Liljana Djurich
I began volunteering at Saint Therese last year as a junior in high school. I had close friends who had volunteered there before and spoke highly of their experience and the relationships they built with residents. Hearing how meaningful their time had been encouraged me to get involved myself. Listening to my friends' stories inspired me to see what made Saint Therese so special. This moment of simple curiosity quickly became one of the most meaningful experiences in my high school career.
When I started volunteering, I worked in the dining services twice a week. My primary responsibility was to assist the residents during lunch and dinner by taking drink orders, bringing their fruit or soup of the day, and helping keep the dining area organized. At first, I thought this position would be simple and straightforward; I would greet the residents, serve them, and help clean up. But as my time there progressed, I began to connect with each of the residents. I learned their names and what job they had previously, what drink they liked so it could be waiting for them when they arrived, and the particular seats they sat in everyday. These small acts of remembrance and kindness is what brightened my day and most importantly the residents’ day. I began to look forward to my shifts so that I could catch up with the residents about their book recommendations or hear about the good time they had visiting with their grandkids. Volunteering became something that I could not wait to do; not just something to gain volunteer hours for college.
One resident in particular made a lasting impact on me. My junior year was filled with stress and anxiety about college and the extremely difficult classes I was taking. The class that I struggled with the most was AP US History. One evening, I was talking to a resident about my US History class when he said “did you know I used to be a US History teacher for 40 years!”. I was astonished that he was not only a teacher, but also a US history teacher! He began to check in with me every time I saw him about my studies. He would ask about how I did on my recent tests and what I had learned in the past week. I loved seeing his eyes light up and the smile that appeared on his face as I told him I had gotten an A on my recent test or that we were talking about World War II (his favorite topic in the course). I used to resent this class; it caused me so much stress, anxiety, and late nights on the verge of tears before my test. But meeting this resident is what helped me to excel and love this class in a way I never thought possible. When it came time for the AP exam in May, I was so excited to take it and to tell him how it went and what topics it asked about. I truly believe that I would never have been able to receive a 5 on the exam (in the top 13% of the country) without the weekly check-ins by this resident. He truly brought me so much encouragement every week and a passion for history that I still hold today.
Through this experience and the multitude of interactions and connections with other residents, I began to understand how impactful simple presence and care can be. Many of the residents would look forward to dinner not because they enjoyed the delicious food, but because they loved the conversation and connection they had with their fellow residents and the volunteers. By doing ordinary tasks such as greeting the residents by their name as they sat down
or checking in with each of them to hear how their week had been going, I was able to foster true connection and care for each and every one of the residents.
Volunteering at Saint Therese transformed me personally as I developed greater patience, empathy, and communication skills. Speaking with residents from different generations and life experiences broadened my perspectives and taught me to slow down, listen carefully, and most importantly apply their vast lessons and life experiences to my own life. Their stories of families, accomplishments, and loss reminded me of the importance of resilience and gratitude.
As someone who wants to one day pursue a career in healthcare, my time at Saint Therese taught me that there is so much more to healthcare than just science and problem solving. Healthcare requires compassion, communication, and remembering that each patient is a person with a story worth hearing. A person who wants someone to talk to and wants someone to hear them and see them. In my future career, I hope to approach patients with the same level of respect and genuine interest that I learned during my time in the dining room. I want to make sure that every person I encounter feels heard, appreciated, and supported.
What began as a volunteer position twice a week became a transformative experience that helped to shape my academic confidence and career path. The residents of Saint Therese taught me that service is not one-sided. It is a mutual connection that helps to brighten the lives of the residents and myself. As I move on to this next chapter, I will carry with me the essential lessons that I learned from Saint Therese to my future in healthcare and beyond.
Olivia Fleigle
Over the past three summers and even during the school year, I have been volunteering in the hair salon at St. Therese, and words can't even describe how much joy this experience has brought to me. I am now a senior in high school at a private catholic school in Monticello and about to walk the stage in a couple of months, but I was homeschooled my whole life through sophomore my year. Being homeschooled gave me the flexibility to spend my time in service to others at the salon during the day. I would go every Friday, ranging from 8 am-2 pm. I really enjoyed spending the whole first half of my day in the joyful, vibrant environment of the salon. Just like any other salon, the St Therese Beauty Salon had regulars who came every Friday that I got to know very well, and had the blessing of creating friendships with. Volunteering in the salon was a unique opportunity that gave me vast life experience in a lot of different areas. I got to clean, answer phones, book appointments, talk to clients, and escort the residents to the salon.
