My time in Ghana helped strengthen my situational awareness and assertiveness. When setting up for the outreaches, over time the other volunteers and I learned to anticipate what help was needed before it was asked. While I had already developed this skill from past volunteering and jobs, it felt different when I needed to be proactive for medical care. I felt unqualified and was worried to mess things up, but I learned that there was still always something I could do.
I also learned to become much more assertive. Ghanaian culture emphasizes bargaining when shopping, and markets are much livelier, with direct shouts and persistence from shop vendors. Over a few market visits, I learned how to properly put my foot down when vendors would insist on my attention. Near the end of the trip, a seller even complimented me and gave me a high five because of how well I handled his persistence! This experience only strengthened my love for volunteering, combined with my volunteering through Cornell Tradition Fellowship and the Tri Delta St. Jude philanthropy, every new role encourages a future filled with volunteer work.
What skills did you develop or strengthen through this experience?