I am now six months out from my summer 2017 experience in Delhi, India. Upon return to the United States, I was immediately thrown into the usual packed schedule of modern college life. In class, I studied for hours to perform on my exams and finish up my degree. I came back to the activities I loved, volunteering every week at Ben Taub Hospital and getting back to the gym to prepare myself for the upcoming inter-mural soccer season. The job of leading a May medical brigade to rural Central America loomed on the horizon, and I met regularly with my co-presidents to start the planning process. To top it all off, there was the constant travel for medical school interviews, with each of the many trips giving me a brief and unique glimpse into a bright and exciting future for my next four years. The struggles and triumphs of my Indian summer soon unconsciously slipped into the recesses of my mind. My passionate efforts to aid juveniles struggling with drug abuse in the searing sun and ceaseless frenzy of Delhi seemed a world away.
A river scene from my summer travels through India.
Upon conclusion of another exhausting yet enjoyable semester, I returned home for winter break. I was immediately back in the hospital, not as a volunteer, but as a patient. Torn cruciate knee ligaments during inter-mural soccer meant that my break was going to be one of post-surgery inactivity. With ample time for mental reflection, I realized that during my six months back in the United States, I was very much in control and met with resounding success. A large part of this had to do with the fact that I fit into the environment around me. I knew how things operated in college, and more so, in the United States. I knew what people expected of me, knew how to manage and adapt to different situations, and felt comfortable with what I was asked to do.
This had not been the case in Delhi. Though I had ambition and passion, I often struggled due to the simple fact of not being in an environment I was used to. Whether it was because of the weather, the work style, or the social norms, I could not function or perform to my full capabilities. One of my main pre-trip training lessons revolved around the fact that in any area of the world, local citizens who truly know the environment around them are the ones best equipped to bring about true progress. This lesson certainly rang true in India: it would take months, perhaps years, before I could ever fully adapt to and understand Delhi. It went far beyond a simple appreciation of a foreign culture and way of life. It instead meant a full immersion into that culture- an entire new mindset when thinking and approaching most life interactions, decisions, and responsibilities. As a summer college intern, there was no way I could realistically make such a transition.
An artfully constructed garden from one of my trips through India.
Instead, I was there to make whatever impact I could within my limitations. That impact did not mean helping SPYM make an unforgettable, gargantuan step in the ongoing battle against juvenile drug abuse. The biggest triumphs and victories would instead occur far in the future, spearheaded by workers and advocates in India who best knew the needs and desires of the community around them. My job was to accomplish a much smaller task- extensive SOP revisions- that would help SPYM continue their mission long after my departure.
The essential lesson of my time in Delhi was acceptance and understanding. I accepted that in my limited role as an intern, I was not in any position to come back with a blockbuster tale of problem-solving. Instead, I had to find the drive to work within my limitations and do my smaller tasks well with the understanding that my seemingly miniscule efforts would advance a much larger objective down the line. Indeed, I got word a few weeks ago that SPYM took a big step towards implementing some of the protocols I had helped write! If kept up successfully over the coming years, this could lead to conditions and day to day life for the children at the centers significantly improving. Though nothing more than a small step within a larger picture, it was a worthy outcome that made my time in Delhi feel all that more memorable and meaningful.