A Meaningful Day

Feb 20th is the Disabled people’s Association’s Flag Day. All the SM3 students were willing to be volunteers to collect money for the disabled. That came into contact with Singapore’s society so closely the first time. I met many different people and received an abundance of reactions. I learnt a lot from this activity.
I went to Jurong Point shopping center to collect money. This was the first time I took part in this kind of activity. Hardly had I spoken to a strange pedestrian, let alone collecting money in English. So I was a little nervous and hesitated. “ Could I do it well?’’ I asked myself in heart. I had no idea.
I stood by the sidewalk with the tin in my hand. Looking at the walkers passed by, I was so ill at ease that I could not say any words out. This occasion lasted for almost five minutes. No one donated money to me. I began to realize that I could not like that any more. I had to be braver and spoke to the pedestrians of my own accord. So I tried to speak to an old lady.
“ Good afternoon. Would you like to donate some money for the disabled?”
She just smiled and threw several coins to my tin. I was so happy and said : “ Thank you very much. You are so kind. Have a nice day.”
After this I got rid of my hesitation. I became so confident and spoke to every pedestrian. I learnt to smile to every person I met and greet them.
Of course I came across some difficulties. I was refused by many people. Some of them shrugged it off. Some of them ignored my greeting. I did not want to blame anyone. I could not say who was right and who was wrong. On the contrary, I wanted to say thank you to them. Because they taught me a lesson that you can never ever let everyone agree with your opinions and thoughts. Some of them may frown on you. Never mind. Don not became frustrated. Just smile to everyone and do what you think is right. Keeping smiling all the time no matter what happens.