Making a Difference: My Experience as a Volunteer for Visually Impaired Exam Takers

On Friday, I happened to see a story on Instagram mentioning that they were seeking volunteers to write exams on behalf of visually impaired students. This came as a surprise to me, and as someone who loves trying new things, I thought this would be a great opportunity to experience something unique and meaningful. I reached out to the volunteer contact provided in the story. However, since it was late, she couldn’t update me on the requirement immediately.

The next day, the volunteer called me, but the exam was scheduled for 11:00 AM, and I received the call at 10:30 AM. Unfortunately, I wasn’t prepared to reach the location on time. The volunteer then informed me that there was another exam scheduled for Saturday, and I could participate if available. I jumped at the opportunity.

Interestingly, the subject turned out to be Hindi, which was my first language during my childhood. I informed the volunteer that I’d be more than happy to help. Soon after, I was provided with the details of the student for whom I would be writing the exam.

Since the exam was at 12:30 PM, I arrived at the college by 12:15 PM and called the student. To my amazement, the student arrived with her friend to guide me to the classroom. I was taken aback by how confidently they navigated to the classroom without any walking sticks. Their ability to find their way left me in awe.

As we walked, I asked the student about her studies. She mentioned that she was in 1st PUC and this was her second-semester exam. Once we reached the classroom, I collected the question paper from the invigilator and asked for instructions since it was my first time doing this. He explained that I just needed to read out the questions and write down the answers as the student dictated them.

I began by reading the questions aloud and had to explain them in English as well, as the student faced some difficulty fully understanding Hindi. She then provided her answers, which I wrote down. The paper was fairly basic, but the experience made me realize how challenging it must be for visually impaired students to study and comprehend academic material. It also reminded me how blessed we are to have the gift of sight and the ability to experience the world without such limitations. The exam lasted about an hour and a half.

Initially, I participated to relive the exam environment, which brought back memories of my college days. However, it turned out to be an eye-opening and humbling experience. Would I do this again if given the opportunity? A resounding 100% yes.

The main intention of this blog is to encourage others to participate in such activities. The Instagram channel I follow, awo_india, is doing incredible work in the field of community care and service. I highly recommend everyone follow them and make time to participate in these meaningful and impactful initiatives that bring positive change to society. If you come across such opportunities in or around your locality, I urge you to consider volunteering.

I have volunteered for various causes in the past, but this was my first time volunteering for something like this. I would love to do it more often in the future. I hope many more people are inspired to volunteer and contribute to such causes. This experience was truly worth sharing. Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments.