As a generally selfish person, I don’t typically opt for anything that will benefit anyone else. I have a tendency to only be motivated by what will benefit me, and if I happen to help someone on the way it’s more of an added bonus then my intention. Although if you asked I would probably tell you it was the other way around, I set out to help them and I just happened to benefit from it, I’d tell you that because that’s makes me look better and thus benefits my image.

Despite my self-centered attitude, when I applied for my driver’s permit I had to face a serious question; would I become a donor. Immediately I thought that I didn’t want to give someone my organs, I mean they’ve been in my body my entire life. I guess you can say I’ve grown attached to them. That’s when I realized, if I’m dead I’m not going to need my organs, I’ll be full of saw dust and formaldehyde anyway.

If I could save someone’s life, after I’m dead why wouldn’t I want to be a part of that? The little pink heart on my driver’s license was the first completely selfless thing I have ever done in my entire life, and it felt nice. The idea that if I am to die too young a part of me will live on, keeping someone else alive, fascinates me. It was that same feeling that made me so eager when I hear that Rouse was going to hold a blood drive.

To donate blood you get the benefit of saving someone’s life, without the drawback of dying. All it takes is a needle in your arm and the loss of one pint of blood. I figured I could help someone who needs it and it won’t cost me very much so I signed up. When I got there they asked me a bunch of questions and pricked my finger to take an iron count. After that they set me down and put the needle in my arm.

As I sat there watching my blood leave my body it finally set in what I was doing. I squeezed the stress ball every five seconds like a good patient and watched the crimson flow down the tube under the table. This blood that was leaving my body would be tested, after it was given the all clear it would be sent to a hospital. At that hospital it will be pumped into a stranger who has been in need and lost a lot of blood. It was leaving my body for the sole purpose of saving someone’s life.

It was a great feeling, doing something that isn’t selfish. When I headed down the only benefit I thought I would get was a cupcake and maybe a T-shirt, I had no idea the way it would change my outlook on life. Losing blood isn’t usually considered a benefit, but in cutting myself open I had contributed to possible life.

During the blood drive 61 of the eligible students showed up to give blood and only six were turned away. They collected a total of 62 donations, 48 whole blood cells and 14 red cells. This was double the anticipated goal of 30 donators.

Because of the huge success, Rouse is going to be having another blood drive at the end of the school year, if you meet the requirements I urge you to consider donating. It only takes about an hour out of your day and a small track mark, saving someone’s life is well worth that.