What I Learned Through Volunteering

When I started my volunteer service in Thailand, I expected to learn about teaching and a new culture. While those expectations were met, I found that many of the most valuable lessons were about myself. Throughout my placement—and especially after changing projects, I developed skills that I believe will stay with me long after my volunteer service has ended.

One of the most important skills I developed was patience. At first, I thought patience simply meant waiting when plans changed or classes were postponed. While this certainly happened, I gradually realized that patience is much more than that. It also means accepting that learning takes time and that every person progresses at their own pace. This became especially clear after I moved from teaching university students to working with kindergarten and primary school children. Unlike university students, young children often have no common language to build on. I learned that explaining something once is rarely enough. Sometimes a child would pronounce a sound correctly several times but then repeat it incorrectly so often that the mistake became the habit. Instead of becoming frustrated, I learned to stay calm, encourage them, and try again in a different way. This experience reminded me that real learning requires patience, consistency, and understanding.

The language barrier also taught me to communicate beyond words. Since English was not always enough, I relied on facial expressions, gestures, drawings, demonstrations, and the Thai language that I learned throughout the year. I discovered that successful communication is not only about speaking but also about listening carefully, observing, and adapting to the people in front of you.

Another important lesson came from experiencing loneliness. Before changing projects, I lived in a very remote location with little public transportation and few opportunities to participate in daily life outside the school. I often had the feeling that I was physically present but not truly part of the life around me. Although this was challenging, it encouraged me to become more independent and to actively look for solutions instead of waiting for circumstances to change. It also taught me the importance of speaking up for my own needs and communicating openly when something was not working well.

Finally, volunteering strengthened my organizational and problem-solving skills. Working in a new environment meant adapting to changing schedules, preparing lessons, communicating with teachers, and balancing different responsibilities at the same time. Not everything went according to plan, but I learned to remain flexible and focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems.

Looking back, I realize that my volunteer service taught me much more than teaching skills. It taught me patience, adaptability, resilience, and the confidence to face unfamiliar situations with an open mind. These are lessons that I will carry with me wherever life takes me next.