Victoria Gan, Volunteer in India

Victoria Gan, 24 years old, volunteer in 2011

Describe your volunteer work experience.

The placements were extremely challenging but very rewarding and I fell in love with the kids. I met very interesting people and truly loved talking and playing cards with them. I hope it made a little dent of impact--all of the work opportunities--as it did for me.

Please provide a testimonial of your experience with as much detail as possible.

It was the most eye-opening experience of my entire life. I saw things and did things that will stay with me forever and the way that I see the world and make decisions has been completely altered. I have a newfound perspective that I hope to keep and maintain long after this quest has left the close peripheries of my mind. I fell in love with the eager, bright, brilliant little boys I taught in the slum; I left all fear behind when I repelled down the Rajmachi fort while trekking in the rain; I visited some of the holiest places in all of India and was awestruck by all that I found around me.

India was, at all times, beautiful, ugly, breathtaking, miserable, anxiety-ridden, fulfilling...I could go on...it was a huge dichotomy of far too many adjectives to name...ultimately it was the best thing I've ever done in my life.