prize-winning volunteers

I went to give blood at the American Red Cross blood drive. I read the instructions, got my finger pricked, and was almost through the questions when she asked me what other countries I had been to in the past three years. Ah, Nicaragua. Yes, Nicaragua is one of those malaria-infected countries. Come back in a year, she said. So, I got my sticker, my free t-shirt, my coupon for a free pizza, and some orange juice, but didn't give any blood.

While I was hanging out at the snack table, someone came up and wanted to do an interview for her journalism class. The girl next to me volunteered, and was asked, "Why do you give blood?" This is one of those trick questions, like asking an RA why they live on a floor with freshmen.

We all want to answer, "Because it is good to do things for other people." Or, "Because I like helping people." But usually it has something to do with something we will be getting. In the case of RAs, it's free housing. Blood donors (at least at this blood drive) are lured in by free gourmet pizzas, tshirts, and the bright blue gauze they'll put on your arm to wear like a Badge of Courage all day long. I won't lie - the pizza got me. And the girl they interviewed, I bet her "since I'm O positive, my blood is useful for everyone, so I volunteer often" answer was only secondary to her desire for free stuff as well.

Maybe I am cynical of human nature, but most people, regardless of how nice they think they are, don't do something for nothing. Especially on a college campus.