How a cup of water has changed me by Isabella

How a cup of water has changed me by Isabella - January 2024 Scholarship Essay

Since I was 4 feet tall I yearned to help other people in a hospital, just like the people in the medical dramas my mother always fawned over in the living room. The speed that the workers moved at, both mentally and physically had captured my attention, ultimately intriguing me to learn more. This prompted me to begin volunteering at the Med-Surg nursing station at Scripps Hospital my senior year of high school to find out if this line of work was really for me.

Even though today I have grown to be 5 feet tall, after my first shift, I felt as small as I did in my living room with my mom. I felt my role as a volunteer was seemingly insignificant at first because one of my main tasks was to ask patients and visitors if they would like some water. That was until speaking to a visitor waiting in the hallway, a father whose child my own age was hospitalized after an accident. After I asked him twice if he would like some water and that I was in no rush, their demeanor completely changed. He felt comfortable asking about my role, about who I am, and most importantly that their worries they consider to be foolish can be soothed. While that conversation ended with a teary-eyed “Thank you” and a handshake, mentally I knew this was where I belonged. The medical classes I’ve taken during high school taught me the name and function of the organs and bones in the body, how to pack a wound, and so on, however they did not prepare me for real world conversations such as these that have changed who I am as a person. I found that something as simple as asking someone if they would like a cup of water can break the intimidating barrier between staff and visitors. That it’s okay to open up about their situation and that they have a listening ear. To hear the stories about patients and their loved ones who come to visit has opened my eyes about what it means to be in healthcare and ultimately confirmed that this is something I would love to pursue. Since then I’ve had many more conversations similar to this with people from many walks of life and my determination to help has not changed. The handshakes and thank-yous that occur after every conversation make me come to the conclusion that this has been the biggest contribution that I’ve made to my community thus far. Continuous learning has always been something that I value and love dearly because with higher education I am able to give back to my community in significant ways, whether it be medically or emotionally supporting a person in a rough patch.