Priyanka Wadhwa
Age: 18
Hometown: Surrey, B.C.
Priyanka Wadhwa
Age: 18 Hometown: Surrey, BC
Academic Awards: $20,500 Canadian Millennium Scholarship, UBC President’s Entrance Scholarship, SFU Summit Entrance Scholarship, Surrey Principals and Vice-Principals’ Association Scholarship and Excellence in French Scholarship
Area of Study: Bachelor of Commerce at UBC
Volunteer Work: Cheryl’s Children Home (Nairobi, Kenya), Surrey Community Youth Development Initiative, Surrey Hospice Society, Surrey Youth Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society and the UBC Commerce Community Program.
Advice for students: I believe that in order to be the very best at something, you need to have a passion or a driving force. Always keep in mind the end goal that you hope to achieve. This will keep you going no matter how stressful school becomes.
Your favourite confidence-building tips: It is extremely important to get out of your comfort zone sometimes and try things that might seem intimidating. By opening yourself to new and different experiences, there is a possibility of finding a strength or passion you didn’t know you had. This may help you see yourself in a new light, and that is what confidence is about.
Success strategies: I believe that succeeding in school is much more than grades; it is vital to have a balance between school and extracurricular activities. Get involved in your school and community, doing things that you enjoy. Furthermore, time management is key. You have to learn how to prioritize.
Why did you go to Kenya to volunteer?
I went back to Kenya because I was born and brought up there. Growing up in the small town of Eldoret, I have seen the depths of poverty. I have always wanted to go back and do something worthwhile and meaningful.
I volunteered with an organization called Cheryl’s Children’s Home. It gave orphaned children a place to live and a chance to go to school. I volunteered there for two weeks, working with young children in the classrooms. I played with them, taught them, and helped the teachers.
What did you learn?
I have learned how unfair life can be sometimes. On one side of the world, there are children who have no family or support left in their lives. They have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from. We, on the other hand, tend to take for granted everything that we do have. This experience has also taught me a lot about who I am; it has made me want to use my education to help people living in third world countries.
Do you have plans to go back? Yes, I definitely plan on doing something similar in the near future, perhaps going to India or somewhere in South America. Next time, I would like my stay to be a lot longer.
Why do you think it’s important for young people to volunteer? Volunteering gives us the opportunity to come out of our little bubbles and see the world for what it really is. I believe that it can teach us how to be compassionate and perhaps give us the desire to help people. Moreover, it gives us a chance be grateful and count our own blessings.
When choosing a volunteer activity, what advice would you give to other students?
I decided to volunteer in an orphanage because I love working with children. I think that when choosing a volunteer activity, do something that you have some kind of interest or passion for.
A quote that inspires you:
“Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.”
– Henry David Thoreau
