Volunteering is one thing I love to do because it gets me involved in what goes around in my community. As someone who is interested in the well being of my community, I participate in several community services: such as soup kitchens, park cleaning, breast cancer walks, trek for knowledge, and many others. However, one of my most memorable trips was to a daycare that was financed by the government to help teenage girls who had given birth but do not spend enough time with their babies due to work or other factors. Before I went to the daycare, I had high expectations as I initially believed we were simply going to meet young women in a school.

When we arrived at the faculty, we saw toys and children all around and saw that these ladies were ready to accept us into their humble home. After the exchange of pleasantries, we started to sing Disney songs with the kids that could speak and played with them too. According to one of the caretakers, the children were mostly bored, but due to our arrival that single day, they were very active. It was also made known to us that one of the babies did not smile often at the center but our presence caused him to smile during that single visit.

Most of the babies did not spend much time with their parents because their parents were teens and were either working or in school during the day. When all the chitchats came to an end, the children were fed by us and the volunteers like me who did not have a personal encounter with the babies had the chance to take care and play with them. Being with the children, l realized that even though those children would not know what tomorrow held for them, they continued to smile and enjoy life. After that visit, I cherished the time spent with my parents, family/community members, friends and loved ones. I realized how children need people around them, so they can smile but do not get that opportunity because their parents are mostly at work or at school.

As a result of my encounter with the babies at the home-care, my interest in babies grew. That encounter made me realize that because I want to help children, I could combine it with my passion for doctrine and become a pediatrician.

I believe that it is helpful to support children in similar situations so they do not end up like their parents. Personally, I do not get the chance to spend my free time with my parents because they are always at work. So, seeing that these little children are not getting their lone time with their parents is heart breaking because I believe they are too young for such thing to happen to them. In addition to what I would provide when I become a pediatrician, I may provide free toys to the children so they do not feel lonely when their parents are not around.