初中生英语作文去养老院当志愿者

初中生英语作文去养老院当志愿者
全文共3篇示例，供读者参考
篇1
My Volunteering Experience at the Nursing Home
Hi everyone! My name is Emily and I'm a 13-year-old middle school student. I recently had the most amazing experience volunteering at the Oak Grove Nursing Home just a few blocks from my house. I wanted to share all about it with you!
It all started when my English teacher, Mrs. Thompson, told our class that we needed to complete 20 hours of community service this semester. At first, I wasn't super excited about it. The idea of giving up my free time to do work for no pay seemed kind of boring. But Mrs. Thompson explained that community service helps make our community a better place and allows us to give back in a meaningful way. She gave us a list of different places we could volunteer like the animal shelter, the park, the library, or the nursing home down the street. None of those options sounded very appealing to me initially, but my mom encouraged me to pick the nursing home because she said I was really good with old people.
So a few weeks later, I went in for my first volunteer shift at Oak Grove. I'll be honest, I was pretty nervous at first. The nursing home smelled kind of funny and there were wheelchairs and walking assistance frames everywhere. It seemed like a strange and unfamiliar place to a 13-year-old like me. But as soon as I met the activities director, Samantha, she immediately made me feel welcome and comfortable. Samantha is probably in her mid-twenties with a big friendly smile and a warm personality. She got me all set up with a volunteer name tag and gave me an overview of what I'd be doing.
Basically, my main job was to spend time with the residents, keep them company, and help out with games, crafts, and other activities. On my first day, Samantha had me push a few residents in their wheelchairs to the main activities room where we played a game of bingo. I was paired up with an 82-year-old lady named Ruth who has arthritis so she needed my help placing the bingo chips on her card. Despite the fact that Ruth's hands were gnarled from arthritis, she was cracking jokes the whole time and had an infectious smile. She made me feel totally at ease. By the end of that first bingo game, I was a pro at reaching over and carefully placing the bingo chips for Ruth whenever a new number was called out.
Over the next few weeks, I formed such great bonds with many of the residents like Ruth, Larry, Beatrice, and Jose. They were all so sweet, funny, and full of amazing life stories and wisdom to share. Larry used to work as an engineer and designed car engines for Ford for over 40 years. He showed me all sorts of technical drawings and explained how combustion engines work. It was pretty neat! Beatrice was a elementary school teacher for 35 years and we would sometimes sit and do arts and crafts projects together just like when she used to with her students. Jose didn't speak much English, but he and I would still chat using my basic Spanish vocabulary and he'd patiently help me practice.
One of my favorite memories was celebrating Ruth's 83rd birthday with her. Samantha let me help decorate the activities room with streamers, balloons, and a cheery "Happy Birthday" banner. Then all of Ruth's closest friends from the home gathered for cake and ice cream. Ruth just beamed with joy the entire time. It made me so happy to be a part of her special day. Watching her smile while blowing out the candles on her cake is a memory I'll never forget.
I also really appreciated getting to spend time with the residents and hear all their crazy stories about what life was like
several decades ago before I was even born. So many of them grew up during things like The Great Depression, World War 2, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Space Race. Jose regaled me with tales of his childhood in Havana, Cuba before he immigrated to the United States as a young man in 1962. Ruth used to work as a rosie the riveter in an airplane factory during WW2 while her husband was off fighting. She showed me old black and white photos of herself on the assembly line wearing iconic rosie the riveter garb like mechanics overalls and a red polka dot bandana over her hair. Listening to stories from people who directly lived through such major historical events was like getting a first-hand personal history lesson. It was endlessly fascinating to me.
But it wasn't all fun and games all the time. If I'm being honest, some of my volunteer shifts also involved more solemn and difficult moments that gave me a healthy dose of perspective at a young age. More than once, I
篇2
My Volunteer Experience at the Nursing Home
This summer, I had the chance to do something really cool - I got to volunteer at the Happy Valley Nursing Home every week!
At first, I wasn't sure if I would like it, but it ended up being one of the best experiences ever. Let me tell you all about it!
On my first day, I was a little nervous walking into the big building. It smelled kind of funny, like cleaning supplies and old person smell mixed together. The lady at the front desk was really nice though. Her name was Mrs. Johnson and she had dressed up hair and bright red lipstick. She gave me a visitor sticker and showed me to the activity room where I would be helping out.
There were already some residents sitting around tables working on puzzles, coloring, or just chatting with the volunteers. Most of them were really old with white hair and wrinkly skin. I'm not gonna lie, some of them looked pretty scary at first with their frowny faces and eyes that didn't seem to focus on anything. But the activities coordinator Jessica made me feel welcome right away. She's a young woman, probably like 25 years old, with a big friendly smile.
