Volunteering with Cancer: The Journey that Changed my Career by Justine

Volunteering with Cancer: The Journey that Changed my Career by Justine - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my high school career, I’ve never thought of my actions as service learning. All of the activities I have volunteered for have essentially repaid me, rather than solely benefiting from my service. I began volunteering with Relay For Life my junior year, and I have therefore learned so much from the life-changing experience.

As someone who wants to pursue a career in the medical field, I found that a position with a cancer foundation was a perfect opportunity for me. Sure I had learned about the gene mutations and possible gene therapy, however I was not exposed to the emotional side of cancer. I knew how to identify the types of cancer from mutations, however I never knew how to approach a family who was experiencing cancer treatment. Volunteering with Relay For Life taught me how to comfort families and encourage them to fight for a cure, therefore I was knowledgeable on both the scientific and emotional aspects of cancer. Too many doctors talk to their patients as if their emotions are made of steel, therefore I wanted to make a change. After having experienced the emotional responses from cancer diagnosis, I will know how to approach my patients and ensure that their emotions are taken into account.

Although I was prepared to talk to families about their previous cancer treatments and possible cures, it was difficult to understand when cancer started to affect my own family. In October of 2016, my grandpa was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Without Relay For Life, I would have handled the situation differently. I knew how to approach the situation and I finally started to understand the reality of cancer. I found myself fundraising for cancer treatment and travelling to different locations to assist in events that would raise money for cancer research. Just days ago, my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer. I knew that I should have been the one to be shocked, but I again knew how to handle the situation. Instead of reacting to the news, I was there for my grandparents and assisted in comforting them. Everything that I had learned from Relay For Life later came into use when applying to real world situations.

Even though my 2016 internship with Relay For Life ended, I continue to volunteer with cancer patients. I am now an ambassador of the Relay for Life team and I find myself continuing with community outreach events to help raise awareness for cancer research. Relay For Life taught me a variety of things, therefore I will forever be in debt to their organization, despite the amount of service I perform for them.