This week is Purdue’s spring break,
and as the name implies, I have been taking as much of a break from school as I
am able to. Unfortunately, some work is
inescapable, but I have been taking a break from volunteering for the
week. I have spent most days sitting on
the couch, typing away at the computer as my dog lounges at my feet. I do expect the volunteer work to become
somewhat more emotionally difficult in the coming weeks, as my dog has only
been given a few months left with us. I
feel that in the face of his coming death, whether it come before the end of
the semester or during the summer, the looming inevitability of his departure
and the associated emotional baggage will likely weigh heavily on me as I work
closely with other dogs.
As for
the issue of the
unreasonably long walk to the shelter before the local bus system’s operating
hours, that is a dilemma which I have been utilizing this break to
address. After researching the parking
regulations at the garage outside of my residence hall, I found that I can
apply for a restricted parking permit if I am employed off-campus and/or have a
legitimate medical condition that limits my locomotive abilities. After talking with an employee at the parking
services office, I was told that a volunteer position off-campus would suffice
as employment. With the application for
a permit I must attach a note from Natalie’s Second Chance, on their official
letterhead and signed by Natalie, confirming that I do indeed volunteer at the
shelter and that I do so at a time before the buses operate. In addition to requesting this note from
Natalie next week, I am getting a note from the orthopedist confirming that my
condition is such that I should not walk long distances.
I'm sorry about your dog! D: That certainly is a terrible thing to hear and have to bear, losing such a great friend. Hopefully the parking all works out and you can get your volunteering out of the way!
ReplyDeleteLosing a dog is rough!! I lost my first dog not too long ago and I still keep pictures of her in my room. I think that working with dogs will be relatively therapeutic during the struggling time. I think that struggles or moments in life that are significant is a perfect time to volunteer. The more you can draw from your own life into helping others, the more meaningful it turns out to be. Not to be cheesy and such, but i really do believe that :)
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about your dog. I went through the same situation a couple of years ago when my dog, who had been a part of my family since I was a child, died of old age. It is difficult, but it's nothing that can't be dealt with. We opted to buy a puppy after my dog's death, and we could not ask for a better dog. Sure, she will never replace my old dog, but she is amazing. Working with the other dogs at Natalie's Second Chance, might actually help with the situation. At least you can know that you are helping the lives of other dogs. Additionally, I am really glad to hear that you might be able to drive to your service partner's location instead of walking. I cannot even imagine waking up that early and then being forced to walk all the way there. I am lucky in that my sister has a car here at Purdue so I can just borrow hers to drive to my service location. I'm sure that you will get the permit considering your restrictions with your feet and the bus system.
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