At the moment, I am volunteering as an intern at First Home Care in Portsmouth, VA. My work is associated with Day Support Treatments for adults diagnosed with autism. Autism is characterized by an entire spectrum of conditions that make it challenging for individuals to be successful in their social interactions, verbal and non-verbal communication, and behaviors. Although caring for autistic adults is a complicated task that requires strength, dedication, and courage, I have learned a lot about being compassionate and respecting other people’s lives and needs. Respect is one of Saint Leo University’s core values, which implies strengthening the community by ensuring diversity of people who live and work together in harmony. Because I was able to see the courage and strength of people diagnosed with autism and how they value the time they have on this Earth, I recognized how important it was to be open to new experiences and help those who enrich our communities with diversity.
Previously, I volunteered as a staff member and helped pack food that then got delivered to churches and given out to the homeless. I also believe that this gesture coincides with the mentioned core value since it shows respect for the life of other people that were unfortunate to be left without a roof over their heads. I would also like to mention that in the beginning, I was skeptical about my work as a volunteer because working for free is a luxury that not everyone can afford. However, when I began seeing the contribution that I had made to the lives of other people, I understood that my volunteering work was far more fulfilling emotionally than any other job.
Also, I participated in my first intake process, during which I worked with clients to assess their behaviors and determine whether they were eligible to participate in the program. There was usually a period of sixty days during which I determined what clients could be enrolled in the program. As an intern, I felt a great responsibility when working with clients since my life experiences were not enough to make informed decisions. I had to be very careful during paperwork and was dedicated to paying attention to every detail that could make a difference in the final decision. I liked talking to clients, asking them about their emotional struggles and what they wanted to change in their lives. The overall experience was not only rewarding but also challenging for me as a young person since many of the clients with whom I worked had seen far more in life than I had.
I want to conclude the reflection on my volunteering experience by recommending this to everyone who would like to pursue psychology as a career. Face-to-face interactions with clients and other volunteers allowed me to become more open-minded to new experiences while trying to help other people who happen to be less fortunate. I link the core value of respect with my experience because it is associated with enriching communities with different perspectives that people can offer. Although my work was difficult sometimes and made me question my career choice, the outcome was far more rewarding than I had anticipated.