Why am I giving up my summer to volunteer at Botshabelo?
This questions has been asked countless times since I began talking about this trip. I do not have clear answer, but I will try to help others understand...
Not many people know that when I was 17, I desperately wanted to join the Peace Corps. I wanted to travel and make a difference in the lives of the people I met. I sadly, did not join the Peace Corps... I was afraid of joining alone. I didn't think I would ever attend college if I didn't go right after high school. I have always looked back at that decision with regret. Please don't get me wrong, I loved college and the life I had during that time, but I still wish I had been brave and created my own path in the world.
I see volunteering at Botshabelo as a small way to fulfill my Peace Corps dream, to erase the regret I look back with and to give back to a community that was founded specifically to help others. This is my chance to do something incredibly worthwhile. Does volunteering this summer mean I "won't have a summer vacation"? Sure, but I don't see it that way. Volunteering this summer means I will have an adventure of a lifetime, meet new people, experience a new way of life, love, help and support people who are in need and see a part of the world that I have never seen before. I do not view this experience as me missing out on summer vacation... I view this trip as an amazing experience that I am privileged to have.
I cannot express my gratitude enough to Kay, my connection to Botshabelo, for including me in this adventure!
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