A little about me...
I am the second son of two Chinese immigrants to the United States. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas and attended the University of Notre Dame. After graduating with a degree in History, I did some graduate school work in the medical sciences at Drexel University. I have always loved travelling and have been to 26 countries on five continents, including studying in London for five months. Desiring another stint abroad, I searched through the resources of my alma mater’s Center for Social Concerns and discovered this wonderful opportunity.
Why Vincentian Volunteers ...
After finding out about VV’s, I realized that this was essentially exactly what I wanted for the year. I had one year free before beginning medical school in August 2011 and I wanted to do some international service work. Not only did this program offer me the opportunity to experience living in northern England but it also gave me a chance to make a real difference in people’s lives. I have always wanted to dedicate a year of my life to doing a year of service and VV’s presented me with precisely that, a chance to do some real good in the world. Furthermore, the prospect of living in community was very enticing. I lived in small, close-knit halls at university and wanted to experience that communal feeling for what could be the final time in my life.
My Projects ...
I predominantly work at St. Vincent’s Blind School. As the name suggests, it is a school for the blind and partially sighted. I work as a teacher’s aide at the school of about forty students, most of whom also have autism or some other developmental disability. I help mostly with science, music, PE, swimming, cooking, and healthy living lessons. I also, twice a week, help with the residential part of the school where I accompany the boarding students to a stable for horse riding lessons. The staff is not only very accommodating but also welcoming and work placements are based on the individual volunteer’s interests and talents. Most importantly, however, every day that I walk into St. Vincent’s, I leave the campus amazed. The students are truly remarkable and a real inspiration. Their effort towards progressing academically, socially, and emotionally despite their limitations is something that I will always remember. In addition to St. Vincent’s, I work a half day per week at St. Gregory’s After School Club for at-risk children. This is a great compliment to my four and a half days at St. Vincent’s. With their expanded physical and cognitive capabilities, I am able to enjoy another sort of company and, in a way, to relive my own childhood.
My Highlights ...
Seeing an entire community coming together to enjoy Christmas activities and an ice rink in the parking lot of St. Gregory’s. Witnessing the children of St. Vincent’s experience the cacophony of sounds and touch and smell of freshly of a freshly manicured pitch during a private Anfield (Liverpool F.C. Stadium) tour. Observing the children of St. Vincent’s create the most open and accepting community of people, adult or child, that I have ever seen.