Adventure Time by: Chelsea Simmons

Hallie Dunn is a 22-year-old senior at Ohio University studying creative writing. She has found an immense passion in her focus on writing and plans on becoming a published novelist someday in the future. After graduating from OU, Hallie will be joining the Peace Corps to embark on a two year-long journey in South America.

Early Life
 
Growing up in a small town outside of Dayton, Ohio, Hallie has always had a unique yearning to experience new things and live life to its fullest extent. From an early age, she excelled in sports and loved being outside as much as possible. Her favorite sport, soccer, kept her occupied from the time she was old enough to wear cleats. She entered high school as an exceptional soccer player and was the captain of the varsity team for three years. In 2005, Hallie led her team to place first in the Southwestern Buckeye League Championship.  

Hallie playing at the varsity level as a freshman in high school.

This same love for activity and exploration is what drives Hallie in her desire to venture into the world through the Peace Corps. Through her positive experiences on the soccer field, Hallie was able to learn the true meaning of team work and the importance of achieving a unified goal. When I asked her what skills she would bring to the Peace Corps, she said, “I learned how to become a leader by being more integrated with the entire team. In order to lead anyone, you have  understand where people are coming from. That’s how our team was able to win. We listened to each other. I want to channel this same philosophy to my future with the Peace Corps”.

Extracurricular Activities
 
I spoke with her at her current place of employment, Nelson Dining Hall. Hallie’s first two weeks on the job started from the bottom of the totem pole, serving food to hungry students during the early shift. She was quickly promoted to a Food Pro after her manager noticed her positive attitude. This didn’t seem hard to believe, as Hallie never stopped smiling once during our interview. As a Food Pro, Hallie’s main responsibilities are coordinating menus with the kitchen staff, taking inventory and training new staff members.

Hallie with her boss and coworkers at Nelson Dining Hall

Last quarter, Hallie wrote a proposal to change the gender binary dress code standards in the Employee Student Handbook. The handbook has clearly outlined how male and female students are required to dress but Hallie noted that it does not address individuals who do not identify with these terms. She stated that, “The delicate grey areas surrounding the reality of being a transgender or un-gendered individual are already quite fragile for those who are bold enough to allow themselves to be honest about it. Toeing the careful lines of rule book jargon while embracing the complexity of the human individual can be beleaguering, but it is a struggle that must occur if we are to seriously take to heart that there are no second-class citizens.” Because of her proposal, the handbook will soon be rewritten so all student employees may feel comfortable in their work environment.

The Peace Corps
In the fall of 2012, Hallie will begin her journey to South America with the Peace Corps. She is incredibly “excited and anxious to be submerged in an entirely different culture”. For the past three years, Hallie has taken Spanish courses to prepare for a submersion in the language, and hopes to become fluent in the duration of her trip. Through her life experiences thus far, Hallie will be able to bring such invaluable qualities to her Peace Corps unit. When I asked her the main reason she felt inspired to join the Peace Corps, Hallie simply said, “I want to help people. I want  make a difference”.

Hiking and exploring the forest in Athens, Ohio.