She performs the priceless job Student volunteer donates her time, giving back to various communities

SAMANTHA BRAVO Editor-in-Chief @sammybravo93

Helping others comes naturally to some, but not many would consider volunteering on their birthday.

Chanelle Camello wouldn’t spend her day doing anything else.

Camello, 23, is in her last semester at Pierce College and is double majoring in psychology and human development. She wants to be a child life specialist at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, working in the humanthology and oncology department, and a medical interpreter in sign language.

As a sophomore in high school, Camello first volunteered at the Saint Joseph Worker church school.

“I just like helping out with things I support and feel comfortable with, and I like the support I get back from people,” Camello said. “The organizations I work with, their motives and their message, is very close to what I believe in.”

Rather than celebrating her birthday, Camello decided to volunteer at Jack’s Camp in Northern California.

“Every year, we usually go on a birthday trip. And when I went to Bereavement Camp in April, a camp for parents who lost their child due to cancer, they mentioned they were having a camp up north, and it was really special to be with these kids on my birthday,” Camello said.

Camello is motivated to work far from home by her sister who works at the Los Angeles Cedar Sinai Medical Center.

Working at an elementary school and at a lawyer’s office as a paralegal, Camello maintains a busy schedule while finishing her units at Pierce. She is applying to Cal. State University, East Bay and Cal. State University, Channel Islands in fall.

“I prefer it just because that’s what I’m used to. I’m not used to having idle hands. I don’t like not doing anything,” Camello said.

“I’m the type where I need to do stuff frequently or else I freak out.”

Pierce student Cesar Guijarro, 24, volunteered with Camello at the Bereavement Camp and has been volunteering with her since high school.

“All she wants to do is help people out. She has a strong personality, and she’s fun, but she could also be very serious when it comes to helping others,” Guijarro said. “She never puts herself first; she always puts people before her.”

Guijarro said volunteering was an eye-opener, and it changes one’s life perspective.

“I went to this camp, and it made me fall in love with kids. They have cancer, but you can never tell because they’re always smiling; they’re always so happy and energetic,” Guijarro said.

“I think when you’re helping someone out, you’re doing this from the kindness of your heart, not because you’re getting paid or it’s going to look good on your resume. I think volunteering is something everyone should do because it opens your mind.”

Guijarro and Camello both have volunteered at Transforming Care at Bedside (TCAB), a medical surgical unit focusing on improvement in four categories: safe and reliable care, vitality and teamwork, patient-centered care value, and added care process, according to their website.

“We basically shadow nurses, but also take care of patients while the nurses are busy,”

Guijarro said.

Guijarro said Camello encourages him and their friends to volunteer. He said one of the reasons they’re friends is because of her character. He said she’s constantly sending him emails about volunteer opportunities.

“She volunteers at any event, anything humanitarian,” Guijarro said. “We’re friends because we have the same personality and the same tone, but most importantly, we encourage each other to be a better versions of ourselves.”