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Personal Narrative: Little Things Change Worlds

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Little Things Change Worlds
Life is not so much about changing the world, but rather it is about changing a world. What may seem to be a miniscule and insignificant service on the big scale may be an unforgettable event on one person’s scale. This is what volunteering shows me. I love volunteering because of the profound difference that I can make in someone’s life just by putting in effort. I also enjoy the satisfaction that comes from serving others, and it is humbling to work with benevolence towards others instead of for a monetary reward. My experiences have helped me learn to work in a group, given me valuable experiences and skills, and they have helped me to see the constant need in a community. I have positively impacted lives and …show more content…

First, my experiences have helped me learn to work in a group. Every time that I have volunteered, I have been put with a group that has almost always been with new people. As a volunteer, I have grown accustomed to working with all different kinds of people, and I have also been forced to break out of my comfort zone and talk to people that I may have been afraid to talk to. When I volunteered at the Missouri Council of the Blind thrift store, I was put into an unfamiliar environment, and I had to work with numerous different people to work jobs that I had not done before. I was forced to collaborate with them and ask for help. Working at the thrift store exposed many different kinds of lifestyles to me. I worked with people of all ages who were joyous to do jobs that many would scorn. I met so many different people: from a man who had to work 250 hours of service for a DUI, to elderly ladies that were glad to clean picture frames, to young men who would rather work at the thrift store than go back to their unstable home lives. I became much more comfortable to socialize once I realized that, although people live completely different lifestyles, none of us are so different that we cannot be friendly towards each other. This realization has helped me to overcome my fear of talking to others. Not only have I become more comfortable with people, but I have done tasks that I would not have normally had the opportunity to do. From …show more content…

I have brightened days while volunteering. Every Sunday, I volunteer at my church as an usher, and I also help people to find seats when the auditorium is dark and the band is playing. As people walk in, I always smile and say “Good morning.” While this does not seem to be significant, I can recall a woman who once came to our service and sat in the very back by herself. The woman had looked distressed when she walked into the auditorium. During our 30-second greeting period, the woman remained seated, and no one bothered to say anything to her. I decided to go up to her, shake her hand, smile at her, and simply say “Good morning.” As I did that, the woman genuinely smiled and looked relieved. Although I have no idea if the woman ever came back, this experience stuck with me and helped me to realize that just a tiny bit of effort can legitimately help someone. I try to remember this every time that I volunteer. Through volunteering, I have also provided for bare necessities. At Convoy of Hope, I helped to package suits for pastors in Africa who otherwise would not have much to wear to while they preach. At the Ronald McDonald House, I helped cook breakfast for families that may not have had breakfast that day. It is a rewarding experience to show people simple kindness that they may never have received. Even more so, it is humbling to

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