Through this wonderful journey as a Hospice volunteer, I have cultivated a memorable bond with my patient, “Michelle”. While visiting her over fifteen times in these past two semesters, I have developed a deep bond with “Michelle”. Whenever I visit her, I am constantly amazed by her passion and determination to talk, make friends, and lead a life of dignity and honesty. “Michelle” loves to talk with others, and I always enjoy hearing her fascinating stories and her words of wisdom. She values religion and often references the power of God in her life and blessing her the incredible life she has had. Furthermore, “Michelle” bestows wisdom about the power of honesty and loyalty as dignified traits that I should always carry with me. In addition to discussing the values of religion and honesty, “Michelle” and I have formed a bond over the importance of family and our childhood. In her room, she has a wall of family pictures and on her desk, she has crafts from her grandchildren that she enjoys looking at. “Michelle” and I have connected with our families, discussing our love for spending time with them, especially over holidays like Thanksgiving. One day, she shared a story of her mother cooking the most delicious Thanksgiving meal for her and she had never felt more appreciated and seen.
I have gained meaningful experiences and lessons from this experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. In addition to valuing relationships with people as I continue through life, I have also become more appreciative of the opportunities I have, especially as a student athlete in a wonderful college. As I sat with “Michele” and heard her fragmented stories regarding her childhood, I realized that even the small things in life are very special. For instance, being able to study in the library to expand my knowledge of the world is incredible and something I should not take for granted. Working as a Hospice volunteer has not only changed my outlook on life but has also impacted on my sense of vocation. When I first saw my grandfather struggle and die from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), I realized that I wanted to go into the medical field to help others suffering from debilitating diseases and improve people’s quality of life. Similarly, being with my patient and seeing the devastating impact of dementia on memory and the brain has continued to spark my interest in medicine in the hope that I can help people.
As a Hospice volunteer, I have gained valuable experience, learned life-changing lessons, and have cemented my passion and drive to pursue a career in the medical field. While working in the nursing facility, I interacted with several patients and saw the wide range of symptoms that come with a tragic diagnosis of dementia. I was able to connect with these patients by actively listening and following the lead of the patient. I have also learned essential lessons, such as being more appreciative regarding all the opportunities I must explore my interests and try new things because time goes by so quickly. As I continue through my college years, I will forever remember these important life lessons. I believe this Hospice program is a valuable experience for medical school because I have acquired a deeper passion and desire to learn more about medicine and ways to help those struggling with disease and illness. It was so rewarding to see the joy in Michelle’s face each time I visited her, even though I know she continues to battle the internal war in her mind. I hope to become a doctor and pursue ways to possibly cure these devastating illnesses and know that I am making a difference in people’s lives.