Vannessa's CAS Reflection #6

 Although crocheting is both frustrating and joyful, the most apparent feeling I get from crocheting is power. I feel like I have some control in patients happiness in the Hospital. If they are feeling lonely or sad, I hope that my hats will have some influence on making their day brighter. As I volunteered throughout freshman-junior year at St. Mary's Hospital as a popcorn maker, comfort cart deliverer, and reception/registration assistant, my eyes were opened to the many hardships some patients have to withstand with no support from family or friends. In specific, when I worked the comfort cart I went room to room talking to patients and seeing if there was anything that they needed. What I realized is most of them just wanted someone to talk to and make them happy. There are many programs throughout the hospital for people to read to patients or even to talk to them for certain parts of the day. In addition to that, I wanted something that would last to have a constant reminder that someone is there for them. This may sound cheesy but I hope that not only will my hats warm them physically but also warm their hearts throughout their stay in the hospital. I also wanted to extend giving the hats to the homeless people as well because it can get pretty cold and the couple times I volunteered at the soup kitchen I realized that many do not have clothing to keep them warm in the winter. Although the homeless center receives many donations, I feel like even a minor donation could help people in some way. My perspective on helping the community has changed since beginning of this CAS project of my hat donations of Volunteer Love and Care (VLC). Specifically donating and crocheting has allowed me to gain insight by realizing that I need to be grateful for the things I have because someone somewhere is wishing they had the opportunities that I am given. This made me also realize that I take a lot for granted and instead of being selfish, I need to be more selfless and help the community around me. Even the smallest acts can mean the world to somebody. I saw this picture recently that had a little boy and he asked his dad what he could do to make the world a better place and the dad told him to give the world anything. The little boy responded with he had nothing to give and the dad said event he little things can have a continuous, major response. The boy ended up telling someone that he hoped they had a good day and he ended up saving the guys life and not even noticing it. This made me realize that if I can manage to squeeze in little acts of kindness, that in fact kindness would be contagious and the world would in fact be a better place. It doesn't matter what I give to the world or people in my community as long as I can give them something, physical or emotional. is more mental than physical.