My life has been a foundation of innovation and hard work that proceeds from the roots of old challenges to new and more complex opportunities for the future.Through the many challenges I have endured, I recall one challenge above all others.This significant challenge would be no other than earning my Eagle Scout Rank in Boy Scouts.Boy Scouts has taught me many valuable lessons in life.Most importantly, my scouting experience has given me the understanding and importance to giving back to the community through volunteering.
Currently I am involved in many activities outside of school including Spanish club, the tennis team, National Honor Society, USTA junior development, coin collecting clubs, Young Republicans club, and youth groups.In addition, I volunteer hours of my time to make a true difference to people in need.I am currently volunteering at Habitat for Humanity, High School blood drives, Relay for Life donations, the St. Luke nursing home in North Canton Ohio, and the Total Living Center free clinic in Canton Ohio.My time devoted to volunteering at the St Luke nursing home has formulated the greatest impact on my life.
I started volunteering at the St. Luke nursing home in May of 2009 for school.However, my personal experience with a special patient, called the Doc, intrigued me to devote more and more of my time in the summer.The special patient was Dr. Warburton, 101 years of age and the founder of the North Canton Medical Foundation.According to the nursing staff and people close to Doc, he was the first person to have established evening office hours in Ohio. In addition, he advocated his personal time to visit nursing homes and make house calls right up to his retirement in 1996. Hundreds of his beloved patients honored him and his work at his retirement reception in that year.
I remember the first time I talked to him; he was a fun and interesting character.I don’t think a person could even say more than one sentence before the old Doc interrupted and spoke his mind on the matter.He was one of those people that believed in his way or the highway, and I respected him greatly for that; after all, he is extremely wise through his experience with age, and intelligent through years of school and dedication to education.I remember the most important question he asked me.What are your goals in Life?
The question forced me to pause in order to think of a good answer.I told him my goal was to go to medical school, and become a doctor of some type.Doc surprisingly loved my answer.He started telling me about his life stories.First, he told me were he went to college for his undergraduate studies, and why; the college he choose had the highest success rate in the country for the pre-medical field.Second, he told me how he earned his medical degree from Western Reserve University, which enabled him to quickly start his office in North Canton.His achievements were enough to enlighten me; however, Doc did more than just excel in academics.Dr. Warburton was a devoted doctor, donating as much time outside of his office to help people as he did inside his office. His stories ranged from his office stories to his volunteering at free clinics.
Personally, Dr. Warburton has helped me develop new virtues in life.Virtues discovered through Docs’ stories. He taught me to work hard to achieve, which I have done by maintaining a near 4.0 GPA and by earning the honorable rank of Eagle Scout.Warburton has taught me the significance of being prepared.Honestly, even with the short few hours I talked to him, he has made me to be what I am today.I give him equal credit along with my parents in helping the direction of my life.My goal is to become a doctor, and Doc has motivated me to become one. I want to become a doctor for one reason, to help people.Warburton has helped shape me to be a humanitarian for all people, no matter of what age, genre, or race.
Dr. Warburton was a great man.Unfortunately, Doc passed away on February 3, 2010 at the age of one-hundred and one.His stories will be remembered in my heart to the day I die, as all others who knew Doc would say as well.He is a legend.His presence filled the room with joy, fun and motivation.Personally, I consider Doc more than just a founder of the North Canton Medical Center, I consider him to be part of a foundation of innovation and pride to proceed from his building blocks of a medical career to develop a new level of understanding to volunteer, which makes him a true worldly difference for the people in healthcare need.
Doc was the root of a blossoming flower. He is the reason why I dedicate hours of my time a week to volunteer at the St. Luke’s nursing home and the Total Living Center free clinic.To meet characters like Dr. Warburton is an absolute pleasure.People would pay money to hear the life stories of great people like Dr. Warburton.The stories have so much energy, history, excitement, and wisdom that I can’t get enough.
Therefore, my new dedication to volunteering helps motivates me and allows Dr. Warburton’s legacy of helping to grow like wild flowers.Perhaps, someday I will become known as a legend as Doc.My goal is to become a doctor like Warburton, so I can make my own remarkable difference by helping people in healthcare.I can only pray to do as much as Dr. Warburton, his legacy will be in my heart as a motivational tool to succeed in my goals and to give back to the community.As a result, I strive to do a good turn daily.This can be from as little as holding a door open, volunteering in the local nursing home, helping out at the local free clinic, or even help build a house for Habitat for Humanity.
