Last summer, I went to Albania to volunteer at the Initiative for Social Change, ARSIS. I was initially worried about the trip, as this would be the first time I traveled internationally alone. I would be staying with my grandparents for three weeks, though we did not share a language save for a few simple words. Despite my fears, I committed to my work. ARSIS provides support to people in vulnerable situations, especially children and Albania’s Roma and Egyptian minorities. These would be people in real need. I could not live with myself if I didn’t give them the best I could offer; this was something important.

      Once I arrived in Tirana, I got straight to work. Every morning, I would use the old apartment elevator, pass the café on the bottom floor, and walk a couple blocks through the hot summer sun and rugged roads to the school. There I would stay until a few hours into the afternoon. For the first two weeks, I taught the children English. During the third week, I did tasks for the initiative, like making worksheets and posters. Of course, I am not a trained English teacher, and the children’s skills varied wildly. Some were already speaking English while others were barely speaking Albanian. Still, I did my best to reach all of them. I taught them the alphabet, its phonics, syllables, along with some common words and phrases. Although my time with them was short, I hope that what I taught them helps them in the future, in whatever way it can.

      This experience showed me the person I can be—someone capable, who puts others before himself and works for a better future for others. What more could a high school student want than knowledge of their capabilities and a glimpse of the person they’ll become?