Recreational Sports

Beaver Nation is full of unique and varied individuals, and Lydia Martin is no exception to this. Originally from Salem, Oregon, Martin grew up as a middle child among six children. Now in her senior year at Oregon State University, Martin is coming into her own, taking her leadership skills and keen sense of community to her life on campus.

Last fall Martin transferred to Oregon State University from Chemeketa Community College in her hometown of Salem. She had worked at an office at Chemeketa and brought those skills to her job at the information desk at the Student Leadership and Involvement within Snell.  Her work there led to her becoming more involved on campus, allowing her to make new friends and connections while engaging with the greater community. Martin says “I’m so glad I got involved right away, it helped to strengthen my friendships and involvement even more.” And she encouraged others to overcome their fears and get involved.

However, she was not always so quick to engage. She was an active member of her high school orchestra and a member of the Salem Youth Symphony: “In high school for a while I felt I was really missing a certain level of extracurricular involvement.” This sentiment led her to joining color guard her junior year which served as a pivotal part of her high school experience. Her only regret, “I wish I would’ve got involved sooner.”

Martin took this sentiment to heart and her experiences have taught her she can build a community wherever she gets involved.  She does this through her work as a media and marketing coordinator for the Student Experience Center, as well as her participation in the archery club. When she is not busy with these activities, she loves to play badminton; something she says allows her to meet even more new people.

This love of badminton led her to discover After Dark, something else she has grown to enjoy. Once when coming to Dixon Recreation Center to play with a friend, they discovered that they could not play because After Dark was being set up. Although it was initially disappointing, she recalled “I was so glad I participated in that After Dark, not only is it a great way to get free food on campus, it also let me get out of my comfort zone and engage with others.” This further highlights her belief in the importance of engagement, by participating in one area, she discovered another area she may not have otherwise encountered.

Now her journey has come full circle, as she now works at the After Dark events, taking photos and engaging with students, as well as working with other staff to make sure the event runs smoothly and is enjoyable for all. She loves these events. She gets to spend time with her fellow staff members: “It’s so important to have an event like After Dark that provides students with a safe, fun environment for them to explore themselves, create new friendships, and meet people they probably wouldn’t meet by themselves.” She hopes that by having access to events like this, students will take the opportunity to grow in their relationship with the community beyond just their existing group of friends.

Martin feels she has grown and learned far beyond just academics. Through her work and greater engagement within the community she has learned how to build relationships, as well as how to create a community for herself wherever she is. She also shared what she had learned about being a leader. “ It means stepping up and trying to be a positive change. Challenging peoples preconceived notions and building authentic relations not just in the workplace, but in and out of class.” She also notes that seeking intentional engagement with others has helped her become a more impactful leader within the community and build stronger relationships. Her sense of leadership will be among the many life lessons she will take with her on the next step of her journey as she graduates this year.

As her time here comes to a close, Martin is looking forward to the future, she’s taking stock of her actions and what she’s learned both academically and beyond.  Her goal, “I hope that I leave the community better than when I came and have made a positive change. Even if that means just making individuals feel valued through my friendships and by just being kind and making people feel that they are part of the whole.” Martin serves as a reminder that Beaver Nation is just that: a nation of many people with a number of interests and backgrounds unifying through engagement and a shared desire to learn.