Venturing Beyond Comfort: Embracing My Growth and Opportunity
As I was about to finish my National Service, I started to look for volunteering opportunities online, specifically cleaning and decluttering of homes of the less fortunate (as I’ve heard my superior in NS doing so and found it interesting!) and came across Blossom Home Refresh, a project under Blossom World Society.
Needless to say, I signed up for it. Although exhausted from all the cleaning and painting of the homes, it was really fulfilling to me because I got to see the “before and after”, which was really all that mattered to me. All the dirt, dust and sweat on me no longer matters, because the homes that I’ve touched became a liveable place once again!
As Blossom Home Refresh requires huge planning efforts, they don’t run as often as I wish, but I still want to keep volunteering. This was where I joined Project MERCI, which engages communities like the elderly at Senior Activity Centres every month. Initially, I was apprehensive as I’m an introvert, but things warmed up quickly as the elderly were very friendly and had lots of fun in the games that were planned for them! Before I know it, a few sessions have passed, and some seniors remembers me and looked forward to seeing me! As I volunteered with the project often, I was given the opportunity to join the Committee Team of Project MERCI. I was also honoured to be part of the planning team for Project MERCI’s first elderly outing to Gardens By The Bay in December 2023.
I honestly never thought that I’ll come so far. Every step out of my comfort zone that I made while I volunteered with Blossom World Society was worth celebrating because it brought happiness to the people I served. In return, their smiles, laughter and joy radiated through the darkest points in my life, where I had to face something that I hope would never happen to anyone else. I’m grateful to have all my friends in Blossom World Society who believed in me and gave me the support I needed.
- Submitted by Weijie
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