Molly PavlovichAnushka Konka, a senior pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh, began volunteering with Messiah Lifeways when she was in the eighth grade—eight years ago. At least once a week during the summers and breaks in the academic year, she still visits the Messiah Village campus and volunteers her time.
FEELS LIKE HOME
“I’ve been volunteering here for such a long time—most of my life, really—and I keep coming back because I feel at home here,” Anushka said. “It doesn’t even feel like I’m working as a volunteer anymore. It’s like I’m coming home from college and spending time with people who feel like friends and family.”
Anushka primarily volunteers alongside team members who coordinate neighborhood activities—sometimes completing a puzzle with residents, working through a word game, or treating several ladies to newly painted nails. But her favorite part is after the activities are finished when she can spend time talking one-on-one with residents.
One particular conversation she had with a resident still sticks with her. The two talked about the resident’s fond memories of growing up on a farm and whatever else spontaneously came to mind.
“I was surprised when her son called her one day during one of my visits, and she asked me to speak on the phone with him. He told me she was having a rough week and that his mom told him that talking to me really lifted her spirits,” Anushka said. “You don’t always know what someone is going through, and I realized then that one conversation really can make a big difference.”
A GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING
Upon graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Anushka plans to attend a medical school to potentially pursue a career in interventional radiology or a similar area of medical specialty. Through volunteering with Messiah Lifeways, Anushka has not only nurtured her love for others but she’s also gained valuable life skills that she believes will be transferable to medicine—including learning how to communicate across barriers like hearing or vision loss.
“It’s not as challenging as it may seem to make adjustments that help people feel included who otherwise might be isolated,” she said. “I’ve even had to use a whiteboard before to communicate with a resident, and it didn’t affect our ability to connect. That’s a lesson and a skill I hope to leverage throughout my life.”
While she’s not sure where her studies will geographically take her next, Anushka hopes to continue volunteering here for as long and as often as she’s able.
“Even if it’s just a few times a year, the people here make it hard to not want to keep coming back,” Anushka said.
