spend time with my mentee and do homework, study, or just talk through things going on in their life. This experience immediately showed me the passion I have for working with children. I loved getting to know my mentee and seeing their refreshing perspective on how to tackle challenges that they faced. I continued to participate in this program throughout the past years, but also branched out to experience more work with children. I volunteered with the Connect Lab as a research assistant, educating on different health habits such as nutrition, sleep, and screen time across elementary and middle schools in the Columbia area. I also volunteered at the Early Social Development Lab on the ACTION study, aiming to find early indicators of autism through the use of head mounted eye tracking equipment. With each experience I gained, I found an even deeper love for working with children and youth. 

 

After graduation, I will attend High Point University Workman School of Dental Medicine and pursue a doctor of dental medicine degree (DMD). From a young age I knew I wanted to work in healthcare, but it wasn’t until joining Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-professional health honor society, that I found my passion in dentistry. I love the ability to form close relationships with patients and see them through long-term care. I also enjoy the intricacy and specificity of the craft - something I have learned to love and appreciate through the nature of my sport. Through the experiences given to me in community service leading to my love of working with children, I hope to be a pediatric dentist after graduating. 

 

My irreplaceable experiences through community service provided me with the following key insights: 

1.  Every community has different needs for health education

2. The importance of support for underserved children

3. Providing encouragement in difficult health situations can improve quality of life tremendously

Each of these insights were provided through vast, unique settings I was able to be a part of through community service. They are also all factors that will aid me in being a successful profession and servant in my future community. In the leadership section, I address how I plan to implement strategies to improve support for children and provide greater access to health education and service.