Prompt: Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
180 rooms. 3 floors. 2 hours. What did I get myself into! I thought it would be easy, maybe I was mistaken maybe I was overthinking it. The layout was like a labyrinth. The word lost echoed through my head. Each turn I made, eyes glared at me. Every step I had taken, as I ran, faces gyrated towards me. Sweat poured down my forehead as I rushed from level to level. Binder in my hand. This summer volunteering at the Medstar Franklin Square Hospital proved to be an arduous job. The task survey all the patient’s rooms. To inspect if all the patient’s beds were operational, any sign of dysfunctionality, or check if the patient had the required the nurse or simply that they had their Medstar given wristbands.
I chose this opportunity to increase my confidence. During my experience I interacted with almost 2000 individuals. As I headed for the first room, I stopped at the front door. Thinking to myself this is it. Pen and binder in hand. Knocked three times on the dark, brown door. Entered and greeted the patient with a “Hello, my name is [student's name], I am a Falls Safety Rounder and I am here to check if your bed has the correct settings”. The patient kindly accepted my invitation into the room. I went straight towards the bed to make the bed was operation like it was supposed to. Pushing the plastic covered buttons, I heard the assuring beep confirming that it was working.
Room after room I went, checking to see if each patient’s needs were met. Whether it was the nurse, blanket, wrist band, or just a remote to be put right next to them, I was there for whatever they required. After each room, I began to think that even though it was a little tiring to go to each room, I compared myself how the patient was feeling. They must have been in pain. My trouble was nothing compared to theirs. So when I encountered these sick patients in the hospitals I wondered who is there to support them, and who was looking after their children at home. I was amazed at how strong the doctors, and nurses were mentally. Though the patients have doctors, and nurses around them some of them did not have anyone in the room. So little by little, patient by patient I started having conversations with patients. Sometimes it was about the weather, other times it was about how their day was going, it actually did not not matter what it was about. I began to realize the importance of community, and helping each other. No matter how small the difference, that social experience can make someone’s day better. It did not only benefit them but it also brought increased my confidence in myself. At the end of this humbling experience, I received the President's Award for volunteering more than 250 hours. As I look back, to my past I remember this experience, and as I once heard that one should love the process rather than the product.
Number of words: 536