Undergraduate /
Never judge anything by its appearance [13]
Prompt: In an essay of 300 words or less, choose one extracurricular activity, work experience, or community service project from the list you provided on the application and explain why you initially chose it, why you continued with it, and how you benefited from it.
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When the volunteer coordinator assigned me to volunteer at the extended care section for seniors, I was disappointed. I wished to volunteer at the emergency room where all the excitement happens. At first, I thought taking care of senior patients seemed repetitious and interminable. Never judge anything by its appearance; I finally learned what the sentence truly means through my volunteer experience.
I did not like my job at the extended care section until I started volunteering. Patient's family members sent them to the extended care to ease care stress. Some family members choose not to visit the patients at all. Sally (not her real name), lives in the extended care section. Sally likes to sit beside the window and count the airplanes in the sky wishing to fly in one. Then I realized that I needed to pay more attention to Sally.
Unlike other patients in the hospital, Sally's family members rarely visit her. Volunteered in the hospital for over a year, I only saw Sally's family members visit her once. When other patients in the extended care section received flowers from their relatives or friends, Sally's face would become bittersweet. I felt heavyhearted every time seeing her depressed face. Therefore, I decided to entertain Sally more to make her joyful.
Every Sunday afternoon I would play games or read books to Sally. Sometimes when Sally tells me that she wants to go back home, I would take her on a walk in the hospital. During the walk, I would tell her to look at different pictures hanging on the wall to distract her from thinking about going back home. Gradually, as Sally thought less about going home , she started to smile and talk more often. I enjoyed playing games, reading books, and entertaining Sally. Seeing her become happier makes me realize that volunteering in the extended care section is not as boring and dull as I thought would be in the first place. The volunteer experience makes me feel that I accomplished something.
Volunteering at the extended care section seemed uninteresting and unexciting at first. However, the interesting experience and the delighted outcome were heart warming. Everyone needs care, giving cares to others is a kind way to benefit others. Sally's mood changed from a depressed and unhappy to loquacious and cheerful. It is altruistic to prejudge something without experiencing it. Never judge anything by its appearance.
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Please comment on it.
My essay has 415 words, please me on cutting it down to less than 300 words.
Thank you for reading it :D