Life Changing and Unforgettable!

The summer of 2016, I was given the opportunity to make a difference in a child's life. I did not even think twice and I accepted the opportunity I was given by Uplift Humanity. Uplift Humanity was by far the greatest experience I have ever had in my life. Everyone was treating us so well. When we were on our way to our hotel, I had assumed that it would be dirty and unsanitary. Guess what? I was completely wrong. The hotel was actually very clean. The rooms were nice and the bathroom was nice. As we all started to settle in, it was so fun being with the other kids, even the advisors! The joked around with us, they were open with us, and they were just so polite and kind. I felt as if I was home to be honest. All the other volunteers were so friendly and it was just a blast. Some of the days, we went out and had dinner together, we watched the movie SuItan together, and we even went bowling!

I made so many new friends in and out the facility. The kids at the Ashram were the nicest kids you would ever meet. They were so eager to see us and play with us. Many of the kids opened up to me immediately to me, but some did not. One of my kids who was named Bhavesh was one of the juveniles that did not talk at all the first week. He kept getting distracted and just looked so confused. When I tried to ask him something he just shrugs his shoulders or nodded his head. Eventually, I started understanding what he was into which was that he loved to draw. While teaching him the curriculum, I gave him a few breaks to let him draw whatever he wants. I learned that I had to be playful with him and just make him laugh. One of the days, Mona, the head director of Gujurat for UHI, read us the story, “Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon." Molly was funny looking with buck teeth. Bhavesh suddenly laughed because of Molly had buck teeth, so from then on whenever I saw him, I bit down on my lower lip to try to look like Molly. It brought a smile to Bhavesh’s face every single time. By the time we had to give the kids an exam, he was so open and started being so blunt about everything. Everything that came to his mind he just started spitting it out. I felt like tearing up because it is just such an unbelievable change. One day, he does not talk and the next day he is the most talkative kid. At that point, It hit me straight in the chest how a normal high school kid like me can change another kids life just like that. My story is one of many, if you attend this program you will never ever forget the experience you had. It is truly amazing.