Volunteering with Accessurf by Andrew

Volunteering with Accessurf by Andrew - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

The best volunteer experience was with Accessurf; a non-profit organization that helps people with physical disabilities. Accessurf helps them spend a day at the beach surfing and having fun in the sun. I live in Hawaii, so it’s popular to spend fun days at the beach. Being apart of Acessurf gave me the opportunity to spend time with individuals with whom I don’t normally interact. I was able to socialize and build relationships in this unique atmosphere.
One of my jobs was to either carry young kids or push in a wheelchair older people to the beach so they could get on a surfboard. I stood next to them and helped them as they set their feet on a surfboard for the first time. It was so heartwarming to to see their smiles.
I learned a lot from watching and interacting with people. I saw that their physical limitation did not keep them from being happy. They never became frustrated when they struggled to get on the surfboard. They did not get upset when they fell off the surfboard and into the water instead they maintained a joyful spirit.
Volunteering with Accessurf taught me to appreciate my life and to be more content. There are others around me with far less than what I have. So I need to stop having a complaintful attitude when things don’t go they way I want them. I should be grateful for every little thing that I do possess, because I was filled with compassion when I saw a man with missing limbs. Also my eyes started to tear when I saw a teen my age strapped to a wheelchair, because I knew he wasn't capable of the many things that I was able to do. I thought of how they didn’t have the ability to walk but for sure they didn’t lack the desire. Yet even then I was grateful that I could walk, because even then at one point during the day my feet were sore, but I dare did not complain.
Overall, this was truly a great learning experience for me. I learned so much and had such a great time create lifelong bonds. This experience helped me see the importance of being happy and content with everything I have. I recommend volunteering with Accessurf to everyone. It will be one of the best experience of your life!