by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
For more than a year, Meghan Wick volunteered on Wednesday evenings, giving manicures to residents at Arlington Place Assisted Living in St. Joseph. To show its appreciation, Arlington Place recently awarded her a $500 scholarship.
Arlington Place Housing Manager Karen Hennessy said they will miss having Wick around. She said Wick’s essay for the scholarship stated, “The residents feel more like extended family instead of acquaintances.”
“The residents thoroughly enjoyed developing a friendly relationship with Meghan,” Hennessy said. “Meghan has been wonderful during her volunteer time here at Arlington Place. The ladies really love to hear about what’s going on in school and her activities each week. She has truly been a breath of fresh air. We are really going to miss her as she starts her next adventure at college.”
Wick is a freshman at the University of Mary in Bismark, N.D. She is the 18-year-old daughter of Dale and Barb Wick and has two sisters – Mackenzie, 16, and Carolyn, 15.
Facts about Wick :
Favorite subject: Psychology
“All the information in the class was new to me,” Wick said. “I found it intriguing how behavior and thought work through the human mind.”
Activities she was and is involved with:
At Cathedral High School, she was involved in volleyball, softball, band, choir, theater, Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.), Spanish, National Honor Society and volunteering at Arlington Place.
“I look forward to intramural sports, activities and the Leadership Academy at the University of Mary,” she said.
Favorite leisure activity: Reading, spending time with friends or doing anything outside.
Favorite movie: Frozen
“I know it is a kid’s movie, but I think it’s adorable and enjoyable,” Wick said.
Favorite music:
“I like any music I can sing along with, but I especially like country music,” she said.
Favorite restaurant: Olive Garden
“It has great Italian food and it isn’t too expensive,” Wick said.
Favorite food: Ice cream
“It’s good no matter what,” she said.
Favorite thing she likes to help other people do:
“I have worked with people who have disabilities, and I love helping them do activities they enjoy,” Wick said. “I also love helping people have fun and find positives in each day.”
Favorite quote:
“Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder.”
– Anonymous
One of the hardest obstacles she has had to overcome in the school environment:
“One of the hardest obstacles in the school environment I had to overcome was balancing everything and making sure I put my best effort into all my activities, whether it was sports, theater or homework,” she said.
One of the biggest challenges students face today:
“I think the biggest challenge is learning to manage all of the activities and school work and believing they can handle all of it if they work hard,” Wick said.
Favorite technology device: Her phone
“It makes talking to people and doing things easier,” she said
Does she like using technology at school?
“Sometimes,” Wick said. “I like using computers for writing papers and looking up information. Computers make revising and editing papers a lot easier, but when it comes to learning and reading, I like being able to hold a book.”
How do you think college life will differ from high school?
“I will be away from home, so being far away from my family and friends will be different for me,” she said. “I also think the school work will be a lot tougher, and not having class every day will make time management more important.”
What she wants to do when she graduates:
“I hope to become a pediatric physical therapist so I can help children become stronger and overcome their obstacles,” Wick said.
Something she would change if she could:
“I would change the home life of kids who don’t have a good home environment,” she said. “I would make it so each child feels loved and needed no matter where they are.”
What she would like to be doing five years from now:
“Five years from now I would like to be in physical therapy school and working hard to get my doctorate in that field,” Wick said.
An interesting experience in St. Joseph:
“Every year I get to work at a stand at the Joetown Rocks festival,” she said. “I think it’s really interesting seeing all the people who come to enjoy the food and music. It’s amazing how much it has grown each year.”
The thing she likes best about St. Joseph:
“I like the friendly small-town feel of St. Joe and the festivals,” Wick said.
contributed photo
Meghan Wick (right) performs a manicure on one of the residents at Arlington Place Assisted Living while others wait their turn. Arlington recently awarded Wick a $500 scholarship.
contributed photo
Meghan Wick holds a congratulations cake that was given to her from Arlington Place Assisted Living residents and staff when they awarded her a $500 scholarship.
contributed photo
Meghan Wick volunteered each week for more than a year at Arlington Place Assisted Living in St. Joseph.