Jessica introduced me to Mr. Bradley, who would be my "buddy" for the day. He was an older guy, bald on top with some white hair on the sides, and he had these cool looking glasses with super thick lenses. He was slumped over in his wheelchair, staring down at his lap. I wasn't sure if he even knew I was there
at first! But then Jessica said "Hi Dennis, this is Tommy, the new volunteer here to hang out with you today." Mr. Bradley slowly looked up at me and his whole face changed. A big toothy smile spread across his face and he reached out to shake my hand. "Well hi there Tommy, nice to meet you son!" he said in a scratchy voice.
Jessica had me pull up a chair next to Mr. Bradley's wheelchair. She got out a deck of cards and asked if we wanted to play Go Fish. Now, I'm usually pretty bad at card games, but Mr. Bradley was so patient with me. Whenever I looked confused, he'd quietly explain the rules again in that raspy voice of his. He never got frustrated or made me feel dumb, which is what my dad sometimes does when we play games. It was nice.
After Go Fish, Jessica had me help Mr. Bradley work on a puzzle. His hands shook a lot so he had trouble picking up the small pieces. I'd hand him each piece carefully and he's slide it into place, studying the picture closely through his thick glasses. We worked together funny animal puzzle for a long time, just chatting about whatever crossed our minds. He asked me what TV shows I liked (Spongebob!) and what sports I played (soccer). Then he started telling me all about when he was my age back in the 1940s - the games he used to play, the songs they sang, the
clothes kids wore. It was like stepping into another world! The way he talked about it, everything seemed so simple and fun back then, even though they didn't have all the cool tech we have now.
Mr. Bradley's daughter Judy came to pick him up before I knew it. He gave me a big hug (which was kind of smelly but I didn't mind too much) and made me promise to come back next week. Jessica said I was a natural and asked if I could be Mr. Bradley's permanent buddy for the summer since he had really taken a liking to me.
Over the next few months, I looked forward to my Tuesdays with Mr. Bradley. We played more cards, worked on puzzles, and he never ran out of crazy stories to tell me about his childhood. Some days he couldn't remember what we had talked about the week before. Other days, his memories were crystal clear and his eyes would get all misty talking about his late wife Margaret or one of his old buddies from the war. Listening to him, I learned so much about what life was like waaaay before I was born. It seems like they just didn't have as much back then, but they made the best of everything and found joy in simple pleasures.
I also got to know some of the other residents beyond just saying hi from across the room. Like Gloria, who lost her husband
but still wears bright pink lipstick and colorful head scarves every day. Or Ralph, a former music teacher who strikes up singing "You Are My Sunshine" at random moments. They all have such fascinating stories glimpsing a world that no longer exists. It makes me appreciate the life I have now, with my video games and modern home, but also value the importance of holding onto happy memories over the years.
Towards the end of summer, Mr. Bradley's health started declining rapidly. Some weeks he would be full of energy, clapping whenever I walked in and regaling me with vivid tales. Other weeks, he could barely stay awake or keep his eyes focused, dozing off in the middle of our conversations. Jessica would gently wake him and he'd startle, looking around confused until he saw me smiling at him. "Well hey there Tommy," he'd mumble. It broke my heart a little to see him fading like that after getting to know the original lively, joking man he was.
The last time I went to the nursing home, I knew Mr. Bradley's time was close. He was laying in his bed, sleeping when I arrived. Jessica had me sit next to him and she stepped out to give us some privacy. I just watched Mr. Bradley's bony chest slowly rising and falling under the covers as he slept. After a
while, his eyes fluttered open and settled on me. "Well hey there Tommy," he said in the faintest of voices. I told him I was glad to see him and asked if he wanted to hear a joke. He smiled the smallest smile and nodded.
I spent that last hour telling Mr. Bradley all the latest jokes I knew, doing anything to make him smile or chuckle one more time. Sadly, I don't think any of them landed - he mostly just laid there studying my face intently, like he was already losing his grasp on the present moment. But I'll never forget the look of pure peace and contentment on his face as his eyes slowly drifted shut again.
Jessica came back in and could see the change in him too. With a somber nod, she let me know it was time for me to say my final goodbye. I stood up next to Mr. Bradley's bed, taking his thin, fragile hand in both of mine. "Thank you for all the good times, Mr. Bradley. I'll never forget you," I choked out through tears. I'd come to this nursing home thinking it would feel like a chore, but Mr. Bradley had somehow become like my second grandpa over those few months. Leaving him like that, knowing I'd never get to hear his raspy laughter or have him tell me another story again, was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
Walking out of the nursing home alone that day, I couldn't stop replaying all of our happy memories in my head. Mr. Bradley living his best life in those final years because people like Jessica and I were able to provide companionship and attention he may not have gotten otherwise. I felt a new sense of purpose, realizing how much smiles and kindness from younger folks can mean to the elderly. Getting to hear about the times of his youth straight from Mr. Bradley, someone who lived through it all, was a gift that helped me understand how the simplest things in life are often the most cherished.
