Priti

Priti Ohri

Born: Indianapolis, IN (raised in Southern California)

Current residence: Financial District, Manhattan

Volunteer: since July 2010, Special Events (Fashion Forward)

Your favorite Quote: "It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection" Bhagavad Gita.

What has been the impact of this volunteer experience to your life? Volunteering at GMHC has given me a renewed sense of confidence in my ability to contribute to a cause and make a difference in the workplace.  

What were you doing prior to volunteering at GMHC? After spending some time living in Europe, I moved to New York City to work in the luxury goods industry but felt extremely unfulfilled.  I left my job in the hope of finding something more rewarding and purposeful and have had an amazing time on the journey thus far.

What were you looking for when you came to GMHC? I came to GMHC eager to help out and make a difference while I was going through this major life transition with my job search.  But after a while, it became so much more than that – it turned into a safe-haven where I was greeted with warm welcoming faces and a list of tasks that made me feel like I had changed the world by the time I was done.

What have learned about people living with HIV/AIDS (PWHAs) since you started volunteering?  Prior to volunteering at GMHC, I had a limited understanding of AIDS/HIV.  However, since being here, I’ve begun to understand more about the intricacies of the disease, especially the medical and nutritional components.  I’ve also realized the importance that agencies such as GMHC play in the daily lives of their clients and am in awe of the work that they do.

Can you tell me a situation that totally moved and inspired you?  A few months ago a very good friend of mine was at a breaking point with her life.  Nothing seemed to be working out in terms of work or school and her relationships were slowly diminishing.  She called me sobbing.  After spending some time talking through the issues she abruptly hung up the phone, but the next day she called me back.  There was a new hope in her voice.  She told me that she hadn’t cried since she spoke to me and that because of our conversation she felt like she had options in life again.  For the first time in years there was excitement in her voice and she was bubbling over with possibility. I was so happy!  It was then that I was reminded how a little effort could go a very long way and that each of us is capable of making a difference.

What do you do in your spare time?  I LOVE traveling and enjoy eating and cooking – they have a way of transporting me to places I’ve been and magically showing me places I dream of going.

From your perspective, how do you view fashion today? To me, fashion is the first glimpse into personality…it is a means through which essence and emotion are expressed without saying a word.

What do you look forward to everyday? Every day, I look forward to a new chance to grow and the opportunity to give something back.  If I can make someone’s day a little bit better, then why not?  After all, no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted