Looking back at my SOCW 3300 experience in India, I don’t think I realized before leaving how much this trip would change me. I knew it would be an amazing opportunity and that I would learn a lot, but I thought most of that learning would be about social work and experiencing another culture. Instead, I feel like I learned just as much about myself. There were so many moments throughout this trip that pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and I’m coming home feeling more confident in myself both personally and professionally.
Personally, I think the biggest thing I learned is that I am more capable than I give myself credit for. Before leaving, I was really nervous about travelling internationally by myself. Just getting to India felt like a huge accomplishment, and I remember how proud I was when I actually made it. Throughout the trip, there were other moments where I felt anxious or overwhelmed, and I had a few panic attacks. Those moments were difficult, but they also taught me something important. I can be anxious and still do hard things. I can have a difficult moment, accept support, get through it, and keep going. I don’t think I came home as a completely different person, but I do think I came home trusting myself more.
Professionally, the Consent Cafés probably taught me the most about being adaptable. We went into different schools with similar topics and activities, but every group responded completely differently. Some students were engaged immediately, some were shy and needed time to open up, and others were more difficult to engage. I learned pretty quickly that I couldn’t expect every group to respond the way I wanted them to. I had to pay attention to the people in front of me and adjust how I communicated and facilitated based on what they needed. That is something I know I will bring into my future social work practice. Having a plan is important, but so is knowing when to let go of that plan and meet people where they are.
Another thing I will bring home with me is a much stronger appreciation for the importance of making people feel welcomed and valued. I still don’t think I have the words to describe how welcomed and celebrated we were throughout our time in India. From the moment we arrived, people went out of their way to make us feel like we belonged. Before any learning or teaching happened, relationships were being built. That really stayed with me. In my future practice, I want to remember how it felt to enter an unfamiliar place and have people make such an effort to make me comfortable. I want the people I work with to feel that same sense that they are wanted, respected, and valued.
When I think about what I contributed, I hope that I brought openness, respect, and a genuine willingness to connect with people. Through the Consent Cafés, I think we created spaces where students could talk about topics that aren’t always easy or comfortable to discuss. I tried to make those conversations approachable and meet each group where they were at rather than assuming I knew what they needed. I also think I contributed to our own team by being willing to adapt, support others, and step up when things didn’t go according to plan. I hope the students and communities we worked with felt that we weren’t just there to teach them something, but that we genuinely wanted to listen to and learn from them too.
I think that might actually be my biggest takeaway from this experience. I went to India thinking a lot about what we were going there to do and what we could contribute. I’m leaving realizing how much was given to us in return. The people we met shared their time, knowledge, food, culture, stories, and communities with us. They challenged some of my assumptions and reminded me that social work learning doesn’t only happen in a classroom or from a textbook. Some of the most meaningful learning happens through relationships and being willing to enter a space knowing that you don’t have all the answers.
I’m coming home from India with more confidence, but also with more humility. I know that I can handle more than I thought I could, but I also know how important it is to rely on others, remain curious, and be willing to learn. This experience reminded me that social work is ultimately about people and relationships. I don’t want to lose that as I continue my education and eventually move into practice. India gave me experiences, relationships, and lessons that I don’t think I could have gained in a classroom, and I know I will carry them with me for a very long time.