Often, when we think about a community in need, our minds
immediately go to a location far away. We jump to thinking about faraway places,
like underdeveloped nations, and fail to realize that communities in need are
closer than we realize. Having lived in Cincinnati for my entire life, I was completely
ignorant to the fact that there are people without resources to things as
fundamental as healthcare in my own backyard.
When
I first heard about Crossroad through a friend of mine who was a VIP at the
time, I was intrigued. Healthcare is something that I was passionate and wanted
a future career in, but I never even considered the lack there of for so many
individuals, especially so close to home. After learning more about the program
and the work that I would be doing as a volunteer intern, I was hooked in and
knew that it was something that I wanted to be a part of.
Since
joining the VIP program, I can say that I am tremendously grateful for the
opportunities that I have had thus far. Being able to work as a VIP gives me
the unique chance to serve as a bridge between the patients here at Crossroad
and the healthcare that they need and deserve. What I value the most about this
experience is that it reinforces the idea that serving a community is something
that is done in solidarity with the community and not for the community.
For many
volunteer opportunities, the work is centered around “helping” a group of
people. In my mind, this idea is problematic because it implies that those who
are helping are better than those being helped. Here at Crossroad, this idea of
simply “helping” the community is not present. Instead, we are all working
towards the same goal of adequate resources and healthcare for all, regardless
of external factors that often get in the way. This mission is something that I
strongly stand by and I’m thankful to work with an organization that promotes
it.
I
believe that because of my experience here at Crossroad, my future in
healthcare will be shaped by a different perspective that I had the chance to
acquire during my time here.
-- Azl Saeed
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