Shelby, a dedicated and compassionate volunteer with Conversations to Remember, has been making a difference in the lives of seniors since the early days of her college journey. Originally from New Jersey, Shelby earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is currently working full-time as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). This fall, she’ll begin a new chapter, attending a Physician’s Assistant (PA) school in Florida.
Her journey with Conversations to Remember began when she received an email from the outreach team during her early undergraduate years. Having volunteered at nursing homes in high school, the program immediately piqued her interest, and she began participating on calls with seniors. Her first call with a senior remains etched in her memory: “She was the sweetest little old lady,” Shelby says, smiling at the thought. “But she would fall asleep on our calls! That really taught me how to talk and keep a conversation going.” Shelby and her fellow student volunteers on the call would gently wake their senior up and continue chatting, often delving into the senior’s interests, listening to her favorite church music, and exchanging stories from their day. That experience shaped not only her outlook on the program but also inspired her growth into a new role: volunteer trainer!
Shelby found her most meaningful experience with Conversations to Remember as a volunteer trainer. Volunteer trainers prepare and mentor new virtual visit volunteers by guiding them on how to build meaningful intergenerational relationships with seniors through weekly virtual visits. “Now I get to teach other kids how to do this and make sure their experiences with seniors are magical and memorable,” Shelby expresses. Guided by her own mentor, Ilana, Shelby has carried forward the impact of great mentorship. “Ilana was the best trainer I could have ever had. Every call I had with her, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s so good at this.’”
Shelby emphasizes the dual impact of Conversations to Remember and believes that participation in the organization benefits both seniors and volunteers alike. For seniors, it offers companionship and a sense of family. “We become like their grandkids,” she explains. “We’re their visitors, their outlet, and we have conversations they might not have with anyone else.” With senior loneliness being a consistent and common issue globally, organizations like Conversations to Remember help fill that gap and provide important companionship to seniors across the USA. Shelby’s personal connection to the cause runs deep; her grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease, and Shelby wishes a program like this had been available for her when she was alive. Her close connection to the issue of senior loneliness has made volunteering with Conversations to Remember “one of my favorite things to do.”
For students, Shelby describes the experience as “extremely rewarding,” noting that the emotional and personal fulfillment is unlike anything else. Even with a busy EMT schedule, she’s still committed to volunteering. “I don’t think I could ever stop this,” she says. “I’ll do this as long as I possibly can.”
To students considering joining the program, Shelby’s advice is simple and heartfelt:
“Be yourself.”
– Shelby Spica
“Students come in so nervous, especially on mock calls,” she explains. “But you just have to talk to your senior like you’d talk to a friend or family member. It’ll be the most rewarding thing you can do if you just be yourself.”
With her warmth, experience, and dedication, Shelby is not only an outstanding volunteer — she’s an inspiration to everyone at Conversations to Remember. Thanks for your dedication to Conversations to Remember, Shelby!
