This week was more of the same thing. It was pretty slow in the NICU; I think I only saw about 10 visitors come through the door of the lounge. However, there was a couple who came in and asked to make a donation to the NICU. They asked to leave it with me, but I called the nurse and the manager of the NICU ended up coming down to accept it from them. This display of generosity definitely brightened my day a little bit. Another highlight of the day for me: changing up what I ate for lunch. I usually use my lunch pass to get chicken tenders, but this week I got pulled pork and macaroni and cheese, and let me just say that it was a really great choice. Maybe I’ll try something new next week, too :) This week I chose the journal involving the article, “10 Simple Things You Can Do Today That Will Make You Happier”. One activity thing that stood out to me the most was 8: plan a trip - but don’t take one. As stated in the article, “the highest spike in happiness came during the planning stage of a vacation as employees enjoyed the sense of anticipation”. I found this very interesting and quite relevant in my life at the moment. I have been contemplating whether I should accept an invitation I received concerning a trip to Italy this summer to play softball and travel, and just the thought of taking this trip makes me so happy. Even thinking about a night with friends that I am excited for will instantly boost my mood. I can definitely see how planning a vacation could significantly increase a person’s happiness. If I could add another happiness-boosting thing to the list, I would say to spend time creating. Whether it is through visual art, music, knitting, writing, etc., I feel that expressing one’s self in a creative and productive way can be a very therapeutic and relaxing experience, and I personally find this a very effective way to improve my mood.
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This week was a pretty slow one for the NICU. I didn’t have too many visitors come through, but I did get one family with three kids who came to visit. The kids must have all been under 7 years old, and the family was coming to visit newborn twins. Yup, five kids. The dad and kids all stayed in the lobby and waited around while the mom went to visit the babies. The kids were adorable! When I came back from lunch, the kids were playing while the dad was watching TV. The one boy, who was probably three or four years old, was especially interested in me. He kept waving and smiling from across the room, which made me smile as I waved back for about five minutes straight. Then, he decided to keep saying “hi!” to me and slowly got closer and closer to my desk until they had to leave, and the family joked about him being a big flirt. I waved goodbye and smiled because that little kid made my day. The TED talk “Everyday Leadership” opened my eyes to how much impact a simple moment could have on your view of the world and perspective on life. I try to provide “lollipop moments” for other people as often as possible. We may never know what little compliment or piece of advice may inspire something bigger in another person. I try my best to make the lives of others around me better, whether it be those of my closest friends or strangers I’ll never see again. A moment that really sticks out to me was on my senior night this volleyball season. The underclassmen got each senior a framed group picture and wrote little notes on the outside of the picture about us and our impact on them over the course of our time together. I cried reading the things that the younger girls wrote to me; they were things that validated my efforts to be a leader and role model and I was so proud of myself at that moment. To this day, I get teary-eyed just thinking about that picture because of how much it represents to me. I don’t think any of those girls will truly understand just how much they mean to me, and continue to inspire me to be a leader every day. When I find myself struggling to find a reason to keep working hard and putting in so much effort to what I do, this picture reminds me of just a few reasons why it's all worth it. This week was the same as the past weeks have been. I arrive and check in at the volunteer’s office. Then, I walk up to the fifth floor of the hospital and take my spot at the desk in the NICU family lounge. I usually have to switch spots with Camilla since she is the one who works before me. I take my lunch around 1:30-2:00 and get chicken tenders and strawberry milk from the cafeteria (which is really good, by the way). I go back to the lounge and switch places with Camilla again. She leaves around 3:30, and I put the binder I use back where it belongs around 4:00. Finally, I go back to the volunteer’s office to check out and grab my coat, and the day is complete. The article “The Moral Bucket List” from the New York Times was a very inspiring article that I connected with instantly; it articulated thoughts that I have had for a long time. I love the idea of defining “resume virtues” and “eulogy virtues” as separate. While the accolades and accomplishments that can be listed on a resume have impressive face value, it is the qualities that a person learns and practices in their interpersonal relationships that truly define their worth. A person with compassion, kindness in their heart, selflessness, and love will be a much more fulfilled individual than one with a lengthy list of superficial accomplishments. I have learned in my own experience that strangers, acquaintances, and bosses will be impressed with your achievements, which is great, as it always feels good to be appreciated for the hard work you do. However, earning the love of others cannot be achieved through awards and titles, and that is why the idea of eulogy virtues is so important. Without the intimate relationships formed between loved ones, life would fail to have a true purpose. The key to fulfilling this purpose is to become one of "those people". This week was the same as the first two weeks. I sat at the desk and opened the door for the visitors of the NICU. I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable in my position and I’m not as nervous I was when I started. I haven’t forgotten my badge, gotten lost, or anything like that since my first day, so things are going pretty well. I did find out that the girl who spends time in the family lounge, Camilla, is also a high school senior, which really surprised me. I assumed she was a college student doing an internship program, and the funny part is that she assumed I was older too! We both laughed about it and talked about college, senior year, and started getting to know each other more. Since I am a greeter for the family lounge in the NICU, I don’t really have much say in my work environment, and I wouldn’t really change much as I wouldn’t expect to stay in this position for long. It is almost always quiet and comfortable, and I find it easy to relax there. The only thing that I might change would be the way that the kitchen area is set up. I’ve heard some of the parents’ issues with it and I would do my best to create a more comfortable environment for them. Something I did love was that the lounge was decorated for Christmas! There was a beautifully decorated tree and I really loved the way it made the space feel more like home for these parents during a tough time. |
Natalie S.I am a senior at Lake Shore High School and I go to Macomb Community College through the Early College program. I play volleyball, basketball, and softball, and I will play softball at Hillsdale College next year. Archives
May 2017
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