Please Volunteer Now: Fill & Download for Free

I got an email for a site called Volunteer Match. The premise is…you provide some info about yourself, and it will match you up with charities in your area that fit your skill set or willingness. I hadn’t thought about doing more volunteering… but I was curious.I thought…this will be interesting…so I filled in my info and got a list of matches. The second one on the list was a local Hospice organization. It said they needed clerical help. I am an accountant. They were close to my office, and I thought I could go on lunches and help out. I sent them an email. Crickets. I heard nothing for several months, and forgot about it.Many months later, I get an email…saying they knew I was interested, and would I please come to their volunteer training. I had to take a day off work…but I was curious…so I did. The training was very detailed, and very much tailored to patient work. I wanted nothing to do with dying people. I am far too sensitive for that…and Im an introvert…being with people is sometimes tough work for me. I told them I was only interested in office work. But, out of curiosity, I would like to ride along with another volunteer during a patient visit.A couple weeks later, I was set up to meet another volunteer at a local care facility. She was going to meet two new patients. I was scared…she said I could just introduce myself, and then observe.I met both patients…and they didn’t scare me at all. In fact, I found that I enjoyed the interaction. These ladies were so open, so sweet…it was such a pure exchange of affection between us all. I decided to keep going as their volunteer.Now…I get assigned all the tough cases…the angry folks, the non-verbal, the ones that curse and yell…the grabbers and punchers..the ones that have rejected other volunteers. I’m good at this. And, never, not once, have I been yelled at, grabbed or hit. I have been given lots of hugs, hand holding, smiles, laughs, tears, life stories, life lessons and the most profound compliments you can ever imagine.I often feel very instantly connected with my people and they feel it too. Working with these people has been life changing for me. They have taught me not to fear death, or getting older, or losing independence. They have shown me what really matters when it is all said and done.Back to my first two patients. One has recovered sufficiently to come off hospice. The other passed just a couple months after we met. The last thing she said to me was. “God knew that we both needed a friend, and sent us each other.” I am not religious…I don’t believe in divine intervention. But…I most certainly felt that we were meant to share that time…and the clean…unconditional affection, was a beautiful gift to us both.That email and a few curious clicks has certainly saved me.

One great day while I was among a group of Medicos from different Medical Colleges, someone brought up this topic.One guy mentioned the fact that their seniors instructed them (during the ‘Introduction Phase!’ ) to get a well-built body because - One with a Good Body gets to be the Subject.So, basically during our practicals we need people volunteering to be subjects.In Anatomy to learn Surface Landmarks. In physiology during General Physical Examination teacher calls for a volunteer.Now, that can be someone's moment of fame. How pleasant it must be to use those Beautiful Biceps and Triceps for the bigger cause of Medical Education.Then the whole group pointed at me and everyone asked the same question. Who's going to be your subject?So, for Surface Landmarks in Anatomy, we rather use almost real looking pictures in Slides. (3D, you know?! :p)For General Physical Examination in Physiology, Girls be good subjects.I would like to know how it is in other medical colleges. Do tell, please!Thank you.!

Learn from this.Pay attention in AP US Government. Know how your government works. I’m not nearly as panicked as I would be if I didn’t understand checks and balances (although this is an overly simplistic model..I also know things such as non-profits, activists, and lobbyists play quite a role in governing) worked.Educate yourself. Read about trade agreements for example. Understand that economies do not happen in a bubble and isolationism doesn't work (read: pre-The Great Depression).Get involved in those causes you identify with (because certain non-profits can have pull). Know that the fight is not over — and will sadly not be over any time soon — for women, for minorities, and for other marginalized groups (eg transgendered, LGBTQ) in the US. If these matter at all to you…or for you…start to understand administrative work and the tasks of running an organization so you can get involved.But don’t fret. You can start small.Please volunteer with all sorts of people of all different ages. Young and old. Learn how to communicate. We need people who know how to communicate effectively.Do your best. Focus on your goals. I can tell you right now that college isn’t going to be paid for any time soon by the government, so maybe get a part-time job to help save up.