Since I was a little girl, I have always been rather shy and reserved. My parents always encouraged me to get involved in dance, gymnastics, swimming, and play groups in order to give me more self-confidence and to help me overcome my shyness.   As I matured, I found it was very easy to talk and interact with children. I would often help out the younger children at Granite State Gymnastics where I trained for eight years. I also enjoyed babysitting for several of our neighborhood children, and talking and reading stories to my cousin’s children. 

              Being an only child I also found that I was quite relaxed around adults and the older generation. What helped me most to overcome being shy around people in general

was my involvement in community service activities. My parent kept encouraging me to get involved in some community activities, but it took me a few years to get the nerve to

make the first move.   One of the most important steps for me was applying and being accepted to the CRTC Health Sciences Program during my junior year. This full year course provided opportunities for growth in dealing with interpersonal skills, with patients of all ages, certification in CPR and First Aid, basic clinical procedures in taking blood pressure, assessments, and procedures.  

                 This course also provided me with a great deal of information about the career opportunities in the medical field. Guest speakers, hands-on demonstrations, blood drives, as well as membership and attendance at the HOSA Conference helped me to network with other students, and engage in discussion with doctors, nurses, and other health-care providers. I found it much easier to relax, ask questions, and get involved. 

Most importantly, through this class I was introduced to the Volunteer Services program at Concord Hospital.   I was introduced to Gemma Rendell, the coordinator of this department who works with student volunteers, and my life changed for the better. After getting and filling out an application to be a volunteer, I had an interview with Mrs. Rendell and I was put on the roster for the summer of 2009. 

                   At the end of my junior year I was nominated to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum in Medicine for ten days at the end of June. At this forum I learned so much about medicine, technology and opportunities in 21^st Century.   Several sessions that I attended also focused on helping others in a variety of ways, which included

centers for younger children and nursing or assisted living homes for the elderly or Alzheimer’s patients.   So upon my return from the forum, I was most anxious to report

to Concord Hospital as a student volunteer.

                   Each day I punched in I looked forward to my list of duties, which changed from day to day.   What I enjoyed most were the opportunities to distribute mail and deliver magazines and newspapers to the patients in different wards.   One day an elderly lady was having trouble opening an envelope, so I offered to help. She was most grateful for my assistance and this led to a very pleasant conversation about her son and her family. She was very lonely and vulnerable and close to tears, but I think my personal attention helped her through a rough patch in her day. I also enjoyed making Christmas decorations out of a variety of recycled materials with a group of volunteers. This project

promoted a kind of team spirit which helped me loosen up, laugh and enjoy the experience of creating unique decorations for the cafeteria when the holidays arrived.

Another memorable experience during my volunteer work was when I was allowed to follow a pediatrician on her rounds one morning.   That was when I realized that my love for children and my passion for the field of medicine could both come together as a pediatrician. 

                      During my senior year I selected a senior project in order to work with a small group of sixth graders at Bow Memorial School on the importance of wellness and nutrition in our health/physical education curriculum. I designed lesson plans that covered the food pyramid, properly reading food labels, portion control, planning nutritious, balanced meals and snacks. I also arranged for two interactive demonstrations in Kids Zumba and Yoga to emphasize the benefits and the joy of movement and daily exercise in many forms.   Getting to know this group and teaching them on a weekly basis helped me gain more self-confidence in myself and my ability to help guide members of the next generation into being more pro-active when it comes to their body image, diet choices, and to encourage them to keep moving.  This service to community

was a real delight. The girls and I formed a close bond over the the eight sessions, and I missed going to see them as I prepared my research and power point presentation for my senior seminar presentation at the end of the semester. It was when I was delivering my presentation in the auditorium and seeing their smiling faces and their many projects in the slides that made me realize how important giving to others is in my life. 

                      This semester I have been able to arrange an internship through the Volunteer Services at Concord Hospital and our Career to Work coordinator at Bow High

School.   I am thrilled to be able to continue my community services with Gemma Rendell twice a week for two hours for the rest of the school year. My hope is that even with two jobs this summer, that I can continue to fit at least a couple hours of community service time in my schedule.   Through my various jobs as a volunteer in the hospital and through several job shadow opportunities in radiology, pediatrics, and in the cancer ward I have learned that  a hospital environment such as Concord Hospital is like a fine-tuned piece of machinery. Each department is an integral part from the workers in the cafeteria to the custodians, to the administrators, nurses, doctors, and volunteers. The key is that all the people in each of the departments understands their respective roles and is respectful and appreciative of one another. My community service at the hospital and at Bow Memorial School, as well as my attendance in the CRTC Health Class and the Leadership Forum in Medicine have helped me focus on the future and how I envision my life as a doctor. Thanks to all the role models and all the people I have met along the way I feel that I have selected a career path that suits my academic skills and that has helped me to discover and tap into my intrapersonal and interpersonal communication skills.   Reaching out to others has proved to be the best way for me to find myself, and that has made all the difference.