This is the first in a series of blog posts by Katie Solomon, a senior majoring in Criminology and Sociology. Katie is the executive director of THON 2021.
September 16, 2020
Though in the middle of a pandemic with seemingly endless uncertainty, some things still somehow never change. One of those things is THON. While our events and initiatives may look a little different, our mission to conquer childhood cancer remains unaffected. As a member of the THON Executive Committee, working through many major decisions and changes for THON over the summer have been incredibly challenging. However, this remote experience has reminded us consistently of the mission that lies at our core. Quarantine and self-isolation may be a burden to some of us, but to many families going through cancer, this is their every day.
This fall, we will still be selecting captains and committee members while continuing to empower any and all student organizations to participate in THON. One of the most beautiful things about THON is the organization’s innate ability to connect individuals who likely would have never crossed paths otherwise. This remains a stronger goal of ours to facilitate these connections for student volunteers, Four Diamonds families, alumni, and friends alike. Without THON, I personally would not know a vast majority of my closest friends or be the person I am today. That sentiment is one that is shared by many in this community and something that ignites our shared desire to give back.
While THON is an enormous priority in my life, I am a Penn State student before anything else. This academic year, I am taking primarily sociology classes to wrap up my degree before graduating in May 2021. These classes and experience are integral to my roles elsewhere as they really challenge me to see the story at hand from every possible perspective. A lot of the theories and experiences that I learn about in the classroom I can apply to my leadership with THON, and I am thankful for the unexpected crossover between the two—being a Liberal Arts student has taught me what it means to lead with empathy, purpose, and integrity.
The year ahead will continue to have many unknowns as new challenges or roadblocks pop up every single day. We are working toward a culminating event in February with engagement and fundraising along the way to keep the shared spirit of THON going. Virtual is tough, but what keeps me motivated is the fact that no matter what adversity this organization has faced in the last fifty years, we are resilient and bounce back stronger than ever. At the end of the day, THON is an organization comprised of thousands of strangers that come together to be this guiding light for others when they may need it most: for our volunteers through the late nights, for our alumni and friends who want to give back wherever they may be, and for our families when they find out their lives will never be the same again. No matter how great the challenge, this community persists and continues to fight for the day that we dance in celebration.