Selflessness, to me, means using what I have to brighten someone else’s life without expecting anything in return. I have always believed in sharing that compassion through helping those I see struggling or by volunteering at places such as the animal shelter, UNC Rex Hospital, and a local nursing home. My favorite place to volunteer is The Addison of Fuquay-Varina, a small nursing home where I play piano for the residents. What began as a simple way to share music quickly became a meaningful experience that taught me how even the smallest actions can make a lasting difference. When I first started playing at The Addison, I thought I was simply providing entertainment. However, I soon realized how deeply my music affected both the residents and me. A few weeks after I began, I noticed elderly women waiting outside the room where I performed, eager to listen. I had never considered how monotonous it could be to live within the same walls each day, with little change or excitement. Music provided them with something to look forward to, something that broke up the routine and brought joy. While playing, I often saw their faces light up as they recognized familiar tunes, especially “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. The staff later told me that on the days I came, Thursdays and Sundays, the residents looked forward to my visits all week. I was surprised that spending only an hour playing piano could bring so much happiness. That experience taught me that kindness does not always require large-scale efforts or complex planning. Sometimes, it is as simple as showing up and sharing what you love with others. That same desire to make a difference on a broader scale inspired me to take part in a community initiative called Skeletons for St. Jude. Public service has always been an important part of my life, and this project began unexpectedly after a local news station, ABC-11, aired a story about my family’s Halloween decorations on October 7, 2020. After the broadcast, my family decided to use the publicity for good. I came up with the idea of helping pediatric patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Our goal was to help sick children get out of the hospital so they could see Halloween decorations. We placed a sign by our display asking for donations, and with the support of our community, the fundraiser grew rapidly. What started as one family’s idea quickly became a nationwide effort involving more than 1,000 partner homes and raising over $967,000. My role as merchandise and media manager included conducting interviews with local media outlets and selling merchandise to raise both funds and awareness. One of my most memorable moments was my February 18, 2022, interview with Holly Springs Suburban Living Magazine, which helped spread our mission throughout the town. I am proud that our efforts helped St. Jude ensure families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food. Through both experiences, I learned that selflessness is not defined by recognition or scale. It is about seeing a need and choosing to act, whether by uplifting the spirits of nursing home residents through music or by helping children hundreds of miles away receive lifesaving care. These experiences strengthened my belief that compassion, in any form, has the power to connect people and create hope.

I am pursuing a career in healthcare because I want to provide meaningful care to patients and contribute to improving outcomes in the clinical setting. My specific goal is to become a bilingual Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), combining technical expertise with Spanish proficiency to serve a growing, diverse patient population. Through taking Advanced Placement (AP) and health science courses, I developed a fascination with the healthcare field. I spent last summer volunteering in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) at UNC Rex Hospital. I assisted nurses by wheeling patients in and out of the hospital, cleaning the temporary rooms, and offering basic comfort measures. This experience allowed me to see the realities of patient care and the fast-paced environment of clinical work. During one of my shifts, I noticed a Hispanic woman in some sort of distress, repeatedly whispering something in Spanish in her wheelchair. I then asked her, in Spanish, “Ma’am, is there an issue?” She had just come out of surgery, and I was pushing her to another area of the hospital. My question provided her tremendous relief that someone nearby could speak her language and help. She was stressed over leaving jewelry in her room. I’ll never forget her smile when she heard me speak Spanish and knew I could understand her. Additionally, my volunteering experiences helped me to confirm my passion for healthcare. I completed over 200 hours of volunteering. 37 of those hours were spent playing piano at a nursing home (The Addison of Fuquay-Varina), and volunteering at an animal shelter as a cleaner. Playing piano at the retirement home has shown me that the simple act, such as playing piano, can affect the residents’ lives and happiness. Volunteering has shown me the importance of being kind to others, which is just as necessary in the healthcare environment. These roles strengthened my ability to connect with people from different backgrounds and showed me the value of service. I spent my other community hours volunteering as a part of our family fundraiser known as Skeletons for St. Jude. Our annual Halloween fundraiser is to help raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for kids with cancer. I have personally seen how this fundraiser has affected the lives of these young people and their families, through seeing the posts online, and watching them as they come to see our display. Currently, our fundraiser has raised over $905,000 and spread nationwide. My role in this is the Social Media and Merchandise coordinator, and I am most proud of my magazine interview in Suburban Living Magazine (link at the bottom). Volunteering, clinical exposure, and academic experiences confirmed that healthcare is the field where I would like to make a positive impact. I am passionate about this career because it allows me to use both my technical skills from classes and interpersonal strengths in a way that directly improves the lives of others. The role of a CRNA is even further appealing to me because it involves precision, responsibility, and patient advocacy. I want to be part of a healthcare workforce that reflects the diversity of its patients. Looking forward, I hope to contribute to a more inclusive and responsive healthcare system. By becoming a bilingual healthcare professional, I will be able to reduce the communication barriers for Spanish-speaking patients. Through my work, I aim to improve patient experiences and create more trust in medical institutions. Helping people through vulnerable moments and being part of their recovery process is what motivates me to pursue this field. https://hollysprings.suburbanlivingmag.com/making-a-difference-two-holly-springs-teens-have-a-big-impact-on-giving-back/