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Brianna Lawrence was born in Toronto. A year ago, when she was 14 years old, her parents moved to Brantford, a move Brianna described as “a really good story.”

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“I enrolled in Grade 10 at Pauline Johnson Collegiate,” she said. “My English teacher was so inspirational, and she always encouraged the students to strive to reach our full potential.”

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“Her name is Mrs. Nowicki-Prime, she is absolutely wonderful.”

At Pauline Johnson Collegiate, Brianna got involved in school activities including the school’s Ministry of Fun, which organizes dances and other activities for the students.

“My mother is a personal support worker and I guess it led to me wanting to be able to help people as well,” Brianna said.

A year ago, Brianna applied to become a student volunteer at the Brant Community Healthcare System. She completed the registration and the orientation training and began last summer.

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“At first, I was a volunteer in one of the Brantford General Hospital inpatient units restocking shelves and other duties. I was also there for patients who were perhaps lonely and wanted to talk with someone.”

A few months later Brianna transitioned to the information desk where she greets patients, families, and visitors at the D-Wing entrance and provides directions to where they need to go in the hospital.

Brianna said, “I love it. You meet so many cool people.”

One of the many memories Brianna has includes a patient who came to the hospital for hip surgery. “While I wheeled her to the department we chatted, and I discovered she was a schoolteacher. She talked about her students. She was very sweet.”

“These kinds of memories inspire me to work with the hospital patients,” Brianna said. “Healthcare is the career I see myself working in.”

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At Pauline Johnson Collegiate, Brianna enjoys sciences, saying she is “obsessed with chemistry and biology.”

With so many different opportunities in healthcare to consider, Brianna is thinking of becoming an anesthetist, but not necessarily in a hospital operating theatre.

“I would like to help people in poorer countries,” she said. “Perhaps an organization like Doctors Without Borders who help in so many ways around the world.”

Kari Astles, the senior coordinator of volunteer engagement at the BCHS, said there are many opportunities available for students to volunteer at both the BGH and Willett Hospitals.

“Currently, we have student openings at the information desk, inpatient medical and surgical units, the dialysis clinic, mammography, and diagnostic imaging departments. At the Willett we are looking for volunteers for the inpatient transitional care unit.”

Student volunteers must be 15 years or older and commit to one shift each week until they reach 60 hours of service. Application forms are online at www.bchsys.org/volunteer.

Kari added that Brianna is always eager to become involved and provides great feedback on making hospital events and activities more youth friendly.

Brianna encourages other teenagers to consider volunteering at the BCHS. “Everyone I meet puts a smile on my face.”

Hospital Insider is written by Gary Chalk who assists with communications for the Brant Community Healthcare System.

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