Volunteering on ambulances

At 18, I left Arizona for a gap year in Israel. By the end of it, I was trained to assist paramedics and volunteering on ambulances.

That gap year taught me more about different cultures, socioeconomic realities, and myself than any classroom ever could.

I've always been drawn to paths less traveled. 

While most of my high school classmates headed straight to college, I chose a different direction – a gap year abroad.

This wasn't common in the U.S. back then. Friends and family questioned why I'd "delay" my education. 

But something inside me knew I needed experiences beyond lecture halls.

So there I was:

Pursuing a program in Israel that split the year between university studies and volunteer work. 

When the time came to choose a volunteer placement, I selected the local paramedic organization.

To qualify, I had to complete certification - which meant cutting my winter break trip to Thailand short. 

While other 18-year-olds extended their vacation, I returned early to start paramedic training. It seemed like a small sacrifice for something that felt important.

Today, when I look back, it feels like that one decision changed everything for me.

Riding in ambulances through different neighborhoods, I saw life from perspectives I'd never encountered. 

We responded to calls in:

- Wealthy enclaves

- Middle-class apartments

- Impoverished communities

- Religious neighborhoods

- Secular areas

Each home told a different story. 

I'll never forget one call where no one answered the door. 

We found a way to look through a high bathroom window — and I saw the still body of the person inside. They had already passed. Nothing gruesome, but unforgettable. 

Moments like that showed me how vulnerable and fragile life can be.

I saw how varied people's daily realities were - even within the same city.

This wasn't some "bookish" education about socioeconomic differences. 

I was in strangers' homes during medical emergencies — seeing their fears, relationships, and resilience up close.

The gap year reinforced two core parts of my identity:

1. A deep interest in international experiences and cultures

2. My desire to help people in meaningful, direct ways

Those values eventually led me to immigration law. 

Today, I see parallels between those ambulance calls and my work as an attorney:

- My clients invite me into their lives during critical transitions. 

- They share their fears, hopes, and dreams. 

- I guide them through unfamiliar systems during high-stakes moments.

That year taught me to move comfortably between different worlds – a skill I use daily working with clients from dozens of countries and cultures now. 

It showed me the impact of helping someone during their moment of greatest need.

Looking back, it was my first step toward becoming the attorney I am today. 

Turns out - sometimes the most valuable education happens outside the classroom. 

What experiences have shaped your perspective in ways formal education never could?