When I first moved to Bloomington to start college at IU, I knew I had to join a club or do something to start enhancing my dental school application. After pondering over what I should do, I decided on volunteering with the American Red Cross. I signed up online to be a volunteer and shortly after that I was spending quite a few hours at the Red Cross Blood Drive Center and at various blood drives near Bloomington and my hometown.

Like I said, volunteering for the American Red Cross started off as nothing more than something to write down on my dental school application, but it soon became so much more. After going to my first blood drive and meeting a hemophiliac who needed transfusions very frequently, I began to gain a new appreciation for the American Red Cross. It became so real to me and I wanted to start giving 110% to this organization, because I saw first hand the impact that it had one this one person's life.

Throughout my next few months of volunteering, I met so many amazing people willing to donate their blood to such a good cause. I met people who had donated as frequently as they possibly could. One woman I met at the Blood Drive Center in Bloomington had donated over 65+ times. Her veins in her right arm eventually became too weak to be able to donate anymore, so she had to switch to her left arm. That really hit me hard. This woman had donated so much of her time and blood to people she did not even know with no incentive at all. All she got from it was some weak veins and some free snacks after her donation.

It is selfless people like that woman that not only inspire me, but keep the American Red Cross going. Without the generous donations of people like her, so many lives would be lost. On the other hand, it is a well known fact that not enough people donate. Because of the lack of donations, many lives are lost. It has been found that out of the 38% of the U.S. population that is eligible for blood donation, less than 10% of that eligible population actually donate. There is roughly 28% of people who could donate blood, but do not.

Because of volunteering with the American Red Cross for so many months, I have heard all the excuses. I am not going to say that people do not have valid reasons for why they cannot donate, because I know that some do. But if anyone ever asks you to donate and you give a foolish excuse, expect them to be slightly offended. Think about how belittling that is compared to someone's life-threatening circumstance. Sure, I understand that you are scared of needles. Sure, it makes you feel uncomfortable and maybe a little queasy. Sure, you do not have a lot of time in your day. But let us just think about it from a different perspective. What if it was your mother that needed it? Brother? Cousin? Daughter? Someone close to you? Would a needle, uneasy feeling, or time stop you then?

In my opinion, everyone should try to donate as often as they can. It not only makes you feel good, but it is so comforting to know that you are giving someone a fighting chance at life. If this article makes just one person set up an appointment to donate blood, then I will feel as if I have made a difference and done my job. Any donation helps and I encourage everyone to try it out just once. Find an hour out of your week, clench your jaw during the needle prick, eat a free snack, and save a life.

Find a blood drive and make your appointment at http://www.redcrossblood.org/ today.