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College Admissions Essay: The Value Of Volunteer Service

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Initially, I had started my service for rather selfish reasons- school credit, experience for jobs, and for college applications. Sure, helping people appealed to me, but my overall intention to volunteer was based on myself, not others. That may not be something that one would want to hear from a volunteer, but it’s my truth. As time went on, I have come to love the service I give to people, especially by the bedside on the floor. Volunteering had become something I love to do; it uplifts me through serving others. Sherry Anderson, a Canadian curler, had declared that “volunteers are not paid; not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless” (Goodreads.com). To me, that is simply a fact.
Working on floor as an Assistant & Companion has been my favorite part working as a Banner volunteer. I have grown in my people skills tenfold through talking to patients and I have overcome my shyness. In addition to my personal development, I feel that I have made a genuine difference in my patients'lives. People in hospitals are sick, worried, and just plain lonely. By talking to them, I feel that they get to vent or just feel appreciated. …show more content…

Unfortunately, people go through a lot- disease, lost, traumas, depression- it never ends. Yes, I have become a pretty good people person, but what about the darker side of it? I've had patients that have told me things that put me in tears. As sad as I might get listening to the plights and personal tragedies of these people, in the end I feel better. People confide in me about such terrible things, yet I feel privileged that they have trusted me that much despite that fact I am practically a stranger to them. I try to be strong for them and in the end they do feel better. To me, that is the most important thing about communicating with people- it's to uplift

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