From burden to blessing : Volunteering

On a sunny Tuesday in 2018, my friend Charlotte turned 91. I went to the bakery to get her a delicious chocolate cake. We took it over to the senior home later that day and celebrated with her and her fellow resident buddies; no one from her family was there. Later that weekend, when I asked Charlotte if she liked the cake, she gave me a blank stare. She had no clue what I was talking about. Dementia is something I had studied in biology, but as I faced it directly, it gave me goosebumps that still arise when I drive by the senior home.

I wish I could say my volunteering impacted the seniors as much as it affected me. In learning about the struggles of their generation, I came to appreciate liberties that I had taken for granted. As a fair barter, I taught them a thing or two about social media, and they laughed loudly about the dangers of cyberattacks, not comprehending how harmful it could be compared to the Vietnam war and the Great Depression.

The hardest part of the pandemic for me was not knowing how Charlotte, Joan, David, and Mary — my community grandparents at the senior home — were faring. I will forever cherish my Sundays playing solitaire, our long walks, and our birthday celebrations that were forgotten the next week. As I write this, I am unsure of ever seeing them again. Regardless, a piece of my heart will remain there always.

As a freshman, I recall groaning about the community service my high school required me to do. Even as a senior, I see my friends complain about how they’re going to fulfill their requirements, and how there’s nothing to get out of volunteering. However, I would argue for the exact opposite. Volunteering is a purpose-driven mission without the traditional renditions of title, salary, and promotion. It is your giving to your community, and yet be left with so much; wisdom, companions, and memories; it’s the bucket that endlessly fills itself.