Although my time was cut short as a hospice volunteer, it was an extremely meaningful experience for me overall. The initial training program taught me so much about ways to look at death and dying and how to help others cope with the pain and pressure that comes along with it. I now feel much better prepared to have conversations with patients and their families about end-of-life care, which is very important.
In my time volunteering, I formed a close relationship with my first, and only, hospice patient. She was sweet, gentle, and kind, but her spirit was crushed by her failing body. We immediately connected and chatted about our family life and hobbies. She loved talking about her childhood and her expansive family that visited her often and supported her always. I shared stories about college life and my home town and she enjoyed every minute of it. We were also very content with sitting in silence; just having someone sitting there with her was comfort enough. After only my first visit I felt very emotionally attached to my wonderful patient and felt all of the skills I had learned in training be put to use.
Unfortunately, her health continued to decline but I continued to develop a relationship with her in the short time I knew she had left. We talked about deeper topics like religion and life as a whole, and I learned so much from her. She was wise and endearing even in the most vulnerable and frightening time in her life. Shortly after, she succumbed to her illness, which was hard for me to accept, but I felt so blessed to have been part of her life at all. My hospice patient taught me so much about myself and about life in general, which was very rewarding.
This program is so valuable for a medical school application because it shows a dedication to serving others that need companionship and a young perspective. It allows you to serve in a medical setting, which is so valuable and hard to find. I have grown to be more mature about serious topics, like death, and better able to communicate with patients about their needs and what makes them most comfortable. This experience has pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible.
Serving as a hospice volunteer has confirmed my desire to become a physician one day. Before this experience, I felt very uncomfortable with the idea of dying and having to talk to patients about end-of-life care. This opportunity has enabled me to learn the skills necessary to think about death as a natural part of life and rather than shutting out of my mind. I have embraced thinking about it especially in a medical and also religious light. I now feel more motivated than ever to go into the medical field in order to improve patient’s quality of life at any and all stages of life, as they are all equally important and valuable.