Ruoyu Li ‘19

Ruoyu Li

Class of 2019
Graduate School

Being part of the VHP family is one of the most rewarding experiences throughout my journey at Vassar. It teaches me to care about people and things that are larger than my “self” and farther from my everyday life. This care, however, is different from “helping the powerless poor people because I am more privileged than they are.” This care requires a deeper understanding of Haiti through politics, history, arts, Haitian Creole, friendship, handshakes with the children in Chermaitre and exchanging of feelings with everyone I met in Haiti. VHP enables me to see a more holistic and vibrant Haiti and to establish relationships with people I would not even imagine to encounter. 

Every VHPer was generous enough to help me grow from an unconfident freshman to a person finally able to speak in public and take initiative. Every VHP event and art sale was transformative for me because I learnt so much about being collaborative, honest, and always ready to listen and love.