Hello. My name is Adam Pelleg and I am the new school of nursing student council representative. I am very excited for this future year and the differences we can make. Student Council is made up of very motivated people and I know we will be able to improve student life by giving students the opportunity to see their ideas become reality.
I want to tell you something that happened to me during one of my patient interactions.
Just today, less than 12 hours ago, I was asked on a date by a 73 year-old woman. I walk in to the patients room to introduce myself and tell her that I will be taking care of her the next morning. She asks, well why are you here now. I explain to her that we are supposed to introduce ourselves as student nurses the day before and how we need to get information from her chart to prepare for the next day. After hearing this she says she will tell me everything I need to know about her, not to look in the chart, and that she’ll take me out to dinner tonight. I laugh and smile, not really knowing what to say, and after an awkward pause, tell her we’ll have to take rain-check until she gets better. I have worked with over 500 patients and have never been asked out, grandmothers have told me I would be perfect for their granddaughters, but who really knows.
The only thing that comes to my mind of why I may be perfect for their granddaughter is that patients are just so happy to see someone smiling in the hospital, they will say the craziest things. No one enjoys being in the hospital, they are surrounded by grieving family members, and they feel terrible. Just one smile can sometimes make a difference.
If you don’t know me, I smile all of the time. Imagine a time when everyone was smiling…you automatically start smiling. It’s simple, and some people think stupid, but I believe walking around with a smile on your face can improve not only your life, but the one’s around you.
-Adam Pelleg
p.s. I am singing in the Mozart Requiem as part of the Charlottesville community 10-year anniversary for 9/11 on Sunday, September 11 at 3:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church (downtown, 500 park avenue). This event is free and the requiem is beautiful. You will recognize one of the movements (lacrimosa) from some commercials Direct TV-Lacrimosa
