True Story: When we were ten years old, my close friend Kathy and I rode our bicycles to a nursing home about six miles from our homes each Saturday for a long time. It was out of a feeling of wanting to bring happiness to others that it all started. We decided we could help entertain the residents there. Since Kathy and I both played the piano, we brought our keyboarding skills to the old upright piano in the residents’ dining hall. This evolved into helping deliver lunch trays and then feeding those who could not feed themselves.
Over the next few years, Kathy and I brought delight to the residents. It felt so good inside that I could contribute to others’ happiness. When Kathy decided to no longer participate, I continued to ride my bike there, play the piano and help feed the residents I had come to know for the genuine individuals they were.
From there, I went on to nursing school, graduate school and law school all the while working as a nurse.
Looking back, I see what a tremendous impact volunteering at the nursing home had on my life and my decision to become a nurse and an attorney. I still remember one of the bedridden residents singing a gospel song and it brings a smile to my face.
