When I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, I was suddenly thrust into learning how to take care of myself day to day at a young age. Terms like life and death, injections and complications terrified me. I didn't want to be different and suddenly felt not only very different, but also very alone. After leaving the hospital, I entered a dark period of my life where I was ashamed of a part of myself that was of no fault of my own. The words "Type 1 Diabetes" felt heavy and, to me, signified the end of the world. What I thought signified the end of the world actually paved a path that revealed new desires for my future and exposed new passions. Living with a chronic disease has changed how I relate to other people and has given me more compassion, and a sense of ambition and hope for what I can accomplish in the future. I desire to pursue a career in medicine in order to help advocate for those living with diabetes, especially in under-served areas, where there is a great need for care.
This past summer, I volunteered in the Dominican Republic for three weeks with a program called AYUDA, a non-profit that brings diabetes education to developing regions in Latin America. I was able to work with local leaders of the nation's only diabetes organization to bring education to those living with Type 1 through hospital and home visits, as well as with a camp for children with Type 1. It was a humbling experience to see what little others have in the way of medical supplies and diabetes education and I realized then just how much I take for granted. I don’t have to worry about running out of insulin or test strips, but many people in the Dominican Republic do, with some going weeks without life-saving insulin in order to conserve the precious resource. One of the most important lessons that I learned is that a lack of education is just as dangerous as a lack of insulin. I have the privilege of returning this summer as a volunteer mentor and taking on a larger role with the organization.
Camp Kudzu, a camp for children with Type 1 diabetes, is an important part of my life and I am an active volunteer with this non-profit organization. I volunteered last summer as a counselor in training at their overnight camp and will be volunteering again this summer. I had the privilege of working with middle school girls and along with providing diabetes education, I was able to show them that a happy and healthy life with Type 1 is possible. Camp Kudzu provided a refuge for me for many years as a camper and volunteering allows me an opportunity to give back to a place that has given me so much.
I have also been involved as a volunteer and volunteer leader during all four years of high school at a local hospital. While I initially volunteered due to my interest of one day going into the medical field, I quickly learned that medicine is about serving others and my motivation grew. I witnessed compassionate doctors, nurses, and staff who provided care with empathy and the meaningful interactions they had with their patients. Each year that I volunteered, I was exposed to different areas of the hospital, some more difficult than others, but each equally rewarding. My time in the Children's ER showed me how to have compassion for worried parents and make children smile when they weren't feeling their best. My time in the Mother-Baby Unit allowed me to rejoice at new arrivals and provide comfort during heartbreak. Even my time in the Lab, while not having direct interaction with patients, allowed me to see the amount of care and concern for the patient that went on behind the scenes.
While many of my volunteer efforts center around the medical field and my passion of diabetes education, one of my most cherished volunteer activities I am involved in is through Friends Club, a club that connects the special education students and regular education students. This club allows an opportunity to interact and find friendships with each other. As president of Friends Club, I have been committed to helping those often forgotten find a connection. Friends Club allows the regular education students and the special education students to learn from each other, recognizing that each person is unique and valuing the differences in each other. It is rewarding to see groups of teenagers, who might think they have nothing in common, appreciating the diversity within the walls of my high school and developing true friendships with a population that is often forgotten and misjudged. Out of all of the leadership roles I have held at my high school, Friends Club is the one that I am most proud of. It is has taught me to take time to look for the worth in each person and that each person has enormous value and a contribution to make.
My high school experience would not have been the same had I not taken the time to give to others through my time and talents. I have actively served both locally and abroad and through each new experience, I acquire a new perspective of the world. Serving others allows me to find a new appreciation and heart for the diverse cultures in my own backyard and across the globe. I desire to not just be a volunteer but am eager to engage with and learn from those I encounter in my community and form a lasting connection. I have experienced first-hand how impactful volunteering can be for others, but the greatest impact is often made on those who volunteer, as it creates a life-long desire to serve others.
