It was a warm Tuesday evening on 23 January 2024, when the notification sound from my phone broke the silence at 6:00 p.m. It was a message from SUSS’ Alumni Relations department seeking volunteers to assist with sending goodie bags to a number of nursing homes for the Chingay Watch Party happening on 24 February 2024. As a regular volunteer, I immediately sprang into action and registered my interest. This would be a good opportunity to promote collegiality between the community and our university that champions and promotes social good.
The next day, Chloe, the contact person from the SUSS organising committee called and shared more details with me. We quickly arranged to meet and a week later, I braved the heavy afternoon rain to collect the vibrant-looking goodie bags from her. As I travelled to a nursing home near my home in Pasir Ris for the delivery, an array of mixed feelings filled my heart. On the one hand, I was excited to be part of the effort to bring joy and surprises to the old folks at the nursing home. Yet on the other hand, I felt rather heavy-hearted and asked myself if we could have done more for those vulnerable and in need. After passing the goodie bags to the nursing home staff, I spent some time reflecting and realised that the small act that I had done was at least a good start. It would have a spin-off effect on the community at large. Not only would the nursing home residents benefit from my actions, but the volunteering spirit would also cast a positive light on the university.
I remember back in 2012, I used the alumni credits given by SUSS to attend a 3-hour workshop held at Dignity Kitchen, a social enterprise that hires people with disabilities and special needs. During the workshop, Mr Koh Seng Choon, a social entrepreneur who was also the founder of Dignity Kitchen, shared with the participants about his journey in enabling those socially and physically disabled. My takeaway from that workshop was his ideology which I strongly resonated with.
In a book that he published, he shared that:
“When we are between the ages of 1 and 25, we learn; between the ages of 26 and 50, we earn; from the age of 51 onwards, we return.”
“When we are between the ages of 1 and 25, we learn; between the ages of 26 and 50, we earn; from the age of 51 onwards, we return.”
I adopted this meaningful idea that he has and enhanced it by giving back to society before I even turned 50 years old. This probably summaries my motivation to carry out the social responsibilities as an alumnus of SUSS and I will continue to lend a helping hand that ripples happiness to those in need. I believe that the spirit of volunteerism should continue and I hope more people will join this cause. As my personal mantra goes, “As long as the ocean touches the sand, our meaningful acts should never end!”
I must thank SUSS for the kind initiative 12 years ago by organizing the workshop so that alumni like myself could attend. That experience has indeed deepened my appreciation of what we as abled-people could do for the less privileged; that helped shape my personality and mentality today. What we sow is what we get, so kudos to SUSS and let us continue this meaningful partnership with the community and society, in our small but impactful ways!
