A Needed Distraction by Tareiah

A Needed Distraction by Tareiah - April 2022 Scholarship Essay

When I was fifteen, my mother believed that it would be good for me to give back to my community. In all honesty, I disregarded her request at first because well, I didn’t have the time. I had school, sports, and a social life to maintain. To her, it wasn’t a reasonable answer. She sent me off to Richard Campbell, a nursing home that my grandmother works at and where two of my family members lived. It was a nursing home reserved for veterans, both male and female. There was nothing appealing about spending a day with old people for six excruciating hours. I remember arriving there early, praying the day would go by fast. My head was spinning from hundreds of thoughts that it wouldn’t be fun. Old people weren’t fun. They went to sleep before nine o’ clock at night. They take forever to move. What enjoyment could I possibly get from hanging around the elderly? I was greeted by a lady that worked with my grandmother. Her name was Ms. Loretta, and she greeted me with a warm smile. She showed me around the facility, letting me explore the cafeteria, recreational rooms, and some of the residents rooms. I found it a little amusing, still putting up a facade that the whole experience was dull. We stopped at a room towards the end of the hall that was bright and colorful. It was full of patriotic decor and multiple pictures were scattered everywhere. Ms. Loretta introduced me to a man who wore his hat a bit crooked on his head. He was dressed in a red and blue flannel with the tightest jeans to match. His name was Mr.Tesner, one of the most memorable people I’ve ever met. I shook his hand and from that moment i formed a special bond with him. He told me about his time fighting in the marines, and how he misses it. He had made me forget all of the stereotypes I had placed upon old people because his war stories weren’t that. They were action packed and bold. They were colorful and vivid. Mr.Tesner wasn’t just an old man. He was a hero. An empathetic soul. A father. The more I talked to him, the more it made me realize how important it was that I was there. It was people like him that helped me come to an understanding that volunteer work had meaning. Being able to help people is a wonderful experience as it allows you to connect and converse with people from different backgrounds, households, and much more. Mr.Tesner wasn’t the only resident I connected with. There was Mrs.Dianne, a wonderful lady who suffered from dementia. I sat with her and helped her paint her nails as she told me about her grandchildren. There was Mr.Cee, a hilarious and vibrant man who greeted every residence every day in the mornings. There are many more I want to name. So many men and women that fought for me and others. That risked their lives to protect my rights and freedom to do whatever. I thought of them as simple old people at first until I saw the bigger picture. I got to make them pancakes, sing them songs, partake in arts and crafts with them. I could have hung out with my friends that day. Or stayed home in the comfort of my room. Because those were better distractions. But looking back at my volunteer work at Richard Campbell, I wouldn’t trade that day for the world. It was a needed distraction that I am eternally grateful for.