YOUR STORY MATTERS HERE: Megan Boddy

By Tim Wesley

After a stellar soccer career at Mars High School — as a goalie, she was part of a team that won three consecutive state championships and sported a 63-game unbeaten streak — what is Megan Boddy doing for an encore?

Well, among other activities in her first couple of months at the University of Dayton, she gave boxing a try.

“I decided to take a break from soccer for the first semester but I did try out for the boxing club so I could stay active and try something new,” she said.

She also joined the Campus Activities Board, which organizes fun events for students; signed up for Christmas on Campus, where she’ll host a child on campus for a day of holiday cheer; and started building a new group of friends. All while handling a full class load as a first-year Civil Engineering student.

None of which surprises her mom, Susan.

“Megan has always been very social,” she said. “She loves to spend time with friends whether on a soccer field, geocaching, or midnight walks around the neighborhood (in costume).”

So far at Dayton, Megan hasn’t missed a beat.

“The first few weeks of college have been a time full of mixed emotions,” she said. “It is really sad to leave people behind but at the same time it’s exciting to be where I am and I’m excited to be opened up to so many new opportunities.”

Despite being on campus for only a few weeks, she’s already developed close relationships with some fellow students and is learning to balance her social and academic pursuits.

“It's hard to isolate yourself from your friends when you have an assignment to complete or when you must study for a test,” she said. “This is a new path for me, but I have really enjoyed getting to know lots of people and connecting with people who are very similar to me.

“The biggest challenge was leaving everything I knew behind and starting a brand-new adventure in a place I was not familiar with. Plus, having to meet all new people and find my way around the campus, and even learning how to live on my own and share my space with someone else.”

Although she’s open to other disciplines within the engineering profession, she chose civil because it fits with her desire to figure out how things work and how to improve or fix them.

“I like working with my hands and being able to see my work affect others in a positive way,” she said.

As a member of the Boddy family at Dutilh, Megan has seen — and participated first-hand in — various ways to leave a positive mark.  

Her mom is the founder of Dutilh’s Kitchen Ministry and annually spends countless hours volunteering at the church. 

Her dad, Brad, has coordinated ushers for the 11 a.m. Sunday church service for several years and assists with the Café and in the kitchen. Megan and her 17-year-old brother, Jason, have also been known to lend their mom and her ministry team a hand. And earlier this year, Megan was in charge of creating scenery and props for Dutilh’s Vacation Bible School.  

“Her work with VBS started when she volunteered to help with VBS at a friend’s church,” Susan said. “She saw how the kids in attendance reacted to the over-the-top set design and immediately wanted to provide a similar experience at Dutilh.”

Megan credits Susan and Brad with instilling in her a desire to serve.

“I became involved in the church through my parents,” she said. “They are both very involved in the church, and I began helping at a young age and have participated in more and more events and tasks as time has gone on. I’m always up to help and will do my best in every task I’m given.”

In sixth grade, Megan made her own decision to join the church through Dutilh’s confirmation process, a step that solidified her faith.

“I had formed my own bond with God, and I wanted to grow my faith within the church,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of the church to help make decisions and help other people in the church grow their faith as well.”

Now, years later, she appreciates the opportunity to have grown up as part of Dutilh’s faith community.

“One of my favorite things about Dutilh is the group of people you are surrounded by,” Megan said. “I have made some of my closest friends at the church and I know they will always be there for me. Another thing I love is all the opportunities that are provided for me through the youth group and even other mission groups. I love the experiences I have gotten from the church and going has made me a better person.”

She pointed to Dutilh’s mission statement — Love God, Love Others, Love to Serve — as a guiding light to help her remember to keep growing in her faith, to treat people with respect and to listen to their different perspectives, and to continue to look for opportunities to serve.

Now that she’s moved on to college, Megan knows she can draw on many lessons and experiences from Dutilh.

“My faith influences my schooling in many ways,” she said. “It allows me to look for the best and know everything will be ok even if I mess up a few times. It gives me more confidence to pursue my college experience. My faith also helps me live life to the full extent and be the best person I can be.”

For Megan, that includes a personal commitment to spreading God’s love by complimenting at least two people per day. 

“I compliment outfits and hairstyles and talents,” she said. “When I compliment people, it often feels like I made their day, and it usually ends with a smile from them, which also makes me smile.”

Encore, encore.

-October 2022