On any other summer day, I would have rather slept in.

But Tuesdays were different.

Every week, my alarm clock jolted to life at 7:45 a.m., and every week I sprung out of bed, eager to take on the day. I don’t think that I could’ve been in a bad mood if I tried. I loved getting up early. I loved throwing on my candy striper top, khaki pants and red Keds. I loved driving 45 minutes to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and spending my day there volunteering.

My experience with hospitals began almost seven years ago when I underwent a serious leg operation to get rid of a bone infection. At one of the darkest times in my life, I met a member of the hospital staff that truly changed the course of my life.

Before the surgery, I was only 10 years old and scared to death. I was so terrified that I wrote a will – stuffed animals to my sister and the belongings in my room to my parents – because of my anticipation that there would be a mishap with the anesthesia. Then I met Nikki, the Child Life Specialist of the hospital, who assured me that I was in the hands of some of the best doctors in the country. Her job was to counsel kids in the hospital and play with patients to help them learn and cope with difficulties they may be dealing with. In my case, before my operation she explained the surgery in terms that my naive mind would understand. After the surgery, we played games together in the child life center and even in my own room when I wasn’t well enough to get out of bed.

She wasn’t anything extraordinary, just a person with patience and a passion to serve others. To strangers, she may seem average or even boring. To me, she was like a light at the end of the tunnel. Since I met her, I’ve admired her for her compassion and kindness. She made such an impact on me that seven years later, I still remember her and I still want to be a Child Life Specialist so I can help kids who are feeling hopeless, just like I remember feeling so vividly.

Over the summer, I decided to volunteer at Scottish Rite as a candy striper. I had the amazing opportunity to make hospital stays and visits more comfortable for patients and their loved ones. I went from room to room, visiting with patients and bringing games to children who were unable to leave their bed. It was like I got to be a Child Life Specialist for the day! I even got to lead patients to their examination rooms for check-ups and assist with behind-the-scenes jobs like filing papers and doing office work.

The first day I got to visit with inpatients was bittersweet. I walked through the empty halls, lugging the red wagon filled with Scrabble, Candy Land and Battleship behind me. I peeked into rooms with a smile on my face, sometimes received by another smiling face, sometimes by a frown. On one hand, it was heartbreaking to see how sad and lonely some of the kids were and how exhausted and distraught some of their loved ones appeared. On the other hand, it was a blessing to be able to alleviate that, even for just a moment.

The first patient I met was elated to have a visitor. Her smile stretched across her face as she immediately introduced herself and sorted through all the games. After much thought-out deliberation, she chose Chutes and Ladders. She took in every move I made with her patient blue eyes as we played together, talked together and just got to know one another. When it was time for me to move on to the next room 30 minutes later, she begged me to stay. It was moments like that that made Tuesdays my favorite day of the week! I was amazed that I was able to brighten her day in such a simple way. I realized I could do this every day for a living and absolutely love it.

For some people, a hospital environment is uncomfortable. For me, it’s a place full of opportunity. Opportunity to heal, opportunity to encourage and opportunity to uplift our patients. I loved getting to interact with the patients and their families, playing games with them and making them smile, knowing that it could be the only time they smile all day.

I know that my career choice will not land me a page in a history book. I won’t have any streets or a holiday named in my honor. To most, I will be unknown. But to those kids that I work with every day, I will be a hero. I will be able to change their world for the better and shine so much positive light into their lives. To even have that opportunity is truly remarkable.