“Personally, I just want to try to improve the world around us—from holding the door open for the next 50 people behind me to making this MobilePack possible,” says Zachary Hathaway, President of Feed My Starving Children.
Already seems like a great guy, doesn’t he? This senior bioengineering major with a pre-med track from northeast Ohio dedicates much of his time to helping others. Her Campus sat down with Zachary to ask him about his experience in leading the service organization and how it has forever changed his life.
Her Campus: How did you get started with feed my starving children?ZH: I joined the FMSC team my sophomore year. I had met Jordan Habel through the Scholar Leader program and he started describing the mission of the organization. He was really inspiring and I decided to sign up.
HC: Have you always had experience with volunteer work?ZH: I have volunteered in the past at food pantries and Habitat for Humanity. I’ve worked at both the local food pantry and a food pantry in Cincinnati. The work in Cincinnati was really meaningful because it was the first time that I actually felt like I was on the front lines, making a difference in the world.
HC: What’s your main goal or mission?ZH: The main goal of FMSC is to help the people who need it most — those without access to some of the most basic resources essential to life.
HC: How did you become President?ZH: I became president after Jordan Habel stepped down due to his student teaching commitments for this year and a vote was held.
HC: Do you do anything outside of FMSC?ZH: Until recently, I was also a member of the Men’s Glee Club and I had a brief stint in the Cheezies. I also have been researching, along with a few of my peers, how to create an analogue for human tissue that can be used for doctors to practice with before a surgery. We also have a 3D printer that we hope to be able to use to create these analogues and then eventually we would like to print actual human tissues.
HC: What is your plan for life after Miami?ZH: I would really like to become a neurologist after school. I would also really like to donate time to the Africa Mercy which is a charity hospital ship.
HC: How do you manage everything?ZH: It’s been a circus act. I usually go from school, to work, to meeting, to work out, to homework and then repeat. I do try and relax on the weekends after like, 5 p.m. or so. Usually I’ll grab dinner with my girlfriend or a friend, play some music and maybe go Uptown to walk around on a nice night.
HC: How has FMSC changed your life?ZH: FMSC has been a major part of my time here and while I had been aware of the luck I’ve had in life, the organization has really opened my eyes to just how privileged I am — all because of where I was born. It’s really taught me that I cannot take anything for granted.