The service learning was a good experience for me and it changed my opinions towards the elderly. I used to feel that the elderly are unfriendly towards people. For example, they push through crowds without apologising and also always seem to scold people with their dialects. However, through this service learning, i found out that the elderly are actually very warm and friendly.
My service learning was to join the elderly folks on an exercise session. Many of them were already there when the group of us arrived and I could see that they were eager to start the activity, especially with young people joining them. I was pretty nervous and embarassed at the start and therefore stood outside the shade for the exercises. I did not realised that I was sweating profusely until an elderly folk kindly told me to stand in the shade as I was out in the hot sun. I was touched at that moment as the elderly I thought to be cool and unfriendly turned out to be such warm and caring people. This made me interact with them even more and participate more actively in the exercises. They also shared their life experiences with me and i learnt how hard life was like for them in the past. This made me realised that it was these elderly that made Singapore such a prosperous country and that we should give back to society and start with entertaining these elderly folks who were essential in the making of Singapore.
After the exercise, we had to serve snacks and drinks for the eldery. They seemed very happy to have people accompanying them as they are neglected at home as their children are always busy at work. This is why they are here, in search of friends and entertainment so that they would not be alone at home, which encouraged me to be actively involved in the community in the near future to provide company for them and also for another great experience!
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