Below is an extract taken from my reflections of this thing called service learning at my school. Basically, it is volunteerism that will help the community at large. My service learning team went to an Old Folk's Home to do short performances and interact with the old folk.

"Initially, I was somewhat skeptical about doing this as a ‘service learning’ as I felt that the ‘service’ aspect about it was not great. To me, some small, inexperienced performances displayed in front of the old folk were just a waste of their time, and an ‘eye-opener’ for us. However, through the interactions with the old folk, I realised that our presence could actually make a small difference. Observing the lives of them and understanding the dread of the monotony and boredom they had to endure through each day showed me that a slight difference in the situation that we were capable of doing could brighten up their day. A small piece of entertainment and a show of concern could actually splash some colour into these repetitions and rituals they had to go through. Looking beyond the apathetic feelings I assumed the old folk would have when we sang for them, I could place myself in their shoes and realize that just a bit of difference could make them happier. And we were able to give them smiles for that moment. But that led me to realise something else, that our acts, our concern and our performance was only momentary. We were just small sparks of lights that faded away almost as fast as we came to them. This implicitly taught me the sincerity and understanding that we should give to the elderly, continually. As much as the SL process taught me the circumstances of the old folk that I did not want myself to be in, the true message that this conveyed was that humans want security. A pretty far-fetched conclusion that can be perceived through the lines of observing children leaving their parents in a safe, secure and comfy place so that they would not get hurt and yet would not give them responsibility for the taking care of their parents. A silent portrayal that can be observed through the implementation of Community Involvement programs at certain period of times so we can satisfy the innate want to show that we have emotions and feelings about the ‘less fortunate’. A sad tale that can be seen by the way we try our best to do the CIP and reflect on the things we have learnt from it to get in touch with the human side of us. Of course, the final and most important thing that I have learnt is the importance of caring and giving concern for the elderly as it is necessary. Perhaps, it’s not something I have learnt as its already something everyone knows about. But definitely, I have gained a more profound understanding of what such means, and the true implications of it. "


Other people are the significant majority in this world, relative to oneself. One's presence is only a mere breath into the vast atmosphere, a slient drop in the deep oceans. One would be overwhelmed if he tried to argue this - perhaps not by those whom he lead, perhaps not by society which he accumulates a degree of respect, but just by his stance, he would probaly be defeated. So by that knowledge, other people will more or less get realised to be on the piority list for us at some point in time. Defintely, there will be some point in time when we figure out the others that populate the world as well actually exist. We do talk about caring for others. There is mention about rights and needs for those who don't get it because it is supposed. Once in awhile motions to make the place a better place and stuffs will be raised to the floor. To stablise things and to provide a systemised approach, there have been created bodies to expect coordinated efforts. There have been formality and analysis so as to deliever justice.

But maybe. Care does not need to go through that big of a process? Maybe concern need not be passed through such a big hurdle? Perhaps understanding the other party is not so complex, not so hard of an effort to try. Well, yes there is a form of complexity. Compassion is defintely more than putting coins into begger's bowl. But that is a complexity to be grappled by the heart - it is a complexity that is intricate to the will. Do the constructs of psychology, sociology and antrphology actually surface to help in the situations? Will the academic portion of relevance actually do relevance to the situation at hand?

Not for myself alone
I guess its a motto I respect.

Because it recongises that before everything, humans have to give a damn about themselves.

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