Consequently, I was able to practice and develop my communication skills, while learning how to help others from different cultures interact. Through the Richmond Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, I became a translator for the Bon Secours Medical Center, and participated in many volunteer assignments.

In order to provide help for my community, as well as surrounding communities, I became a regular volunteer for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. I was assigned to work at many locations which would be visited by a medical van.

The locations that we visited were mainly Spanish speaking communities, of which the residents had no means of transportation, were without medical insurance, and had no means of affording medical treatment.

The Bon Secours Medical team would visit these certain locations of poverty, and provide medical care at no cost to the patients along with any medicines or medical treatments needed. As many know the cost of medical treatment has gone up drastically, which is a major disadvantage to the less fortunate, along with the predicament of few doctors having the ability to speak to their patients in a language other than English.

In order for these patients to able to communicate efficiently with a doctor a translator was necessary. I had to develop the necessary skills for proper translation and communication. Preparing for the volunteer work took great effort on my part, as it was quite challenging, as it involved a variety of practice exercises as well as conversation training.

Personal growth only comes to an individual through hard work and determination, along with the desire to help others no matter how difficult it may be, as it was the training that was challenging in my case. I began to learn how to become a proficient translator specifically, but not limited, to the medical field.

I achieved this by reading through English and Spanish medical handbooks and practicing translating exercises in Spanish workbooks. By doing so, I was able to understand technical medical terms that are not commonly used in either language in order to translate efficiently. Furthermore, I began translating English and Spanish at home on a regular basis with my family, as a way to practice my communication skills in both languages.

Once my volunteer work began I was sufficiently prepared and knowledgeable. While the patients were waiting to be seen by a doctor, I would help them fill out their medical forms by translating the questions to them, and then inputting their information onto the necessary forms in English.

I was responsible for taking the patient in to see a doctor, where I would begin to relay information between the doctor and patient. The patients would describe their ailments to me in Spanish, and I would explain to the doctor what their patient had said in English. Once a diagnosis was made, I would translate the information back to the patient along with any medical treatment needed.

Through this touching experience I learned things about myself that I never knew before. Instead of waiting for someone to help these people in need, I learned that I had the strength and initiative to take action and help improve the situation at hand.

I discovered that it only takes one person to make a significant difference in people's lives, and in turn, I discovered strong values within myself that I am able to now fully appreciate. I have used the skills I learned to help my community, and I will do so again at every opportunity I encounter.