JC1 student, 2021, Eunoia Junior College
“I joined this project without much expectation, not hoping for much other than helping my friends with a simple VIA project.”
I was even afraid that this project might end up being a baggage. I doubted my own ability to make any significant contribution as well as our ability as a team to actually create an impact due to the COVID restrictions. But finally, I realised that the only way to find out the extent of change we can create is to actually carry it out. Truly, this VIA experience allowed me to learn that if there’s a will, there’s a way. As a team, we did our best to brainstorm ideas to make the online sessions as engaging as possible, making the best out of the situation. And indeed, we could see our hard work paying off in each and every session, negating thoughts of self-doubt I had initially. Furthermore, every small act counts. Small actions are often overlooked but this VIA experience allowed me to learn that great things need not come from big actions – but the smallest of things can also be the greatest. I felt like every second spent in this project was so fulfilling and enriching for me.
In addition to giving back to society, this VIA has indeed allowed me to grow as a person. From having the courage to step out of my comfort zone, overcome my shyness and have “thick skin,” encourage and be enthusiastic during the engagement sessions, learning to think on the spot and adapt to impromptu situations when things don’t go according to plan, to truly witnessing first-hand the takeaways we can get from helping others by simply spending some time with them. Often overlooked, this VIA session truly benefited me very much, possibly even more than the impact we left on Cheshire Home. It allowed us to bond and grow closer as a team and let me get to know my classmates and their working styles better. Working together with one another allowed us to break the ice and bond with each other and provided a shared experience we can all relate to.
Furthermore, I would like to thank Kenny for being the best possible help we could ever ask for, from being the middleman of our communications to helping us facilitate our sessions and garnering responses from the residents whom we do not know very well, to even doing his best to ensure that we ourselves all took something away from the sessions. In addition to giving us advice for the most efficient sessions that will provide maximum benefit for the residents, Kenny has also taken the time and effort to get to know each and every one of us individually, doing his best to help us feel as included as possible. Thank you for reaffirming our efforts and allowing us to truly experience the takeaways from volunteering, ensuring that we truly learn the 2-way benefits of volunteering.
Thank you, Cheshire Home, for the memories and enriching experience you have allowed us to take away. I hope we have created small precious memories for the residents through our little sessions!
