4 Reasons Why Volunteering was A Game-Changer for Me

The summer after our sophomore year, a lot of my other batchmates in college opted to either attend midyear classes, take a summer term abroad or worked for an internship. It was that summer that I chose to be different by choosing to volunteer instead.

My friend from AIESEC in UP Diliman presented this opportunity to me by sending a link to the project booklet. I was instantly drawn when I found out the project was based in Hanoi, a dream city of mine, and when it was about my advocacy: zero waste. I applied, had my interview, and got in. Within one week, my luggage was packed and I was suddenly in NAIA to catch my flight.

My experience manager, Jade, when I first landed in Hanoi.

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After two months of motorcycle rides and endless bowls of pho, I believe my exchange experience in Vietnam has changed my life in so many meaningful ways.

#1: Challenged me to get out of my comfort zone

It was a big deal for me to go abroad and live by myself for a long period of time, knowing my parents won’t be there as a safety net. I’ve never travelled alone, even locally. I also haven’t stayed in a dorm. It was a great preview of what adulting feels like. I learned how to deal with planning for travel, pay my own rent, do my own laundry, and budget for my food and expenses. Along the way, homesickness started to kick in too. I suddenly missed my family, my friends, and even my boyfriend. I had to toughen up and adapt to my situation creatively. I was able to keep in touch with my loved ones back at home in the PH via online channels but I also beat loneliness by making newfound friends here in Vietnam through my roommates, AIESECers and even people I’ve met through opportunity.

My dorm mates who worked on the same project with me

#2: Expanded my network

I lived in a travelers hostel where people from all over the world came. I stayed in a shared dorm with my fellow AIESEC exchange mates and I got to learn about their lives and cultures. They were also my eating and adventure buddies. There was never a dull moment with them. I worked in a very big team. My project, ICreate Summer Camp 2019, had 5 bosses, 3 fellow AIESEC colleagues, and 8 student ambassadors.

Fellow AIESECers and AIESEC exchange mates who came from different projects

#3: Contributed to a greater cause

Sustainable consumption is my greatest passion and it was an honor that I got to put my passion to action by working for a project that was targeted to develop SDGs 8 and 12. I got to share my own zero waste journey through presentations, facilitated workshops for recycling, and inspire people even in my small ways.

One of the student teams I mentored in creating their zero waste products for a half-day zero-waste fair. I was so proud that they learned entrepreneurship skills and generated income even in less than 2 weeks.

#4: Widened my perspective

The world is definitely bigger than what I imagined it to be. I also realized how much impact I can make by being a positive role model and enabling others to be leaders themselves as well. Cross-cultural exchange, especially through AIESEC, has indeed catalyzed a great movement of knowledge sharing and change-making. I was glad to be a part of that movement.

I was able to tap my roommates to recycle plastic bottles we've collected from the dorm. After the exchange, I was happy to hear how one of them has now started recycling at her home country too.