When I was in high school, I was the co-chair of our Blood Drive Committee, so I felt obligated to donate. There was absolutely no way that I could ask people to donate and not give myself. That being said, it was not an easy decision for me.
The entire week before donating, I was a nervous wreck. The night before, I couldn't sleep at all. And, when it was time for my mini-physcial to take place, I nearly passed out. By the time I was actually donating, everyone, staff included, kept telling me that I didn't actually have to donate. There was no way, however, that I was giving up at that point.
So I did it. And guess what? It wasn't bad at all. Now, every time I come back to donate, it gets easier and easier. I get rejected all the time because my hemoglobin is too low, so I just come back a week later and try again. I won't give up just because it's easy to do.
I donate because it's necessary, it's easy, and it's one of the most rewarding methods of volunteering out there. By giving a little of my self, I can literally help someone to survive. It's such an amazing thing to do, and I am so grateful that I took the first step back in high school.
