Take a Leap

Nephthalie B., a volunteer from the University of South Florida Chapter, shares how an interaction with Mrs. Betty inspires her to take a leap of faith every once in a while.

I will be truthful and say that today I was definitely not feeling my best and was sort of dreading volunteering as it was going to be my first time volunteering at that specific facility, and I was already feeling drained from school. Yet, to my surprise, volunteering certainly boosted my mood and allowed me to push through the day. Something about seeing how happy the seniors are and how their peers light up when seeing them pampered truly brightens my day. I love exchanging stories with them while also hearing about their plans, especially with their family who comes and visits them. Mrs.Betty was sharing her story about how she grew up in Florida but ultimately was offered the trip of her lifetime to California as soon as she graduated college, and she took the leap and spent 50 years there. Of course, she felt homesick at first, but she acclimated. This truly spoke to me because, during this age, we have to sometimes travel away for schooling or even job opportunities, and it is definitely one of those subjects that dwells heavily in the back of my mind. Hearing her story on how she pushed through and ended up loving it so much that she spent a majority of her adulthood there truly encouraged me to be accepting of change and to make the best of it. There are so many lessons to learn simply by taking the time to speak to those who've experienced so much that we have not. That conversation is truly one that will follow me as I face my own difficulties and challenges, especially when it comes to the many changes that happen in life.