“I chose East Tennessee State University because I felt it catered to a variety of people who come from all walks of life. I chose this university because I felt like I had a place here.”
Amani Patel has always been hard at work – in her studies and in her community. Currently a graduate student working on a Master of Health Administration, Patel said she was not originally on this path.
“When I started my higher education journey, it was in pre-pharmacy,” said Patel. “I had started in an accelerated bachelor's to master's program.”
It took only a single year before Patel would find the route that was right for her, and she credits ETSU’s strong emphasis on public health.
“I always thought that I would go into medicine or the medical field. When I discovered public health, I was drawn into it, instantly. Then, I was accepted into the Honors Program. That is something that transformed my life as a student in ways that I could have never imagined.”
Patel said the Honors Program gifted her with experiences that led her to develop and nurture service and leadership, which built the foundation for her current involvement in the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement (LCE).
“As an undergraduate student, I tried to be as active as possible in the programs that this office offers to students,” said Patel. “I immediately worked to become a Diversity Educator, which is group of people that is dedicated to creating a campus culture that is inclusive of everyone. Because of this, I was already in contact with staff in the LCE, so when I saw a graduate assistant (GA) position get posted, I seized the opportunity with both hands.”
Patel said that her experience working with the LCE has been amazing.
“This has been such an incredible opportunity for me to experience the other side of the programs that we have for the students on campus – seeing how recruitment works, and the driving force and minds behind this office really opened my eyes to the passion of the people here, and the love that they have for the work they do.”
Since being hired as a GA, Patel said it has been “all hands on deck.” This semester saw one of the largest draws for first-year students for the university in the past couple of years, and the sheer number of activities, resources and work that LCE generates has Patel feeling incredible.
“I love this feeling of making sure people are actively involved in their communities in positive ways,” said Patel. “While I was a freshman, ETSU held a naturalization ceremony for some of the faculty, staff and students on campus. Not only was it an amazing opportunity for community-building, it was a very proud moment for everyone there. You could feel the happiness radiating off of everyone.”
Patel mentioned that a naturalization ceremony is an event she would be interested in bringing back to campus in the future, but at the moment, she is concerned with voter registration outreach and making sure students, faculty and staff know that ETSU is dedicated to making voting as easy as possible for the campus community through the student-led initiative, ETSU Votes.
“We’ve been working a lot with voter registration outreach, and we now have an early voting site on campus,” said Patel. “Civic engagement has always been really important to me. My family and I are actually going through the naturalization process to become United States citizens. We passed our exams on Sept. 16, and in the coming months, we will be sworn in at an oath ceremony.”
September is National Voter Registration Month, and early voting for the November national elections is in October – an event for which many in LCE are working around the clock to prepare.
“Voting is something that should not be taken lightly, and if you have the opportunity to engage in your community in this way, I highly encourage you to do so,” said Patel. “Voting in state, local and municipal elections is important because that’s where you create those grassroots movements where you can have your voice heard. You can give input on the issues that affect those closest to you, and you can create change with the casting of a ballot.”
Patel invites people who feel their votes do not matter to consider the vast differences in laws between states as proof that being engaged citizens – who make their voices heard – does have a tangible impact on everyone’s day-to-day lives.
“So, yes, if you have the opportunity to vote, vote.”
Did you know? Tennessee voters are eligible to register to vote online – visit ovr.govote.tn.gov to find out how. To discover how LCE is encouraging faculty, staff and students to be active citizens in their communities, visit etsu.edu/votes.