Lucas Milgrim, UPenn Chapter Member, Class of 2027

My favorite memory and most impactful activity as a member of CogWell was the first training I helped lead. I walked into a room filled with around 100 freshman-year nursing students, somewhat daunted by what was to come. While I knew each activity in our Listen Up workshop and was confident I was able to assist in each of these while sharing my own experiences with CogWell, I was nervous when we started our presentation. However, once it began, I felt more comfortable in sharing my own personal experiences with how active listening has been incredibly important in my life.

I was able to connect with several of these nursing students as someone who is also on the pre-health track, and I saw how they truly valued what I was sharing with them. Seeing this impact I could have in spreading the message of the importance of active listening further reinforced my belief in CogWell’s mission. I already had an understanding of why it was important to other members of the club and me, but I saw how even just one workshop can impact so many by sharing this goal with others who otherwise would never have found it. I now look forward to each workshop that I can lead, and feel confident in my abilities to share with others the importance of CogWell and active listening.