This Service Learning has been an enjoyable and heart warming experience for me :) Initially when we were told that we would be kind of tutoring primary school children, I felt uncomfortable and that it was simply a waste of time. However after going there personally to really get involved in the activity and interacting with the kids, my mindset had changed. The kids from what I have been told were mostly from financially unstable families or families with problems. And thus they were pretty unsettled and wild! However I was able to accept their playfulness and mischievous jokes and even took part when they insulted some of my classmates whom I myself can't stand :)))
Though some of other less tolerant friends either reacted in a rather inappropriate manner to their little taunts and pranks, I instead, found them quite fun and was reminded of my younger days as a kid. (They called me Bra Gaga!) There, each of us was assigned a group of kids to tutor. I managed to handle the kids without using any form of harshness or violence but with encouragement and lots of funny jokes as that I felt was the only way we could kind of connect with them. After the studyin session, we went on to play soccer with some of the kids. Like in my class there was a clear social division between the kids there. So I tried to help those who were left out by encouraging them to play or to talk openly without being shy. Though we spent a short time there, the kids really appreciated our presence and interest in their life. They actually looked up to us as brothers I think! When were about to leave, the disappointment on their faces was obvious and that moment I felt that we had brought about a significant change in their lives and felt touched...
I definitely would like to work more with kids in the communities in the near future. If I can make an unhappy kid smile and appreciate himself for who is, why not? From this Service Learning Experience, I think there is a lot of stuff for me to learn. For example I am now more understanding of certain behaviours displayed by kids. I am better able to appreciate myself and at the same time be aware that Singapore isn't really that happy and problem-less like many of us assume. I think this has also somewhat helped me understand how it would be like and how I should handle my own kids in the future! I am hoping to go there again as I promised them that I would be back. But thanks to a rude, vile and horrible creature that wish may never come true...
We should be tolerant of these kids in our community despite their background and wild behaviour as we don't understand their feelings fully. So just love them for who they are cos they were
BORN THIS WAY BABY and no freakin person can change tat!
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