TURNED AWAY FROM UNIVERSITY?? ELLIE SHARES ABOUT HER BLESSING IN DISGUISE

Zambia - Medical Work - Hands On Medical and Clinic Assistance Project in Victoria Falls, Livingstone

Aug 10, 2011

Putting bounce back into a rebuff.. Ellie Peters who was turned away from University due to lack of work experience joined us as a Volunteer.

My time in Livingstone was amazing and I enjoyed every minute of it. In a way I'm kind of glad that I was forced to take a gap year because it meant that I was able to have such a great experience.

How did it initially feel when you first found out you failed?

I was utterly gutted. I had planned for about four years what would happen when I'd finished my A-levels and the following years and then in the space of 5 minutes everything came crashing down and I was left with my future plans in ruins.
 
What made you decide to volunteer?

To be honest the idea was originally planted by one of my sisters. As she works for a charity that has some programmes that run abroad she suggested that I find similar projects to get the work experience I needed. I've always loved travelling to different countries and experiencing all the different cultures so once the suggestion was made I was set on the idea of going abroad. The volunteering side of it was appealing for several reasons. I didn't want to spend my gap year travelling to different countries, spending minimal time there and just taking from them. By volunteering I could spend three months in a beautiful country with amazing people and give a little back to the local people. As I have mentioned I needed some more medical work experience so again this was a way of gaining that but it was also a way of learning about the way different countries practice medicine and to learn about and witness diseases and illnesses that you don't see in England.
 
By Volunteering what do you think you gained?

I can't begin to explain how much I gained through volunteering. I've heard before that there is no such thing as a selfless act and my experience in Livingstone proved this. Everyone I've spoken to about my experience since my return has turned round said what a strong and kind person you must be to volunteer, but my reply has always been that no its not just a giving thing as many people believe, I've now gained many friends from all around the world, I have greater understanding of diseases such as HIV and AIDS and I gained so much more confidence from having to do the tasks I was set such as home based care and teaching HIVE
 
How has it affected your outlook?

I now have a much more positive outlook on life. The Zambian people are such friendly and happy people in general that make do with what they have and are just so grateful for you to spend your time talking to them, even if all you can do is to advise them to drink more water. I appreciate what I have so much more than I did before I went away and now I look for the positive solution whenever there's a kink in my plans and not think its the end of the world.
 
Do you feel Volunteering helped prepare you for your studies?

-       Medically

My medical knowledge has increased tenfold. As someone who is a little accident prone I've had my fair share of experiencing British medical care but my time spent in Zambia has shown me why things are treated the way they are and it has also shown some disease that I am very unlikely to see in England such as kaposi sarcoma.

-       Emotionally

I am so much emotionally stronger since Africa. I've always been someone who can control my emotions but my volunteering experience really tested that. When you see kids suffering from HIV that are only expected to live for another year or so it really crushes your heart but to be able to cope in the medical profession you need to be able to cope with situations like that whilst still being in touch with your emotions. I think Livingstone has set me in good stead for the trials and tribulations I will experience in the medical profession. 
 
Do you think volunteering gave you any advantages than if you had gone straight to university?
 
An extra year before going to university has let me gain the equivalent  to three years life experience.  I had never travelled on my own before and I'd never been to Africa before. I was scared before I left but my time in Livingstone taught me to look after myself, that being thousands of miles away from your family is difficult but there always there for you and that you may be scared going to a strange place on your own but that everyone one else is in the same position as you are and that instantly gives you a connection. from speaking to my friends that went to uni this year they've learnt similar things but not to the same extent and they have been there for a longer period of time. I think volunteering has prepared me for a life away from home more than you could imagine if you went straight from school to uni.

How have the skills you have learnt helped you now?

The skills I have learnt help me in everyday life. Through HIV Education I developed many people skills and communication skills.  The skills I learnt from living in a house with many different people has allowed me to find it easier to find common ground with people and make friends but has also made it easier to live in a shared house as I became much more tolerant of peoples little bad habits!!!

If you are in a simliar position to Ellie or want to gain experience before your next adventure read more about our medical projects in Zambia and St Lucia