Some volunteers discover Make-A-Wish because they want to make a difference. Jackie Nguyen came back because Make-A-Wish had already changed her life. 

During her freshman year of college, Jackie was diagnosed with cancer. While undergoing treatment, she received a wish for a college scholarship granted through Make-A-Wish San Diego. The wish gave her something to look forward to during one of the hardest seasons of her life. 

Throughout the wish process, it wasn't just the scholarship that stayed with her. It was the people. 

“My wish granters would sometimes surprise me with little drop-offs and things like that,” Jackie said. “They were actually interested in learning about my story and seeing who I am beyond someone who was diagnosed with cancer.”  

That experience inspired Jackie to return to the organization — this time as a volunteer. 

“I thought if I could bring that joy to other kids, that it could alleviate the pain and the suffering that they’re going through, as well as the family,” she said. 

Today, Jackie is entering her senior year at the University of Arizona, where she studies molecular and cellular biology with a minor in biochemistry — with the hopes of one day being a physician herself.  

Now a dedicated volunteer at Make-A-Wish Arizona, Jackie volunteers her time assisting the medical outreach team to strengthen relationships with healthcare providers.  

“I’ve already experienced the front end of the Make-A-Wish portion, and now I want to learn the behind-the-scenes part of it,” Jackie said. 

For Jackie, volunteering is also preparing her for the physician she hopes to become. Seeing how referrals begin, how partnerships with medical providers are built, and how much coordination goes into every wish has given her a deeper appreciation for the work happening behind the scenes. 

“I didn’t know how much work and effort it took,” she said. “It’s really playing the long game and being persistent, reaching out, and checking up on clinics to make sure they’re doing their part so that Make-A-Wish can do their part as well.”  

While much of her volunteer work happens behind the scenes, the moments she spends with wish families are the ones she treasures most. 

As both a wish alum and volunteer, Jackie has also found a unique sense of community within Make-A-Wish. 

Whether reconnecting with fellow wish alumni at events or volunteering alongside staff and fellow WishMakers, she says there’s an understanding that doesn’t need much explanation. 

“We have a mutual understanding of how hard it was to go through something and then experience being granted a wish by Make-A-Wish and the feeling that comes with it as well.”  

That perspective continues to shape the way Jackie approaches life. 

“I definitely think I take less things for granted," she said. “Volunteering helps me live more in the present and be more grateful.”  

When she looks back at the photo from the day she received her wish, she’s reminded of just how far she’s come. 

“I look back and I’m like, ‘Wow, I’ve come a long, long way,’” Jackie said. “It’s like a milestone.”  

As she continues her journey toward medical school, Jackie hopes to one day care for children facing the same challenges she once did. And wherever that path leads, she knows she'll continue carrying forward the hope Make-A-Wish gave her years ago. 

“I want to instill that into other families and other kids as well,” she said, “to give them something to look forward to — just a moment of happiness and hope.”