The Ride for Hospice by Ashlyn

The Ride for Hospice by Ashlyn - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

In March of 2014 I participated in an annual event called Ride for Hospice. I had attended this event in the past, but this year was different. This was the first year that Ride for Hospice had not solely been an event, but an opportunity for me to give back to the people of my community. I was finally old enough to understand the importance of assisting people in need. Hospice is a non-profit organization whose main goal is to assist the ailing patient and their family through strenuous times. Making meaningful contributions to the community gives me the most capacious reward of all: self-accomplishment.
One challenge I faced while making my impact on Ride for Hospice was apprehending that the patients I was helping may not recover from their illness. Hospice is here as these peoples last resort, to make their mortality as comfortable as possible. Hospice not only cares for the terminally ill, but they specialize in comforting the family just as much. Although it is hard to face the truth about these people’s destinies, comfort during these times is surpassingly vital. What helps me overcome this challenge is knowing that Hospice is helping people feel safe through the duration of their illness. Although facing this reality is difficult, it is necessary for the better good of these patients.
A reward I have received from making my contribution to Hospice is finding out how much I enjoy caring for people. After the Ride for Hospice, I was offered the opportunity to visit a clinic and see the direct impact my fundraising made on these individuals. Getting to see the people my donation helped directly encouraged me to realize how important people are in my life. Over the years of serving Hospice, I have realized that giving back to the community that has taken care of me is important. Seeing this first hand, I realized how important it is for me to ensure that people get the care and love they need and deserve to be happy and safe.
Making my contribution to the Ride for Hospice has helped me realize how important community involvement is. I also received the incentive to care for people. This gift has given me opportunities that otherwise would not have been possible. On the contrary, letting these people go is difficult, but giving back to the community that has taken care of me is meaningful to me. Facilitating my community has lead to my discovery of a passion for serving others.