At the base level, my job was mostly doing laundry and escorting residents to and from appointments. But after volunteering for a little while and going every week for multiple hours, it becomes not just a walk down the hall to someone's room, making sure they get back safely, but a time to create friendships and give company to those who don't get company often. A couple of the regulars that I got to know pretty well were Patsy Sprowls, Alice Ellison, Sharon Bush, and Delores Felshiem. These ladies and so many more that came into the salon every Friday filled my life with an overflowing happiness that I didnt even know was possible. From chatting about the flower-painted jeans that I wore often to talking about their childhood and grandkids, to Delores’s delightful soul, thinking that I was one of her old piano students, every conversation
and interaction had a lasting effect on my life and the way that I view things forever. When working in senior living, joy and sorrow coexist, as age brings both rich memories and inevitable loss. Throughout my years there, I lost a few residents whom I had come especially close to, while these days were definitely hard ones, it just made me ever more thankful that I got to be a part of their lives and hear their crazy childhood stories and see their sweet smile and laughter. Seeing the light spread across the residents' faces when they walked into the salon, and I gave them a little smile and a warm welcome, impacted me more than it did them. James Matthew Barrie once said, “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves,” and bringing sunshine and joy to these residents' lives was something I never knew could impact me so much. I was deeply affected by every second I spent there, but I didnt realize how important all those joyous residents were in my life until I left.
I had bonded with so many residents and had gotten into a routine that I was accustomed to, and now that was all about to change. After the summer of my sophomore year, I had decided to go to school, and this greatly limited when I could volunteer at St Therese. So for my junior year of highschool I was not able to volunteer much during the school year, but I told myself that I had to make an effort to come back and visit my heartwarming residents on my days off from school. After school ended about halfway through the summer, I came back full-time and started back on Fridays again with my normal routine until school started back up again. The time that I had spent away truly showed me how much this little volunteer job, that I had no idea would be part of my every week schedule, had changed my life. Something I learned from my time spent at St Therese was that every day is a blessing and a gift. This life that we live every day is a gift from God, and we should do everything we can to bring joy and spread His light everywhere we go and in everything we do. Spending quality time with the residents showed me that life really
is about the little things that bring you joy. Spending time with that loved one, going on a walk outside, doing a craft with a friend, or even just sitting in silence with someone who needs the company. Because of St Therese and its residents, I now have an intense appreciation for life's simple moments and an experience that will stay with me forever, reminding me to slow down, spread kindness, and never take the gift of human connection for granted
Bella Harris
I began volunteering at Saint Therese during my junior year of high school, committing at least four hours each month to dining services. At first glance, my responsibilities seemed simple: greeting residents as they entered the dining room, serving beverages, soup, fruit, or dessert, and helping break down tables once meals were finished. However, what started as basic volunteer work quickly became one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Over time, I realized that my role went far beyond serving food. It was about building relationships, showing respect, and making people feel seen.
One of the things I value most about volunteering at Saint Therese is the opportunity to connect personally with the seniors. I make a conscious effort to learn residents’ names so I can greet them individually, rather than offering a generic hello. Something as small as saying someone’s name can completely change their demeanor. Many of the residents light up when they realize they are remembered. Those moments remind me that kindness does not always require grand gestures; sometimes, it is simply about consistency and presence.
I believe my impact on the seniors comes from showing that I genuinely care. I try to serve each resident with patience and respect, treating them as individuals with important lives and stories rather than just people sitting down for a meal. Several residents have shared how much they enjoy seeing me and interacting with me. One resident named Roberta once described me as “radiant,” a comment that stayed with me because it made me realize how meaningful our interactions were to her. Hearing that my presence brought joy reassured me that my time and effort truly mattered.
Listening to residents’ stories has been one of the most rewarding parts of my volunteer experience. Many of the seniors enjoy sharing memories of their careers, families, and life journeys. Through my conversations with Roberta, I learned that she was a nurse, which felt especially meaningful because I hope to pursue nursing myself. Hearing her talk about her career gave me encouragement and a sense of connection across generations. It reminded me that the path I hope to take has already been walked by those who came before me.
Volunteering at Saint Therese has also taught me patience and empathy, especially when working with individuals who experience cognitive issues or memory loss. I learned how to slow down, repeat myself gently when needed, and respond with compassion rather than frustration. These skills did not come naturally at first, but over time, I grew more comfortable and confident. This experience has helped me understand how important empathy is in healthcare and in everyday life.
One interaction in particular deeply impacted me. One day, a resident confided in me that they were feeling discouraged about getting older and admitted they did not want to wake up anymore. I was caught off guard by the honesty of that moment, but I listened closely and responded sincerely. I smiled and told them, “I’m happy to see you. Keep waking up.” It was a simple statement, but it came from the heart. That experience taught me the power of being present and listening without judgment. Sometimes, what people need most is to feel valued and noticed.
I initially began volunteering because I was dealing with anxiety and felt overwhelmed by my own thoughts. I hoped that dedicating time to helping others would give me perspective and allow me to focus outside of myself. My intuition proved to be right. Volunteering helped quiet my spiraling thoughts and replaced them with purpose. Knowing that people looked forward to seeing me gave me a sense of responsibility and belonging.
Through my time at Saint Therese, I have learned that giving back does not just benefit the people being served, it transforms the person serving as well. This experience has given me a greater sense of meaning and reinforced my desire to pursue a career in nursing. More importantly, it taught me that compassion, patience, and genuine human connection have the power to lift spirits and change lives, including my own. I look forward to every visit to Saint Therese and will carry these lessons with me wherever life takes me.
