Connecting Through Compassion

Waiting for the weekend, to unwind with nature, I got ready and was excited. Today was the day the campus decided for us to go on a volunteer trip to the orphanage in the next town. Grabbing my bag, I put on a helmet and cycled to the campus. The wind was blowing lightly, causing the creaking of the branches, and the streets were silent, with only a few pedestrians seen. Mr. Barker caught my attention as he was just opening his dainty little shop. The banner that he set outside showed 'Today's Deal', so I stopped outside, greeted him, and asked for the deal.

Entering the store, the bright candies filled my vision. I wanted to bring treats for the kids, and this seemed like a perfect deal. A packet of gummy bears, a pack of choco balls, and a pack of candy canes came in the deal of buy 2 and get 1 free deal. Paying Mr. Barker and telling him the kids would be delighted to have these, I waved goodbye and headed to the campus, without making any more stops.

The campus came into view, and I sped up. Flashing my student ID, I entered the campus just in time to see the Professor making roll calls. Moving silently, I joined in. Soon the bus started rolling, and we headed off. Watching the passing streets full of greenery was a soothing experience. The bus stopped, and I got off, stretching to get the blood pumping through my legs. Looking at the headboard, it gave me a warm feeling. A smiley faced sun was drawn on it and in front of it was written 'Sunny Mary's Orphanage'.

Checking the time on my wristwatch, I reckoned the kids to be sleeping since it was quite early, but to my surprise, that was not the case. The moment I entered the orphanage, I saw the brightly dressed kids running around and playing. I was struck by the resilience and spirit of the children. They weren't afraid of us, which was surprising because all the children I got to know from the hospital were deathly afraid of doctors. These kids came running around, eager to help us out.

The matron of the orphanage was a kind old lady who guided us to the spot where we could set up our stations. All the while, she was telling us about the kids and their mischievous antics. Arranging the table, I was given the task of providing preventive shots to the children and staff, which had me grimacing to myself, remembering the wailing kids from the hospital.

Accepting the job, I started filled to the brim with determination. I got a chance to bond with a young girl named Maria who became my assistant, helping me out eagerly. She was a cute, helpful chatterbox, and I came to know her hobbies and dreams. It was such a cute dream filled with childhood innocence; she wanted to become a butterfly once she grows up. Hearing this brought a smile to my face. The world really needs to preserve such innocence because, in my opinion, the kids nowadays are mostly lacking such innocence and are like mini-adults.

Hours passed by, and our tasks were completed. Cleaning up and putting away the stations, the last task of the day was here. The fun day of activities we planned for the kids. I started distributing the candies to the eager kids while the others ran to set up everything. We played with the kids, danced around to the wild music, and laughed together. It was an amazing and unwinding experience, reminding me of the power of human connection and the beauty in simple acts. It was a deeply humbling experience that left a lasting impact on my heart.