Describe a volunteer experience you've been involved in, and a lesson you learned from it. by Jackie

Describe a volunteer experience you've been involved in, and a lesson you learned from it. by Jackie - April 2022 Scholarship Essay

As a veterinary medicine student, I was not always eager to volunteer during my extra-short summer vacations. Volunteering did not pay me, but it taught me a lot in a short amount of time, and as a full-time veterinary medicine student, I was unable to work at that time. I wanted to learn more about the veterinary hospital atmosphere, so I opted to work as a volunteer to immerse myself in the day to day activities that goes on in a veterinary hospital.
During my summer volunteering experience in 2019, I met a great family comprised of the parents, two children, and a dogo argentino named Sunflower. They have had the dog for six years when they came in to confirm her pregnancy. Sunflower was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma after a battery of diagnostic tests and questions about the dog's life. Unfortunately, after weeks of nonstop care and frequent trips to the veterinarian, they decided to put Sunflower to sleep to relieve her suffering and anguish. Sunflower's family and hospital staff were overcome with grief as they said their last goodbyes.
This volunteering experience provided me with a sense of contentment and great tranquility that came from knowing that I had helped, even in a tiny way to bring comfort clients and their pets. My volunteer work has taught me that there are no cultural boundaries or limitations based on demographic background, and it has helped me establish diverse patterns and styles of communication with clients and their pets.