Is volunteering predictable? It was supposed to be - when I first started at the surgical information desk, I connected patients’ families to surgeons and updated the hospital’s online system. Volunteering at the surgical information desk put me in a place of authority in the outside world, but I had a system of tasks that I had practiced and memorized, and I soon became comfortable with the bright pink and orange surgery labels that filled the computer screen, the green slips of paper issued to families, the coffee vending machine that families inevitably asked about. What I didn’t expect, however, was Spanish. A man had come into the hospital entrance, and I was asked to transport him to the Emergency Room, which was quite a walk from the front. His hand was bleeding severely, blood splattering across the lobby as another volunteer quickly mopped it up. After a moment of deliberation and a confirmation that I was authorized to transport him, I swiftly took him to the ER, walking at twice my normal speed. When I wheeled him to the ER front desk, I felt a sense of accomplishment. That was short-lived, however, as there was a clear problem. He only spoke Spanish, and there was no nurse there who did. I, however, had taken Spanish for five years and knew that I would probably be able to translate. I had an internal debate at that moment. 'I know I can help him,' I thought. But. 'This could be very awkward. What if I misunderstand him and translate wrong?' I had previously not translated for a patient because of these fears. I looked at his bleeding hand and decided to speak. “June 9th, 1998,” I translated, and the nurse entered his birthday. The patient looked at me in surprise. “Oh, ¿habla español?” he asked. From that moment, I became much more confident in the hospital, and daily life. I am more willing to take risks, especially if it means that I can potentially help someone. I also know that simply having initiative isn’t enough - I must act on it. One of my favorite things to do in the hospital is deliver flowers to patients, just to see their joy. Now, I don’t just drop off the flowers and leave; I take a couple minutes to talk to them, asking them how they feel, reading the heartfelt notes from family, and finding the perfect shelf to display their daisies so that they can always see them. Volunteering has also provided more insight into what I would like to do in my future career. I enjoy my time in the hospital, especially when I get to interact with patients. I hope to pursue a major in behavioral sciences in college, and eventually go to medical school. Volunteering at my local hospital has been a wonderful experience, and I plan to continue building my confidence and patient interaction skills in the hospital - whether that means sitting outside with an elderly patient on a warm, spring day, or helping a patient with an immediate emergency feel more comfortable. And even though native Spanish speakers still make me nervous, I will confidently say “Puedo hablar español” if I can help someone in the hospital.