I’ve been inspired to give blood since the age of ten when I saw Jude give blood on the TV show 6teen. This was one of my favorite animated sitcoms about the many “firsts” in the lives of sixteen year olds that I used to watch. When I first heard that I could give blood at my school, ASMSA, I arrived at the site ready to give blood. However, I saw on the form that I needed my parent’s consent because I wasn’t seventeen at the time. Actually, I was slightly saddened because I really wanted to participate in giving blood because I thought it would be fun to eat free donuts like Jude on the TV show 6teen when he first gave blood.
When I turned seventeen, I was actually pretty hyped about giving blood. I made sure that my diet was right so that my blood pressure, iron, and cholesterol would be at good enough levels to be a suitable candidate for a blood donation. When I went to the site to give blood this time, I saw that if I gave blood six different times before graduating from high school I would be eligible for a graduation cord. Also, I would be able to get a free t-shirt out of the deal each time, too. I thought that was a good trade off for giving six pints of blood.
When I finished the registration to give blood, I sat on the table prepared for my first blood donation. My phlebotomist asked me whether I wanted the free t-shirt or did I want to donate it to a child in Africa. Without a second thought I told the phlebotomist that I wanted the free t-shirt. After she finished setting me up for my blood donation, the phlebotomist handed me the t-shirt. After I finished donating blood, I felt satisfied but for the wrong reasons. I was happier because of the free t-shirt and a credit towards the graduation cord program. It turned out that I was donating blood for the wrong reasons.
I think it was after my second time of donating blood that it hit me. I actually felt guilty because I never wore the t-shirts, and I felt that giving the shirts to charity would be more beneficial to the children in Africa. I seemed to have experienced an internal change that I would actually enjoy giving blood more if I were doing it to help people instead of myself.
The next time that I gave blood I actually felt better than the time before. I realized the fact that I would be giving blood that would possibly go to a person who needed a transfusion in a crucial situation. The fact that I could save a person in a life or death situation or even a minimal risk situation made an impression on me. Just the feeling that I could provide for a person in need was enough for me. The choice to give blood has made me sensitive to the needs of others. That feeling represents a change in me that means more than a t-shirt and a credit for a graduation cord.