Hello everyone! My name is Jalyn Bruns, Forward Wayne County’s new communications intern. I am extremely excited about the many opportunities I’ve been given so far, including writing my own monthly blog! I decided that I will share a little bit about myself, discuss why community is so important to me, as well as highlight what I’m most excited for during my time in this internship.
About Me
I am currently a junior at Indiana University East, studying business administration with a minor in marketing. I am also on the women’s golf team. My hometown is Fort Recovery, Ohio, which is a small rural town with a strong sense of community. In fact, we just got our second stoplight last year! It’s a kind of place where everyone knows everyone, and the people there are always quick to help one another.
Why IU East?
I found this same sense of community when I visited IU East during my junior year of high school. I went into the visit not expecting much—college visits were, for many high school students, a physical, slightly daunting reminder that you are growing up and things are changing. However, by the end of the visit I found myself excited about the many opportunities IU East had to offer. The professors, women’s golf coach, and my future teammates were very welcoming. I could tell they truly wanted the best for me. As I drove around Richmond and walked around the IU East campus, it felt like this could definitely be my new home away from home.
The Importance of Community
Four years later, here I am completing my very first internship. I am so excited to not only be doing what I am interested in but also getting the behind the scenes look at all that Forward Wayne County and the Wayne County Foundation do for the community. I am very passionate about their work as it connects with me on a personal level.
My father sadly passed away due to cancer at the beginning of my sophomore year of college. As heartbreaking as it was, one thing I’ll always remember is how grateful he was to everyone. Grateful for our friends, family, and especially our community. He was a teacher at Fort Recovery High School for 27 years, and during his time there he coached many sports. Basketball, football, golf, track, you name it. He was also very active in the community.
Tribute
My mother knew she wanted to do something to give back to the Fort Recovery Community, whether it be a donation, an annual scholarship, or something else. After much discussion with the school board, community members, former students, players, and colleagues, my family made a large initial donation that kickstarted the installation of the Joe Bruns Memorial Putting Green.
This idea came about because the nearest golf course to the school is over twenty minutes away and many of the high school golfers did not have a drivers license. Now, with the recently added putting green, anyone in the community can practice their putting any time they want, for years to come.
This is one of the many reasons why I am very passionate about all the work that the Wayne County Foundation does as well as grateful for the donors who make it all possible. My experience has also made me more cognizant of when new projects commence around Wayne County. I find it very inspiring and intriguing witnessing a group of people realize a community need and come together to solve it.
A Thriving Wayne County
With each year I spend in Richmond, I am reminded of why I chose to live here. Whenever we have someone that is considering going to IU East to play on the golf team, I always make it a point to tell them that knowing everything I know now about the school and what the surrounding area has to offer, I would 1000% still choose to go here.
Through this internship, I am very excited to start learning more about my new community, Wayne County. I have already gotten the privilege of meeting many of the great faces behind the many nonprofit organizations in Wayne County that make this place so special.
In addition, I have learned about impact investing, the Main Street Coalition, digital fundraising, and countywide strategic planning. I’ve only been here a month!
I’ve got to witness firsthand the new additions in the area, which proves that Wayne County is thriving. I am finding out that there is so much here that I need to explore and so many new things to experience. The county has many unique towns, shops, and things to do.
I look forward to learning more about the Wayne County Community and fully immersing myself in community events, visiting local businesses, as well as meeting more community members. If there is something you think I should experience in Wayne County, reach out to me at intern@waynecountyfoundation.org.
