In 2013, I spent one month in an underdeveloped rural village in China as a volunteer teacher and taught English. This short experience is life-changing.

The school we stayed at had no electricity, no lighting fixture, no proper beds, no modern washrooms or bathrooms, and no immediate access to the farm market for groceries. Some students only had one Yuan(¥) allowance (equal to 25 cents in Canadian dollars) per day and had to walk one hour per trip on their feet to school every day.

A team of volunteer teachers from the city not only survived the extreme environment but also delivered our mission to widen students' eyes to the world. However, they have taught us way much more about the importance of kindness in life with their purest hearts. 

One of the students managed to stay in touch with me since. With my consistent virtual encouragement for almost a decade, he became the first proud college grad from his village and now he is living in the city. This would break the generational poverty from him and I am beyond proud for him, and for myself. 

I wish we could do more for them or maybe stay with them longer. Their desire to learn was larger than life. But knowing this cannot be accomplished in short-term commitment and we all have a life to carry forward, keeping the memory near my heart and find ways to pay it forward are the best things I could do.