I know that I want to continue volunteering and bringing that same joy to other residents as they reach their golden years. Who knows, maybe I'll even be lucky enough to have a fun volunteer look after me when I'm the old guy rambling about the "good ole days" one day! Mr. Bradley showed me that no matter what your age, all you really want is to feel seen, heard, and important to someone else. I'm so grateful and humbled to have been that someone for him.
篇3
My Volunteering Experience at the Nursing Home
Last summer, I had one of the most meaningful experiences of my life so far. I became a volunteer at the Sunshine Nursing Home near my neighborhood. At first, I wasn't sure what to expect. My mom encouraged me to try it, saying it would be a great way to help others and gain some valuable life experience. Although I was a bit nervous, I decided to give it a shot. Little did I know just how much this opportunity would impact me.
On my first day, I remember walking through the doors of the nursing home feeling sort of shy and uncomfortable. The place had a distinct smell that I couldn't quite place. I checked in at the front desk, and they paired me up with another student volunteer named Emily who showed me the ropes. Emily was so friendly and outgoing, which helped put me at ease.
Our first stop was the activity room, where we spent time with the residents doing arts and crafts projects. I sat down next to an elderly woman named Rose. She had the kindest smile and greeted me so warmly. Rose struggled with her mobility, so I helped her arrange the colored pencils and markers on the table in front of her. We started coloring together on some intricate flower designs. Rose loved bright colors and payingattention to tiny details. I was amazed by her patience and creativity.
As we colored side-by-side, Rose started telling me all about her life growing up on a farm, her children, and her late husband Jack. Her eyes would light up with joy as she recounted happy memories from decades ago. I felt privileged to learn about her fascinating life story directly from her. I couldn't help but admire her strength and resilience, despite the challenges of growing older.
In the following weeks, Emily and I spent more time with Rose and the other residents. We played board games, did simple crafts, read stories aloud, and just had conversations with them. It was incredibly fulfilling to brighten their days, even if just for a little while.
I particularly loved visiting with Larry, a World War II veteran with a great sense of humor. Larry used to be a teacher and would quiz Emily and me on historical facts and make corny jokes that still cracked us up. Whenever we felt tired, his lively spirit re-energized us. Larry's roommate Frank loved singing old showtunes, and we frequently had impromptu musical performances together in their room.
Some days were harder than others. A couple of the residents suffered from dementia or other mental difficulties. They would get agitated, frustrated, and occasionally lash out
verbally. Emily and I learned to stay calm and patient, gently
re-directing them to a new activity when needed. I felt so much empathy; it must be terribly confusing and upsetting to experience that mental decline.
Despite those tougher moments, the rewards of volunteering far outweighed any struggles. Spending quality time with the nursing home residents was the highlight of my week. They showered us with gratitude and treated us like part of their families. I admired their grace and appreciated their fascinating life stories.
One of my biggest takeaways was realizing that underneath any physical or mental difficulties, these were strong individuals who had endured so much throughout their lives. They survived things I can't even imagine like world wars, economic hardships, and deeply painful losses. And yet, many of them still sparkled with light, humor, and zest for living.
I'll never forget sweet Alice who faithfully tended to her houseplants and shared her gardening wisdom with me. Or kind-hearted George who offered me big bear hugs each time I arrived. Every resident had intricate life experiences and personalities behind their aging exterior. Getting to know them was an eye-opening gift.
As the summer came to an end, I felt lasting bonds with the residents I spent time with each week. Saying goodbye was incredibly difficult. Rose gave me one of her colored pictures to keep, an intricate garden scene filled with vibrant blooms. I still have it framed in my bedroom. Larry jokingly warned me not to forget all the historical facts he'd drilled into my head over the months. He made me promise to keep learning and studying hard, which I assured him I would.
My time as a nursing home volunteer was profound beyond words. I'll be forever grateful for the wisdom, life lessons, and beautiful souls I encountered there. No textbook or classroom could have taught me what I learned through forming real relationships with the residents.
Their strength, resilience, and ability to find joy despite difficult circumstances was utterly inspiring. I have so much more empathy now for what seniors go through as they get older. More than anything, this experience opened my eyes to the value of ensuring our elders live their golden years with dignity, compassion and rich quality of life.
I may have started volunteering to gain life experience and help others. But the residents ended up being the ones who enriched my life immeasurably. Their life stories, humor and
generosity of spirit shaped me in ways I'm still processing. I know I'll carry the memories and lessons from the nursing home for the rest of my days. This was far more than just volunteering - it was life-changing.。