Passion for Volunteerism by Naa

Passion for Volunteerism by Naa - November 2016 Scholarship Essay

I walked through the revolving doors at the University of Chicago Center for Care and Discovery Hospital, greeting the security guard with the flash of my hospital ID and a smile. I taped my ID on the black panel, opening the large door that led me to my first day as a volunteer, and a journey that would help confirm my career interest.
As a Patient Liaison volunteer, I was responsible for bringing magazines, coloring pages and talking to patients to make their stay as comfortable as possible. I wanted to get more involved in the health sector during High School since I knew I wanted to work in the medical field as a General Practitioner.
I took the elevator to the eighth floor, opening the automatic door that led me to my first patient. I knocked on the door, hearing my patient give me permission to enter.
“Hi, my name is Naa and I’m a volunteer here at the hospital, is there anything I can do for you?”
“Actually, I would love to just sit and talk with you.”
Excited, I sat down on the couch, intently listening to the many interesting stories my patient had. I found out that she was a psychology professor and she told me about her most recent lecture she gave on cognitive studies, furthering my interest in pursuing a psychology major. In addition to learning about her educational pursuits, she told me a lot about the study abroad programs that she did at her universities, reflecting on her trips to Asia, Africa, and Europe. Regardless of the patient’s health condition, she could recollect her past and know that her condition was only a temporary hindrance. It felt great to witness how much trust she had with sharing anecdotes of her life with me. Soon, my shift was over and I had to leave for the day.
“Is there anything else I could help you with before I leave?”
“No, Thank you. Thank you for caring and being here with me.”
As I walked out of her room, I kept this statement in mind as I realized the significance of my role as a volunteer. Furthermore, I left the room knowing that working in the medical field as a general practitioner was the right choice for me. Through this experience, I have been able to gain more information about clinical care, understanding the important role that doctors play in patient's life and develop valuable communication skills that I take to school every day. I hope to expand my volunteer service at the Comer Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago, allowing me to get a broader perspective on working with a multitude of age groups. More importantly, however, I hope to bring these skills to college by continuing to volunteer at hospitals, but also allow start shadow programs to inspire more people to volunteer. I have always wanted to be a reliable person to others, medically or emotionally, and this experience has allowed me to achieve that goal.