Jose on what he's grateful for

I remember last night at my service site what Mabel, an elderly volunteer at St. Luke’s, said after we were talking about the places we’ve visited. I didn’t have much to say, but Mabel did. Her whole tale was exciting and certainly worthwhile. I don’t know if it was the small plane that she rode across the Venezuelan desert or her adventures in Peru, but somehow, shortly after she was done with her tales of the past, she blew me away and left me thinking about my own life. Mabel began describing the last couple of years of her widow’s life as a “blessing”. “Health is a one of the greatest blessings in this life” she explained. Just after these last few words came out of her small and perfectly wrinkled little mouth and before she went back to her corner, she said to me, “I don’t know what I did to deserve this.” The phrase stuck in my mind. I was simply left with a phrase that had so much meaning, and I related it to my own life. “What did Jose Reyes do to deserve such a good life?” What deserving deed did he do to become a Bonner Scholar? I just thought to myself, “I guess I’m just grateful.”

In the past month I’ve started working the front desk at St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic where it has been quite the life experience. It has opened my eyes and allowed me to reach a whole new level of meaning and gratefulness. Far too often it is easier to forget how good one has it and not understand how important it is to be grateful, for all of the blessings of life. But seeing others in need and just simply looking around, I am reminded of the great blessings of my own life. For the question, “What am I grateful for”, for myself, cannot be summed up in a word. It’s an endless possibility of answers. I’m grateful for everything that God has blessed me with throughout my whole life. So in that aspect, I’m grateful for all his blessings. The blessing of coming to a great school, and being part of a phenomenal Bonner Scholars program that has begun to change myself as a person, is one that I am tremendously grateful for. Through serving others in the past month I’ve not only been appreciative of having good health and strength, but I have instead used this blessing to help others that are hungry or sick. Working at the soup kitchen, I try my best to be as friendly as possible. Even if people seem down and are probably going through the hardest of situations, I try my best to always bring a smile or laugh to others. Sharing that little bit of happiness can always make the difference between going through a rough time alone and going through a rough time with a helping hand. Even if I don’t have an important job yet, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to help others in need. Hopefully one day I can pass this positive energy I have acquired onto others. I hope to gain leadership skills along the way, but for right now I’m just beginning to learn the ropes of becoming a better Bonner Scholar. Serving others through this program is the least I can do to show my gratefulness in having the privilege of being put into the Bonner program.