3G Pranav (28)

Service learning provided me with the experience of caring for the less fortunate. It exposed me to the other side of society and showed me that not everyone can help themselves. Some people in Singapore actually require assistance from others and this experience has provided me the excellent opportunity to lend them a helping hand. It is a kindness and, in fact, our duty to help fellow Singaporeans in need. I learnt that we had to give these people as much aid as we could. It also changed the way I look at things, made me see through a different perspective and made me realize that we have to appreciate the gifts we have received in life. I have started helping people more as a result of this experience.

The best thing that happened during the experience was interacting with the people affected by the syndrome. I realized that they needed the help. They were friendly and cheerful all the time, making the general atmosphere pleasant. However i also felt a twinge of sadness as i knew that they could never be fully normal. This was why we had to help them. We helped them sort out and arrange their books in the bookstore they had. This experience taught me to be more selfless, to give rather than to take and to not look down on others. By helping these people  at the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) out it made me feel happy as I was helping someone else for a change.

In my college and adult years I will definitely try my very best to stay involved in the community. Although I may not have enough time on my hands at that point in my life, I will still try to devote as much free time as I have to the community. This is because I believe that the community is important and I know that I will still be involved in the community in the later stages of my life. I would also encourage my family and friends  to get involved in the community as well.

3G Andre Tng (34)

Personally, this service-learning has been a ride for me. To be able to visit and personally experience what it is like for the less-fortunate, it is really an eye opener. In school, many of us are rather well-to-do and we often take simple things, such as books and clothes for granted. Through this journey, I have learnt to step in their shoes, and begin to appreciate the little, yet significant, things in life. Towards others, I feel that we need to show more respect one another. We are born in different ways and come from different backgrounds in school,  but we should learn to appreciate one another's differences in order to mature in our youth. 

The best part was the sale of ice creams to the school population to raise funds for the Down Syndrome Association (DSA). We went around, collecting orders from the various classes. It was fun, yet worthwhile as I felt that it was a part to play in serving the community. Many people bought the ice creams, we had fun selling them, as well!

In my adulthood, I would certainly volunteer my services to help the community. As Singaporeans, it is only right that we help one another, especially the less fortunate. i would encourage friends and family to take up community services as well. Simple, yet impactful deeds, can really change a person's life in ways you might have never imagined.

Sec3 VSCE reflections

Dennis Leong(3G) (11)

1)     How has the service-learning experience changed my thinking, attitudes, and actions towards others, myself and the community?

     1) This experience taught me the importance of caring for the less fortunate and giving back to society. By visiting the Down Syndrome Association (DSA), I learnt that there are many poor people who struggle to make ends meet and that it is a duty of mine to care for them, to aid them as much as possible.
 
     2) What stands out as the best or worst thing that happened to you in your service learning experience? What did you learn from these experiences?
The best thing that happened was when my friends and I bonded together by packing books systematically for them. Although there were hundreds of book to organize in a short duration of time, our teamwork overcame the odds and we accomplished packing all the books on time neatly. Although it seemed like a simple task, my classmates and I have truly bonded through this activity and are better friends now. We learnt the importance of teamwork and cooperation to achieve greater heights.
 
      3)Do you see yourself staying involved in the community during your college and adult years? Why or why not?
I intend to stay involved in the community during my college and adult years. Helping out in the community is everyone's job. It merely takes a few hours per week to help out but the results of hard work will be paid off. Thus, helping out in the community can be done in my free time after I grow older.