Writing Assignment 1
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” This is a quote that I follow and use to lead myself in my dedication and willingness to help others. I often feel like I own the world, for being so fortunate because my amazing parents have sacrificed so much to give me such a better life, and for that I will always be humble, and help however I can. If everyone helped just one person in need or did something small to make someone happy, this world would be full with happiness and joy.
Lisa Amaya is a person who I will forever have engraved in my heart. During my sixth grade year, I was a HUGE book nerd, and I loved to volunteer, so where else to volunteer than the library? Right? Not realizing that I had just sparked the beginning of an amazing friendship, whom I would of only met if I had decided to volunteer in the first place. Walking into the library, being so quiet, I could hear my shoes shuffle against the carpet, I felt encompassed by the books, holding my book I hear Mrs. Amaya call me, “You read the legend series also?” And just like that we got caught up in the book, author, and her other series. I started to hang around the library every morning. Occasionally helping her stack books, tag them, and check them out to people. Over the course of the next three years, I frequented the library more and more, to almost spending every little chance I got inside the library, I would spend so much time in the library, teachers and staff members often called me the “library manager”.
Most recently throughout the summer and currently, I have volunteered over hundred-twenty hours at Dr. Renaissance Women’s Hospital, inside the nursery, from relieving a nurse who hasn’t eaten in hours, carrying the baby who hasn’t stopped crying for twenty minutes, to congratulating the parents as I discharged the baby, this experience not only helped me reinforce my vision of myself that I wanted to work towards a job in nursing, but to be a part of one of the most exciting parts in a parents life. More personally, this experience also gave me a huge sense of pride and accomplishment, which helped make me a better person by working on my tactfulness and diplomacy.
Volunteering and serving others has its benefits, unfortunately like everything in this world, it has its downsides. Countless times I wonder if I put enough time for my personal life, a relationship, and friendships.
