Personal Narrative: Pet Shelters
There have been situations where I felt that I have been treated unfairly. I would like to share one that occurred in the spring of 8th grade. As an animal lover, I wanted to find an opportunity that would give me a chance to surround myself in an environment with many types of lovely animals. I went to find an opportunity at a pet shelter that needed volunteers. I walked inside the shelter and asked the front person if there was a volunteer opportunity available. I was told that there was no opportunity available, but I did not think anything about it. I went home, then after a few hours went by, I texted my friend, who is Caucasian, if I could come over to her house. I received a text back saying that she was busy volunteering at the same pet shelter that I had gone to just a few hours ago.
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She also told me that the pet shelter needed a lot of volunteers.
I was very suspicious of the situation so I decided to go back to the pet shelter and ask for an opportunity once again. I went back to the pet shelter and as I walked inside the shelter, the same front person recognized me and gave me a slight glare but I ignored it. I once again asked the same front person for an opportunity. Before she could respond to my question, I told her that a friend of mine who is volunteering here at that moment, let me know that help was needed to care for the animals. Knowing that information, she decided to give me an opportunity to volunteer with the animals. As the day went on, I became acquainted with the staff and also the discriminatory cashier. The next day, we all decided to get together and know each other better. We all went to the mall a day after and got to know each other
better. My interest in helping in pet stores grew and I began volunteering for the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation at Pet Smart. I helped get lost dog and cats find a well-deserved family, which gave me great satisfaction. I believe the front person was discriminatory to me because of the color of my skin, but that did not deter me to give up on what I wanted to accomplish. I was able to prove to the front person that the color of one’s skin does not determine their personality. I was able to convince her to accept everyone as a person and not discriminate against them because of their skin color. We eventually worked everything out and became friends.
She also told me that the pet shelter needed a lot of volunteers.
I was very suspicious of the situation so I decided to go back to the pet shelter and ask for an opportunity once again. I went back to the pet shelter and as I walked inside the shelter, the same front person recognized me and gave me a slight glare but I ignored it. I once again asked the same front person for an opportunity. Before she could respond to my question, I told her that a friend of mine who is volunteering here at that moment, let me know that help was needed to care for the animals. Knowing that information, she decided to give me an opportunity to volunteer with the animals. As the day went on, I became acquainted with the staff and also the discriminatory cashier. The next day, we all decided to get together and know each other better. We all went to the mall a day after and got to know each other
better. My interest in helping in pet stores grew and I began volunteering for the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation at Pet Smart. I helped get lost dog and cats find a well-deserved family, which gave me great satisfaction. I believe the front person was discriminatory to me because of the color of my skin, but that did not deter me to give up on what I wanted to accomplish. I was able to prove to the front person that the color of one’s skin does not determine their personality. I was able to convince her to accept everyone as a person and not discriminate against them because of their skin color. We eventually worked everything out and became friends.