Meet Sam Flynn, a dedicated volunteer who is making a significant impact within StudentsCare and her community. Sam, a Biomedical Sciences major with a minor in Medical Sociology at the University of Central Florida, embodies the spirit of compassion and is driven to make a difference in people’s lives.
As Sam navigates her academic journey, she finds herself at a crossroads, torn between pursuing medical school or physician assistant school. However, regardless of the path she chooses her unwavering passion for positively impacting others remains constant.
At our UCF chapter of StudentsCare, Sam holds the position of Social Media Coordinator, a role she embraces wholeheartedly. Through her work, Sam spreads awareness about the incredible impact StudentsCare has on the lives of patients and their families. She takes pride in being able to showcase the organization to a wider audience, inspiring others to join the cause.
With her minor in medical sociology, Sam firmly believes in the influence of social factors on our health and well-being. StudentsCare resonates with her deeply, as it provides a platform to offer positive social support to patients. She passionately shares, “StudentsCare allows pre-health students to see the direct impact of spreading kindness to patients on their lives and their healthcare experience when we get to work with long term pediatric patients and isolated older adults,” Sam shared. “Everyone deserves fun, and StudentsCare goes above and beyond to be the light in very difficult situations.”
What sets StudentsCare apart is its nurturing environment of camaraderie and support. Sam reflects, “Pre-health organizations can easily become toxic as many pre-health students see their peers as competitors, but StudentsCare is built to focus us on supporting one another as we accomplish a mission that most going into healthcare have – to help others!” The kindness and uplifting nature of the national leadership team instantly resonated with Sam, further solidifying her decision to immerse herself in this compassionate community.
One of Sam’s most cherished memories with StudentsCare was meeting her chapter leadership team for the first time. Overwhelmed by the positive energy radiating from everyone, she knew she had found her home within StudentsCare—a place where she could genuinely make a difference in the lives of others. Drawing from her personal experience of hospitalization at a young age, Sam understands the significance of play and joy in alleviating anxiety in the hospital setting. Eagerly looking forward to being paired with a Buddy, she envisions creating magical moments that bring comfort and happiness to patients.
Sam’s journey with StudentsCare has taught her invaluable lessons about the importance of communication within a team. Collaborating with fellow volunteers, she witnesses how small acts of kindness can profoundly impact the lives of patients and their families. StudentsCare exemplifies the notion that even the simplest gestures can make a world of difference in brightening someone’s day.
Beyond her volunteering endeavors, Sam shares a fun fact about herself—her love for Disney parks. Dreaming of visiting all the international parks one day, she finds inspiration in Disney’s emphasis on creating “magical moments” for their guests. When Sam volunteers with StudentsCare, she feels empowered to create similar experiences of joy and wonder for the patients she interacts with.
Sam’s journey with StudentsCare embodies our organization’s core values of compassion, teamwork, and the transformative power of kindness. As she continues to navigate her path in healthcare, we hope Sam’s experiences with StudentsCare will shape her understanding of the profound impact that care and connections can have on patients.
Alongside hundreds of other volunteers, Sam and StudentsCare strive to be a beacon of light, spreading joy and friendship to those who need it most. Together, they make a positive difference in the lives of hospitalized children, isolated older adults and their families, one act of kindness at a time.
“StudentsCare goes above and beyond to be the light in very difficult situations. When I expressed interest in the organization, I was met with such kind and uplifting people on the nationals leadership team.”