THI Trinh is different to most teenagers.

While many of her school mates spend their spare time texting and twittering, this 17-year-old volunteers at Sunshine Hospital.

One of Western Health’s youngest volunteers, Thi spends every Tuesday completing administration tasks and distributing books from the library trolley to patients.

The Sydenham Catholic Regional College student has been chosen by Volunteerwest to be an ambassador for its Youth Speak Out program.

Among only 10 young people to be chosen in Brimbank, Thi enjoys taking time out of her busy studying schedule to help others.

“I don’t see volunteering as giving up my time, it is more about giving people my time,” the Year 12 student said.

“Studying all the time can get stressful. But volunteering is time out for yourself - and time to think of the community.”

Initially, Thi began volunteering at the hospital as part of her religious education classes, but now visits the hospital in her spare time and during the school holidays.

Often handing out books to mothers who spend months on end in a tiny ward with their sick children, the generous teenager said talking to patients and their families had opened up a new world for her.

“Some mothers spend months sitting by their child. I can help make their day nicer,” Thi said.

“They always smile when I come in.

“As children and teenagers, everything is easy and life is good, but now I have seen a different side of life and are more empathetic.”

The ambassadors chosen for the program have been trained in public speaking and will visit schools to promote volunteering.