Now I am home I feel that the next step of job interviews, when everyone else will churn out the same old speech about school, university, work experience when asked questions on skills they’ve built over the years and how a doctor needs to have confidence, leadership skills, decision making, time management etc.

I will not only stand out from the crowd telling funny anecdotes and unusual stories of my time in Africa. When returning home from AV you have no idea how easy and how much enjoyment you get when given the opportunity to talk about this life changing experience. I could honestly talk about it for hours, to anyone, and in an interview talking about something you know so well and is so close to your heart will not only calm your nerves it will give you a sparkle that not many people have.

For an employer or interviewer seeing someone that could be so passionate for something and embrace such a new and different experience would be one of the greatest skills and assets you can offer.

I came back visibly more confident and assured with what I wanted to do. I got the first graduate job I applied for (working at a Venture Capitalist – having enthusiastically talked about my AV experience in a 2-hour interview! So you won’t run out of stuff to talk about!) And I actually came back entirely focussed that I would get my pilots licence, something that I would have previously been too shy or anxious to try for prior to AV.

I came back with a multitude of stamps, stories and a whole bunch of new friends (many who are younger than me as I’m a grad, but that never really caused any problems at all). My outlook on the life I have here has changed dramatically having seen the poor conditions others live so happily through.

My advice to anyone considering AV? It’ll get you a job. You’ll do stuff you never dreamed you could. You’ll have the time of your life.

I am more prepared for medical school than ever, as I feel I can cope with anything that life may throw at me! These are experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life, through medical school and during my life as a doctor and I believe the AV experience will really help me in the future as I have learnt how to overcome problems, how to work as a team, how to approach certain situations and most importantly I had the best 4 months of my life, with memories that I will never forget and experiences that will stay with me forever!!

I think of my pupils often, and cannot thank AV enough for giving me this opportunity. AV provided a week long training bootcamp at the start to prepare us and were close by if called upon (not that we needed it). Not only this, but they helped us to invest in the schools in which we worked (i.e. building a new classroom, buying supplies, painting walls). I couldn’t recommend the company more if you want this incredible experience to take with you through life. Last year, I quit my corporate job in the UK in search of a new adventure and now find myself working for a technology start up in Toronto. I doubt I would have had the confidence to make such a life-changing decision if I hadn’t taken the amazing opportunity given to me by AV.