Kelly Shaulis
This year in health 1050 with Mr. Elmore I, Kelly Shaulis, was fortunate enough to be required to do a service learning project. While a certain dread and daunting feeling came along with this task at the beginning it was quickly washed away and replaced by a real enthusiasm for the whole project. Not only did I get to pick a place where I could personally influence the community I got placed where I wanted to go! Pitt County Memorial Hospital. From the very beginning I could tell it would be a great experience. Just calling the volunteer office to tell them about my interest I was greeted with friendly voices and a willingness to help with whatever could be helped. When I went in for my interview and orientation I continued to get this feeling. They were not interviewing for another faceless kid to just help out … they were interested in me and my goals and what I had to say.
I was placed in radiology transport on Monday nights from 5-9 pm. At this time of night this department is not usually overflowing with work to be completed. Instead there is a slow but steady flow of things to do and a group of employees that are willing to take along a willing (although somewhat useless new volunteer) and talk to them. They are nice enough to show you what you need to do and tell you shortcuts and things that will make your volunteer days that much easier. Plus they really talk to you, yes YOU, the new volunteer that feels so insignificant. They ask about your goals and why you are there and seem to take a general interest in your responses.
Although at first a volunteer may feel insignificant they are not. They can help take care of the small things and take that much pressure off of the employees. And the hospital is a very important and useful place in the community. Even if all you do there is take one little sample somewhere it saved someone else from doing it, which down a long chain could, somewhere else in the hospital, help save a life. That is an amazing service to give to one’s community and Pitt County Memorial Hospital does it every day and without losing hospitality.
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