Honestly, at first I was reluctant to start volunteering at a drug rehabilitation center. It was a residential center, one of those that didn't utilize methadone or any other drug to help the residents, and I liked the idea in theory. However, as I neared Marjanovac I felt an irrational kind of fear, a stupid prejudice screaming at me that it was not such a good idea."What do they need me for?" , I thought, sitting on the bus with a very uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. "They are in Marjanovac because of their private problems, I could only make them uncomfortable." Even though the residents gave their consent to permit volunteers into Marjanovac, I felt like they would not be very thrilled to have a kid like me snooping around.
How wrong.
Instead of rejection, I was met with such openness and positivism. At first I was afraid of asking too many questions or making the residents uncomfortable in any way. However, people openly shared their life stories with me and I was touched and honored by their trust. It is a part of what eventually inspired my wish to study psychology. I discovered "the listener" in me. It would be easy to turn away and say "They don't need me", but not necessarily right.
The first meeting ended with a resident from the center crying and hugging me in thanks for not avoiding "people like them" and I knew I would be back. And for the next three years, I was.
"It was a residential center, one of those that didn't utilize methadone or any other drug to help the residents, and I liked the idea in theory" Why did you like the theory?
"Instead of rejection, I was met with such openness and positivism "Positivity not positivism.
Overall very good essay. I liked your tone; it was very personal.
