Reflection Paper
My name is Amir Anderson, and I am 16 years old. Recently, I had the opportunity to
complete my community service at St. Joseph Hospital, to which I completed a total of 25
hours. This was my first time doing community service, and it has affected me in many ways,
personally and in regard to learning about giving back to others. While I approached this
opportunity with a mix of curiosity and nervousness, I came out of it with invaluable lessons.
Community service, prior to actually beginning, made me feel both nervous and
apprehensive. This was the first time I had entered such an environment, and I didn't know
what to expect. On my first day I was told that I would be placed in the casualty area of the
hospital. I was still a bit apprehensive reminded myself to keep an open mind. My day started
with a tour of the casualty department, where I was introduced to the nurses and staff. They
were friendly and nice, which somehow calmed my nerves. Following the tour, I was given a
brief intro on the type of work I would be doing. My tasks included organizing files, typing
documents, searching for missing files, and keeping patient records in order. Although the
work was not physically demanding, I soon realized that it required attention to detail and
persistence.
One challenging moment arose when I couldn't find some files related to some JCF medical
files. It caused me some frustration as I was spending quite some time going through different
boxes and paperwork. However, one of the nurses noticed my struggle and advised me that if
I couldn’t find the file among the JCF medical files I should instead look for the files among
the normal files for the hospital because sometimes those files can be misplaced there and
soon after I had changed my approach I found the files. Another challenging task I had done
was arranging all the files for the month of September in alphabetical order. This task took a
lot of concentration due to the large amount files for that month but especially when I was
sorting names that were very similar. Strangely enough during my time working I had gained
an appreciation for the use of software such as MS Excel or MS Access because time
consuming tasks such as searching for files or sorting them could be done in a matter of
seconds if were using those kind of software. Among these lessons, the most important was
to develop my communication skills. With many nurses to work with, I had to seek
clarification, on stuff I was unsure about and adjust to the every staff member.
Another key takeaway was to take initiative. There were many times when tasks needed to be
completed, and I felt that to wait for the instructions of specific people would not help with
the flow of work. Stepping up and helping out wherever needed allowed me to become more
confident and able to contribute more productively during my time there. Among all the new
things I learned, I also gained new friends because I was working alongside a fellow student
from St. George's College and another from Excelsior High School. Working with them
during our service hours made the experience more enjoyable as I had people my age who I
could socialize with.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of my community service was the feeling of
giving back. St. Joseph Hospital was very understaffed, and I could tell that the nurses
appreciated me more when I gave them extra help. Knowing that my efforts made a small but
positive difference made me feel appreciated. Furthermore, I got to see some of the inner
workings of how a hospital works. Being able to witness the way files and documentation are
processed, how staff members interact, and how a whole department functions allowed me to
respectfully develop new awareness about how complicated yet effective a hospital needs to
function.
In conclusion, community service at St. Joseph's Hospital is an unforgettable experience, and
it has shaped me into a better person. From overcoming initial nervousness to learning a
number of useful skills such as communication, collaboration, and patience, I have grown
both personally. This experience also taught me the importance of taking initiative and the
value of giving back to those in need. I will always cherish the lessons and memories from
this opportunity. It has not only helped me develop new skills but also has given me a greater
appreciation for the hard work and dedication of healthcare professionals.