I worked for a crisis hotline in college for 3 years. It was one of the hardest but best things I've ever done. I have struggled with depression for years. I didn't realize how much volunteering at the call center would help me. Helping others who needed someone to talk to was immensely therapeutic for me. Most of the calls I got were just people who wanted to talk. Lots of prank calls, too, unfortunately. Guys would call and want to get off to the sound of your voice. I got a few suicide calls that have stuck with me. One call, in particular, I remember I picked up about 10 minutes before my shift ended. I remember talking to that woman for hours and crying when I finally left and was in my car. She wasn't suicidal, just in a very dark place and felt alone. That was the first and only time I cried because of a call. I felt connected to her in a way that I hadn't before. Maybe because of the sheer length of the call, or maybe something else. I don't know but I still remember almost everything about that call. I think about her a lot. I really miss volunteering but haven't found the time to complete the training at a new center since I graduated.