My goal for this summer was to go to D.C., since my sister works and lives there, and do some kind of volunteering. I had no idea where/how I wanted to volunteer, I just knew I wanted to make good use of my time. I started researching online, and found out that there was an opportunity to teach basic English to immigrants at D.C., and thus, make their lives a little bit easier.
I loved seeing how my students where so bright and learned so fast. I could see how hard they were trying to learn English; starting from the alphabet. Now I know that I helped 8-10 international students communicate and express themselves better, on a daily basis.
It was such a rewarding experience, with a great and fun group of students from all over the world. I had a co-volunteer teacher from Vietnam, who worked really well with me. We prepared together before each session, and now I have a new long distance friend!
What I wish was different
N/A
Advice
Be out there! Look out for volunteer opportunities if you want to make a positive impact, there are thousands of opportunities.
Help will always be needed; either in person or virtually. At the end, your effort and dedication is not only helpful for others, but for you as well. You get to learn a lot from those who receive your help. It really is rewarding to volunteer, and make a small impact on someone's life.