Volunteering at the Library has become somewhat of a routine
in terms of planning rides and preparing to complete all of my required hours.
However, every time I go, I am reminded that my experience is more than just a
requirement for class. No two experiences are alike, which I highly appreciate.
I volunteered at the Library
yesterday and had a more stressful experience than usual. I helped a little 7
year old girl with reading, spelling, and math homework. When I first examined
the work she needed to complete, I thought it would take 15 minutes at the
most, however, she was so talkative and easily distracted that I worked with
her for almost the full two hours I was there. She refused to listen when I
attempted to bring her attention back to her worksheets. I became frustrated as
she would constantly get out of her chair and walk around the room looking for entertainment.
Figure 1: Various books we read beside her math worksheets
I soon started to count down the
minutes until I could go home when she hugged my arm and said, “I like you. You
are going to be my fourth sister.” I snapped out of my negative attitude and
saw how even though the little girl was taking a toll on my patience, I was
impacting her life just by helping her with homework and talking to her. I enjoy
seeing how children are able to build relationships so easily because of their
innocence and openness.
Soon after the little girl told me
that, another young girl bashfully walked up to me and handed me a piece of
paper. It was a little note that said “You are so nice” with a piece of candy
taped to it. I had never helped that girl before, but she had made notes for
all of the helpers that were present yesterday. My heart was lifted as I
witnessed this small but beautiful act of kindness. My experience yesterday
truly made me realize how people can impact others lives without knowing it,
like Drew Dudley said in his TED Talk mentioned in my last blog post. I, along
with all other students, have the power to be role models, especially for
children because they are always watching and absorbing what we do and say.
Figure 2: The note from the little girl with a jolly rancher
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