Service Project

For my service hours this year, I chose to work at the local cancer center where my dad is a physician. It's a wonderful job and has provided me with much experience, and I have made many friends along the way. It was wonderful walking into a place knowing the staff (I have known many of them since I was a baby) and meeting the other volunteers as well as the patients. One other volunteer, Ellen, is my "partner in crime." She's so much fun to work with and always knows exactly what to say to the cancer patients. Another great perk I get while volunteering there is meeting the patients. Sometimes they ask for odd things, like bags full of money or a martini, and it's always cool to meet people who can retain a sense of humor while going through chemotherapy. I meet so many amazing people, and it certainly helps that my dad works there. I get to see him at any time during the day, while during the school year, I don't see him until he comes home at 8 or 9 at night. My sister works with us occasionally, and she's always interesting to have around... and the patients always have something to say to two young teenage girls like "why are you two lovely ladies here?" My sister is quite the bundle of energy, which can be entertaining in a place that can be dark and depressing. 

I also get to see Grammy Pat, Lana, Brenda, and Pam, who's been like family to me since I was a little girl and I can always go and see when I feel upset or sad about one of the patients conditions... it's really hard not to feel upset sometimes. But they're always somewhere where I can go and visit them and it always brightens my day. 

Of course, the volunteer coordinator Laura is always there too, and she makes the whole experience enjoyable, giving me fun things to do such as hand out cookies or chocolates to the patients receiving chemo. When you can see that something like a cookie and a smile can brighten a patients whole day, your day gets a little brighter too.