Becoming a Medical Humanitarian

Once again I felt under-qualified. “This will be the last time I can’t help.” I thought to myself.

I had always wanted to be a humanitarian. So I  took the necessary steps and became one! I had just graduated from EMT night-school and had passed the National Registry for EMTs. I was inspired to do so after several encounters where medical knowledge would have been helpful, but I felt useless because I only knew how to put a bandaid on a little wound.

A month after getting my EMT license, I decided to take some time off and went to tour India once again as India is one of my favorite places I’ve been!

From previous experience traveling, I knew I would be in situations where medical aid was needed. While touring around the country and visiting beautiful sites such as the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Himalayan mountains, I was invited to come help some local villagers who needed medical aid and didn’t have regular access to healthcare providers.

I would spend the following two weeks in several tribal villages and volunteer to help people who did not have regular access to Western-style medical professionals. 

The lesson I learned is this: Be a lifelong student. Once you learn a new skill, put it into practice immediately. And never stop learning.