A few grains remain in the hourglass as the twilight of my volunteer experience grows to close. As I reflect on the past nine months, I begin to question what I have learned and who have I become.
Throughout this experience, I have worked at HIAS PA, a refugee resettlement in Philadelphia, PA. I recall reviewing their mission statement online before interviewing for the position. I was curious how this agency would incorporate their mission of “Welcoming the Stranger” in its daily work. I received an answer on my first day as I was warmly greeted by the staff. Moreover, I witnessed how they interacted with clients from diverse cultural, racial, socioeconomic, and spiritual backgrounds. They celebrated this diversity rather than treating it as a wall of division. From this moment on, I knew I was in for something special.
