more than just a checkbox

High schoolers are constantly plagued by this one word: volunteering. It’s either a school requirement or a resume flex that is essentially mandatory for any student. Even I used to constantly do it to check off the box, but one volunteering experience changed everything.

A week before my grandmother passed away from Parkinson’s, I was ironically awaiting the opportunity to volunteer for one of the Parkinson’s Foundation’s events. I had looked forward to it, but at the time was still wary of the possible boredom that usually comes with volunteering.

On the day, my dad drove me there at 6 AM on a Saturday morning, just as passionate about and supportive of Parkinson’s as I am. Upon reaching and finding the event tents, I was welcomed with a hug. Then another. Smiles and greetings filled the air. These people are so nice, I thought. I was pulled into friendly conversations while helping to set up for the event, and as if it couldn’t get any better, there were donuts!

Slowly, event participants trickled in. My role was to hand them T-shirts, and each passing set of hands instilled a warmth within me. Soon music filled the air, mixing with the welcome sound of laughter. I moved between event booths, handing out supplies, guiding participants, and cheering them on. Then, before I knew it, the event was over. That’s when I realized: volunteering is more than a checkbox, it is giving, caring, laughing, doing whatever you can to make someone’s day better, someone who needs it.

After that day, I eagerly told my grandfather about the experience, and despite the fact that my grandmother’s death a week later hit me hard, knowing that I was able to do something toward Parkinson’s, for her, slowly eased the pain.