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Jazmine Hernandez
VolunTeen - Beverage Cart
The Importance of Caring | my journey into volunteering

Jazmine Hernandez plays many roles in her life — a student, a runner, a volunteer and a speaker. But one of the most important positions the Columbus High School sophomore has is being a big sister to her five younger siblings. And, as it turns out, that has had a big influence on her choice of career.

Three of Hernandez’s younger siblings are triplets who were born premature. As a result, they spent more than 100 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). “When I was visiting them,” Hernandez said, “I got to see how much determination nurses and doctors put into my sibling’s health so that they could come home. This inspired me to want to be like them when I grew older — saving little ones’ lives.”

Hernandez wants to work in pediatrics someday, and to accomplish that dream, she’s starting as a VolunTEEN at Columbus Community Hospital. She is one of more than 70 young people who volunteer in various departments alongside the adult volunteers. “I was first interested in being a VolunTEEN as an eighth-grader,” she said. “I was so eager to join that I filled out the application early, which allowed me to start volunteering late that summer.”

Specifically, Hernandez helps by wheeling around the hospital’s beverage cart and asking patients, families and staff members if they would like anything to drink. “Our lemonade is always a favorite,” she said.

This past summer, she had the chance to volunteer at the hospital’s Child Care Center, supervising and playing with children. “I loved being able to spend a little bit of my day with them,” she said.

Outside of volunteering, Hernandez loves to run. “Running as a hobby?” she said. “I know — crazy! Ultimately, running has led me to many of my favorite people, which includes my cross country coaches and dearest friends. It has also taught me about the importance of growth and a healthy mindset, and how the sky is your only limit.”

Hernandez is part of the color guard for the Discoverer Marching Band at Columbus High School. She also participates in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).

Last year, she competed in the organization’s Creed Speaking and Interpretation and did well at state, which allowed her to travel to nationals in Florida and place in the top 10.

Still, she makes time for volunteering in her schedule. “I pursued volunteering at the hospital because I knew how important it was to make new connections and serve my community,” she said. “I was also interested in volunteering because I knew it would be a great opportunity to get exposed to the medicine and healthcare field.”

“My favorite aspect of volunteering at CCH,” she added, “is seeing the amazing people in my community. I love coming in to volunteer and talking to patients. Through these conversations, I get to hear and learn a little bit about people’s stories and their families, and truly see the good in our community.”

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