There are always opportunities in ones life to help others. Sometimes these opportunities come easily; for instance by volunteering in a local organization or a school program. Other times, one may happen on an opportunity to help someone that he never knew existed. Both kinds of opportunities can give an equal amount of learning and growing experience. I am thankful for having been granted both kinds of experiences over the years.

It was late morning by the time I awoke. I was in seventh grade at the time and it was the middle of winter vacation. I was lazily moving around the house thinking about the endless possibilities for my free day, when then phone rang. It was my friend, Bassy, inviting me to come with her family to Chuckee Cheese and play with the arcades. I readily agreed and we were soon on our way.

                In the car I noticed that in addition to my friend’s family, the Steins, another family was coming along with us. This other family, the Hirsch family, had three children; two boys and a girl. The girl, Yael, appeared to be around two years old, yet her brothers insisted that she was almost four. When we arrived at Chuckee Cheese, Mrs. Stein asked me and Bassy to help watch Yael. We wheeled her around the room and watched over her while her mother took a break. After the trip, Mrs. Stein asked me if I would be willing to go to the Hirsch’s house after school once a week to play with Yael. I readily agreed.

                After winter vacation, I began going over to the Hirsch’s house once a week and I have been going ever since. At this point she has improved her vocabulary and can now say several words. In order to walk, she needs someone to be holding on to her in some way. In addition, she can have a seizure at any given moment. This means that I have to really be on my toes and holding her tightly in order to ensure that she will not fall. For example, one time I was with her and was not paying enough attention, when she had a seizure that was so strong she practically fell. Yet it is her charming smile and innocent nature that has me going back practically every week for the past five years.

                As I look back at the past years I realize how much I have learned from being with Yael. One thing that I have learnt from her is not to worry too much about the “what ifs”. In life we are constantly worrying about every possible thing that can go wrong. When Yael is walking she can have a seizure at any moment, which can cause her to fall. But instead of being scared that she may fall and simply staying in her chair all day, whenever I arrive I am greeted with her cheerful “wanna walk”. Another thing that I have learned from Yael is to reach for support when it is needed. Although Yael does get up and walk, she will not walk if there is no one holding onto her and supporting her. Eventually, G-D Willing she will be able to walk with enough confidence to let go of her support, but now when she needs help she reaches out for it. In addition, I have learned to be thankful for all the things that I can do. I can Thank G-D walk, run, talk, eat and do so many various tasks without any help.

                Although Mrs. Hirsch thanks me every time I leave her house, I know that in reality it is I who should be doing the thanking. From Yael I have learned many lessons, such as not worrying too much that “what if this or this happens…”  I have also learned that when you do need help, you should reach for it. In addition I have learned to appreciate all the things that I can do that others cannot. My weekly visits have truly been a weekly learning experience for me.

                Another opportunity that I have had to help others is in visiting various old age homes over the past few years. Although this is an opportunity given to me by my school who organizes these trips for us, it is nevertheless always a very rewarding experience. There is so much to learn from being with elderly people, and yet most people do not take the time to notice them. Nowadays, we live in such a fast paced world that most people do not take the time to pay attention to those whose bodies do not seem to be as fast as ours.

                Visiting an old age home is a kindness that I truly enjoy doing. Although it may take up some of my free time on Sunday, it is really worth my time. Every time I leave I am always awed at how much I have learnt in the past hour or so. These people grew up with a totally different life and there is so much to be learnt from how people used to live in the “olden days”. For instance, just today I went to visit an old age home and I met a lady who was ninety-four years old and who came from Hungary. The way she described how they would make even the simplest of foods made me really appreciate how easy it is for us to obtain food. She grew up in a home where they grew their own wheat and made their own flour in order to bake bread and other necessities. Her experiences also made me appreciate the vast variety of foods that one can find today. Another thing that I have learnt is to value and use my time as a young girl to its fullest, since when one gets older it is much harder to accomplish anything than when one is in his prime.

                Any chance to help someone out, no matter how someone comes to that opportunity, is going to be a rewarding experience. Despite the fact that one volunteers in order to help others, he is in reality volunteering to help himself. There are so many valuable lessons that can be learned from volunteering that no matter how hard it is, one comes out as a different and better person.