I would like to think I'm an active member in my community. I donate my clothes to goodwill, I give my extra change to the Humane Society. OK, I know that's not fantastic and, yes, I could do more. Couldn't we all?
Whenever a volunteering opportunity comes up, I always manage to find an excuse. I have class, or work is stressful. Normally it all boils down to, " I don't have the time."
Well, this week I made the time.
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Chelsey Roath
Last Tuesday I donated blood for the first time. It wasn't the needles that had bothered me, or even the sight of blood. I guess I've just always felt that if I didn't do it, someone else would.
Then I started thinking, "What if everyone felt the same way I did?" Then no one would lend a helping hand.
The blood drive was held at Jon's Auto in Marquette. When I pulled up in my car, I didn't know what expect. Was it going to hurt? Was I going to get dizzy and pass out? I found out the answer was none of the above.
I sat down in the bloodmobile, super nervous, and filed out all of my information. Once I had my blood pressure taken by the doctor, it was time to start the donation.
The nurse found a vein that she thought would work and with one simple poke, I had officially started to donate blood for the first time.
I was out the door within 10 minutes. Quick and simple.
Even though donating blood wasn't very time consuming and, as I walked away from the drive, I didn't have anything tangible to show for it, I know what I did will make a difference
It's was a gift - with no ribbons or wrapping paper.
Editor's note: Chelsey Roath is a student at Northern Michigan University. Her weekly column on college life in Marquette runs on Sundays. Her e-mail is croath@nmu.edu.