My name is Molly Melton, and I am a senior in the Bachelor

of Science in Nursing program at USC preparing to graduate

in May of 2019. I have been a volunteer for various community

organizations in Lancaster, SC since May of 2018 as well as

volunteering for four years through the Student Nurses Association.

As a result, I decided to use these experiences to work towards

achieving the honor of Graduation with Leadership Distinction in

Community Service.

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I have always been around those who serve others; in fact, I come from a family who works in careers where they strive to serve the community. My mom is a nurse (she began in the emergency room and now works in home health) and my dad is a sheriff deputy. I have always admired my parents and their passion for their jobs. Growing up around first responders who strive every day to help others in the community made me want to become a nurse. My passion is emergency medicine. Upon graduation, I will begin my career as an emergency room nurse. In emergency or trauma situations, individuals and families are often at their worst points in life. My role as an emergency nurse is not only helping patients physically to become stable and in better health, but to be with them emotionally and to help them overcome what they are enduring.

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While in nursing school, to fulfill the desire to help others, I decided to pursue volunteering. My volunteer opportunities have included experiences at USC Lancaster, at the Community Medical Clinic for uninsured residents of Kershaw, and the Women’s Enrichment Center in Lancaster. This e-portfolio demonstrates my learning in the following areas: the health vulnerabilities that a large portion of the community endure, the variety of cultures that exist in our community and the need to be culturally competent, and the psychological benefits that I have gained through community service. Volunteering in the community has allowed me to discover the economic disparities that exist in my community including underemployment or being in poverty. Economic disparities often lead to unseen health vulnerabilities due to the lack of accessible health care. Also, I was able to care for clients from a wide array of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. There are so many things that I have been taught in nursing school lecture such as the concept of cultural awareness, but I have developed a better understanding of its importance through my community service experiences. Lastly, being able to help so many individuals has improved my mental health by decreasing my stress and depression levels. Through my many community service experiences, I have become a more confident nursing student which will allow me to be more competent nurse upon graduation.

 

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