Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, my hospice group did not have the opportunities to visit very many patients. For example, I was only able to see two patients before our spring break. With that being said, I would most definitely have to say that my first hospice visit was actually the one that was most meaningful to me. I was only able to visit her one time before she passed away. I was not expecting to have to face death so early on in my volunteering experience, but it definitely prepared me for what is in store. It was upsetting but allowed me to really grasp the concepts of hospice care, seeing it so up-close and personal.
I believe that my experiences with the hospice program can be displayed on a medical school application to show my genuine desire to comfort and care for patients and their families while giving them the most peaceful, compassionate end-of-life experience possible. In learning this greater appreciation for life and a deeper understanding of the role of death in this process of life, it provides me valuable insight into the patient care process and the skills to connect with my patients on a deeper and personal level. This hospice volunteer program has not only furthered my self-knowledge on the important of communication and empathy with patients, but it had an impact on my character as well. It forced me to face the concept of death, which I actually had never done, to really connect and provide care for these patients in their final days. I must say, I used to be scared of the concept of death/dying, but hospice has taught me that it is just another part of your journey. Not the end, just another chapter, I suppose. Being a hospice volunteer has also challenged me to be the best person I can be. I really practiced on my active listening and patience, and I had to accept things for how they are and not just how I (perhaps selfishly) want them to be.
Finally, I must say that learning about hospice care and actually partaking in it did have a huge impact on my sense of vocation. I always had the feeling I wanted to be in the medical field, but I never actually had any experience in it until this program. Helping others has always been a huge motivation for me to develop a career in healthcare. Even with working with the few patients I did, I really do feel I made a difference in my patients’ lives, simply for the fact that I truly showed that I cared for them. Overall, the hospice volunteering experience has been so rewarding and has really taught me that I am meant to be in the medical field. The feeling of helping others is a mutually beneficial experience, and I would love to one day enter into a career that allowed me to do this every single day!