News

Bailey Becker
VolunTEEN - Acute care unit
Importance of Caring | my journey into volunteering

More than anything else, Bailey Becker loves being able to help other people - and her determination to do just that has led her to Columbus Community Hospital.

Becker, a freshman at Scotus Central Catholic High School, is a VolunTEEN at the hospital. She is one of more than 70 14-18-year-olds who regularly volunteer their time to help patients and staff at the area's premiere healthcare facility.

"It brings me joy to know that in some small way, I play a part in helping the patients at CCH get better," she said. "That part can be helping to fill the blanket warmers or restocking the linens. It also helps me see all the hardworking staff in action and decide if I want to pursue a job in healthcare."

At Scotus, junior high and high school students are required to complete a certain number of service hours in several different categories. When Becker was in seventh grade, she attended a fair during orientation that gave students ideas for how they could fulfill their service requirements. She was immediately drawn to Columbus Community Hospital and started as a VolunTEEN right when she turned 14.

Becker volunteers in the hospital's acute care unit/intensive care unit. In addition to filling the blanket warmers and restocking linens, she also takes out the trash and dirty laundry and completes discharge folders.

"My favorite aspect of the work I do at CCH is being able to take the time-consuming tasks off the certified nursing assistants' and nurses' plates, so that they can focus more on the patients," she said. "I decided to volunteer in healthcare because it gives me the chance to see all the staff at work and decide if that is something I would want to do in the future."

And, indeed, she continues to see a future for herself in healthcare - she hopes to become an anesthesiologist.

"I want to help people and become a doctor, and I feel like I would be best suited for that," she said.

At Scotus, Becker plays golf and runs track; she's more of a long-distance runner than a sprinter. "Running is kind of a nice way to just clear your mind," she said. "It's a stress reliever."

She's also active in clubs such as quiz bowl and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). HOSA gives students an opportunity to attend events that focus on various healthcare careers - a club that's right up her alley.

Away from school, Becker said she loves golfing with her family every weekend. "I often go to the driving range with my sister Natalie," she said, "and we see who can hit the ball farther."

Most evenings, she said, she plays card games with her sister after dinner, "and I usually win," she said.

She and her dad like to take their dog on morning walks while her mom and sister make breakfast. She also enjoys dog sitting to earn some extra money and playing piano and reading in her spare time.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities available at the hospital, visit columbushosp.org.