The applause subsides as I stride to take my place behind the podium, my hands nervously pushing down on the lifted microphone. Time passes by slowly, by the seconds, as I glance up towards the crowd in front of me. My eyes darted past the smiling and kind faces that greeted me, past the jovial faces of my best friends, that of the retired Lieutenant Governor’s, of my fellow Red Cross colleagues, and that of my supportive Red Cross Coordinators. It was on a small pin that I intently focused my churning emotions of joy: the powerful and uplifting emblem of the Red Cross. From there, the words naturally fell into place…
“Hello everyone! My name is Lisa Bui and I am a volunteer for Humanitarian Issues Promotion at the Red Cross….”
This was an opportunity of a lifetime, for this invitation to speak at the Red Cross’ Regional Annual Meeting, of what being a Red Cross volunteer meant to me. I am truly grateful and happy to be able to volunteer for this great organization, knowing that I share the same conviction for helping humanity as with the Red Cross family that I have joined.
Reflecting back upon 2009 when I first joined the Red Cross, volunteering with the Youth Training and Action program (now Multi-Cultural Youth Action), I was simply amazed by the big hearts my friends possessed and how they believed that their was only one kind of people, simply people. Utterly inspired by the magnitude of kindness and compassion, every time I volunteer for the Red Cross now- anything from organizing my own fundraiser or assisting as the Humanitarian Issues Promotion Volunteer Engagement Coordinator- I try to approach every single task with upbeat enthusiasm and energy. The feeling I get when someone smiles after I have assisted them gives me a contagious smile that is hard to lose and happy butterflies in my stomach.
My determination to be able to assist the Canadian Red Cross was realized when it led me to co-organize the unique fundraiser, Picture the Future Campaign, with my best friend WeiJia, raising the awareness for children affected by war. It was a great learning experience for me. For one, people stopped short of organizing fundraisers because of the hard work, difficulties and challenges that often arises. Second, the Red Cross does nothing halfheartedly, and I wasn’t about to either.
The Red Cross represents many things around the world: humanity, equality, unity and more, but by volunteering and being involved in this wonderful organization, the Red Cross has come to mean so much more to me. It represents open communication-there are no closed walls in the people, issues or ideas I have encountered here-and not only in great need, is there a widespread will to assist anyone. I believe it is by leading by example and embodying the fundamental principles inspires people to inspire people to volunteer with their all.
…And I take a moment’s breath, taking up one last glance in front of the wonderful and cheerful crowd in front of me- one my Red Cross Coordinator nods his head of approval, my other coordinator beams proudly, and my friends and the room in happy smiles- a moment I will forever remember, before uttering my closing sentence.
“This wonderful environment of compassion has helped me grow into a better person and realize that the Red Cross is something larger than me or any single Red Cross volunteer. It is our compassion to help humanity and those in need that unites us all… Thank you.” To everyone at the Canadian Red Cross, my family and friends, my peers and anyone else for helping me grow.