If you asked most people to name their favorite person, top of the list probably would be a parent, boyfriend or girlfriend. Chrissy Paesano, a student at NYC Vocational Training Center (VTC) who also is part of a Learn and Serve America program is not your typical respondent. She writes:

   My favorite person is Mary. Mary is a lady that I talk to each day. She lives in the nursing home where I work. Mary has two sisters, but they really don't come to see her. I think sometimes Mary is very lonely and thinks her family just put her there. I think by my talking to Mary each day I help her adjust to her being in the home. I think that by my coming each day I help make her know that she is loved by someone.
   Mary makes me feel like I'm doing something good and I know that I make her happy and it makes me happy to see someone happy.

She smiled when she saw me coming -- this
little woman in her 70s
with the cherub face. I
told her who I was and
she just kept smiling I
asked her if she was cold
and she said yes and I
got a blanket from the
warmer and wrapped
her snug till nothing
showed but that round
face still smiling, and
smiling still as I walked
away trying to decide
just who was taking
care of whom

Emergency Room, 1995, Austin, Texas.

   Neither Chrissy Paesano nor Albert Huffstickler had training in taking care of patients before volunteering time at the New York nursing home and Texas hospital. Yet their writing shows that two people, 50 years apart in age, hundreds of miles apart geographically, can be kindred spirits with shared attitudes of concern and warm feelings for the persons entrusted to their care.
   They both used quality time thinking, or reflecting, about what they were doing with the people they served. They spent additional time writing about their experiences. This act of reflection, of questioning and then providing personal answers to share with others sets service learning students apart from other youths pursuing volunteer activities.
   Look at both pieces. Choose words that express how community service affected these writers. Write an advertisement to encourage people to become volunteers.

These are the things
a volunteer can give:
comfort, fruit juice, coffee,
a warm blanket.
He can stand and
just be with you,
not saying anything.
He can recall your face
suddenly at home out of nowhere
and wish you well--
I think they call that
praying.

Emergency Room, 1995, Austin, Texas.