What Volunteering Taught Me

I always thought friendships happened slowly. Usually, we meet someone, spend time with them, and slowly build a bond.

But while thinking about Friendship Day this year, I realised that not every connection starts that way. Sometimes, we meet people without expecting much, but later their presence becomes something we remember.

I thought about this when I listened to Sonam share her internship experience at Pehchaan The Street School.

Every Friendship Day, we see old pictures, childhood memories, and posts about friends who have been a part of our lives for years. I was thinking about those familiar friendships when I heard a different kind of story.

Sonam joined Pehchaan The Street School as an intern and taught students at the Kamla Nagar Centre. She joined the internship because she wanted to spend her time helping students.

Like many interns, she thought she would spend her time teaching students, helping with activities, and completing her responsibilities. She knew what she had to do.

But she did not know what the experience would give her in return.

Slowly, the classroom became more than just a place where she went to teach. The students became familiar faces. The daily conversations became memories. The small moments during classes started becoming the parts she remembered the most.

Sonam came there to teach, but the students taught her too.

Spending time with students taught her patience and helped her notice the small progress that often goes unseen.

These are not lessons written anywhere in an internship guide.

But they are often the lessons people carry with them for years.

What I liked about Sonam’s story was its simplicity. She never spoke about making some huge change. She spoke about the people she met, the time she spent with students, and how the experience changed the way she looked at volunteering.

That felt real.

When I think about the students at the Kamla Nagar Centre, I imagine how they must have seen Sonam when she first arrived. For them, she was someone who came to teach. For Sonam, they were students she came to support.

But after spending time together, that relationship became something more.

The classroom became a place where everyone learned something.

Maybe that is why many volunteers remember their experiences even after they leave. You may enter with a role and responsibilities, but you often leave with memories you never expected.

Sonam started her internship thinking about what she could give. But by the end, she carried back conversations, experiences, and lessons that stayed with her.

Her story also changed the way I look at volunteering. Many people think they need special skills or years of experience before they can help others. But sometimes, being present, giving your time, and showing genuine care can mean a lot.

I don’t think Sonam joined the internship expecting to find friendships.

She simply wanted to contribute.

But somewhere between teaching lessons and spending time with students, she built connections that became a part of her own story.

This Friendship Day, I found myself thinking about the friendships that come into our lives unexpectedly.

Sonam’s experience showed me that friendships do not always start with long conversations or years of knowing someone. Sometimes, they begin with a classroom, a few conversations, and time spent together.

Your time and efforts can create a meaningful experience for someone else. Join Pehchaan The Street School as a volunteer and become a part of these everyday stories.

https://pehchaanstreetschool.org