NORFOLK, VA – Summer is baseball season, and a time for keeping track of singles, doubles and triples. But three sisters in our junior volunteer program have really loaded the bases over summer vacation by helping out at Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital.
Introducing the Joseph sisters — Jaleesa, Joselle & Jasmine – triplets, currently 17 years of age, and rising seniors at Landstown High School in Virginia Beach. Next month, they begin their senior year as the Class of 2024, but before then, they’ll be helping out the Lake Taylor staff and interacting with the patients and residents.
Their mother, Farah F. Joseph, works at Lake Taylor on the hospital’s Beechwood unit.
Jasmine, the eldest, participates on Landstown’s tennis team. She’s been assigned to the rehab area where she serves between four and 10 hours over two days a week transporting patients to and from rehab appointments, observing interactions between the therapists & patients.
This position is right up her alley because her post-secondary education/career interests involve Occupational or Physical Therapy, (but Speech therapy is a possibility, too). Jasmine likes that the work is interesting and new to her. “I like that I’m able to help people,” she said.
Next comes Jaleesa, who focuses on excelling in her core classes at school yet also finds time to take part in the school’s Book Club. Her career interests involve the beauty and fashion industry. At Lake Taylor, Jaleesa interacts with patients in the Dogwood unit where she helps transport residents between their rooms and their morning activities at the nursing station.
Finally, the youngest of the three, is Joselle, also serves in the Dogwood unit. Her school calendar is filled up by membership in three (3) honor societies, the book club, and the crochet club. Her education/career interests revolve around Engineering or any of the STEM professions.
The Junior Volunteer program is offered at Lake Taylor Hospital each summer from mid-June until school returns in late August. There’s an application process that includes a school reference, a few required medical tests, and an interview with the Director of Volunteer Services. A mandatory Junior Volunteer uniform is provided. For more information about next year’s program, call 757-461-5001, ext. 426, by May 1.
