Healthy Pals : The Igniting of Community Involvement and Enhanced Leadership

Abstract

My Signature Honors Project represents one full of pivots, failures, and successes. Starting in a group devoted to sexual assault on East Carolina’s campus, I quickly recognized the difficulty in obtaining results in a limited time. Joining forces with a completely different group dedicated to food deserts and establishing a free food stand for the community the following semester, I could never have predicted the outcome of continuing with my Signature Honors Project from freshmen to sophomore year. Further research and less funding led to the metamorphosis into the Healthy Pals group, dedicated to teaching nutrition at Third Street Academy. Following a disorganized and unsuccessful effort, the final transition and semester marked an unsuccessful IRB approval and limited ability to teach interactive nutrition lessons at The Grady White Boats Boys and Girls Club. Nevertheless, I was able to present at the Research and Creative Week, marking the end of the Signature Honors Project. Healthy Pals ignited my passion for further community involvement and refined my leadership skills for the better.