Josh+R’s+Final+AmEx+Speech+2016


 * A COUNTRY OF JOHN CENA**

As students at Foothill, we all know that it seems like a burden to have to give 75 hours of our personal time to volunteer at approved organizations by Mrs. Kapala. Some of us have completed all 75, and some people have barely completed a small portion of the required hours. Instead of complaining about the volunteering, I want to stop a explain why volunteering is good for us. Why it helps us become better human beings and why we should look at it as an opportunity to grow as a community.

Now, there is a link between hypertension and volunteering. A 2013 study reveals that volunteering reduces stress. The reduced stress levels indicate lower blood pressure which is good for your health. Adults over 50 who volunteer 4 hours a week are 40% less likely to develop high blood pressure.

Along with this lower blood pressure comes the benefit of greater life expectancy. Researchers found a link between giving, unselfishness, and lower risk of early death. A study at UC Berkeley said that "people 55 and older who volunteered at 2 or more organizations were 44% less likely to die in a five year period" than those who did not volunteer.

Not only does volunteering improve physical health, it improves mental health. Research shows that “People who engage in kind acts become happier over time”. The brain will release feel good chemicals to the brain known as endorphins. These endorphins open the mesolimbic pathway which leaders to the reward center of the brain. This will improve our mood, increase pleasure and minimize pain. When volunteering about something we are passionate about, it gives us a “helper's high”, or a rush of pleasure to the brain such as ones from physical activity like running long distances and sexual intercourse. There are other advantages to volunteering or working in a place that you are passionate about besides “helper’s highs”. People who are altruists in the office are less likely to quit their jobs. Employees in their mid 30’s who value helping people as the most important thing in their work, were happier with their life 30 years later.

I am not saying that we should devote our entire lives to helping for personal health gains, but I am saying that we should be more involved in teaching the youth to volunteer. Volunteering as a child will make that person twice as likely to volunteer as an adult. Volunteering as youth will only help contribute to a person's job success. 73% of companies prefer a person who has volunteered over someone who has not volunteered.

Volunteering does not only impact us. It impacts the lives of the people that we are helping.

This Boy named Alan’s life changed when he did an ultrasound on his shoulder. He was diagnosed with the life threatening medical condition Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Alan’s focus was to be strong and stay positive. The Make A Wish foundation granted him his dream of meeting his favorite celebrity. This celebrity surprised Alan at the mall and played video games with him. He gave Alan autographs and his favorite slogan “Never Give Up”. Because of this celebrity visit, it reminded Alan to focus on being strong and staying positive about his illness. Within 3 months, Alan beat his medical condition.

A 7 year old girl by the name of Chloe with a chronic medical condition was granted her wish to have a tea party with the same celebrity. Upon realizing her dream would come true, she purchased a brand new tea set just for the occasion. During this party, Chloe realized that this celebrity had horrible tea etiquette and told him to keep his pinky up. From there on the celebrity had his pinky up.

To us, these stories seem like cute acts of kindness. But to Alan and Chloe, meeting their celebrity idol meant the world. To them, he took time out of his busy star studded life to spend time with them. Playing video games with other people takes a personal interaction deeper than most people can see. Getting called out by a 7 year old girl for your horrible tea etiquette and taking her constructive criticism means that this celebrity has a big heart. This celebrity has granted 500 different wishes to different ill stricken kids. In a recent interview, this celebrity has stated that he is determined to reach the 1000 wishes granted mark.

You can just imagine how much joy he has brought to these kids and to his own body. This man has little stress, and low blood pressure, and low chance of early death, and outstanding mental health, and his name is, John Cena.

When I grow old, I want to live in an America full of John Cenas. I am not saying the future youth should become WWE Wrestlers and hit people on the back with a chair. I am saying that we should hit people with kindness. I want to live in an America where people are able to take time out of their day to help the less fortunate such as how Mr. Cena has taken time out of his gym schedule and wrestling matches. I was looking through his instagram and twitter accounts. No where does he gloat about the awards he received for helping people. I want to live in an America where people do not feel the need to be gratified for helping out their fellow man. If everyone were more like John Cena, I believe the United States could be greater than it currently is. Thank you.


 * Sources **

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ **Endorphins **

http://greaterpawv.wish.org/wishes/wish-stories/celebrity-wishes/tea-for-two#sm.00007swjadjsodpgsyn11qy5jp5w9

http://www.cracked.com/article_22430_5-true-stories-that-will-restore-your-faith-in-famous-people.html

http://www.goodnet.org/people

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/12/why-giving-is-good-for-your-health/