Chan,Ya-Ting's Volunteer Journals

9/6

Today is the first day we serve in Class Love. I wondered if I can do well because I never help mentally or physically disabled students, so I worried that they won’t like me. Teacher guided us to Class Love and asked us to write a brief autobiography. Then she told us what class everyone was assigned. I was assigned to Grade One Class Love and teacher introduced students of the class to me, including Hsiang, Yi, Hung, JoJo, and Cheng. When I first time met them, I didn’t think that they are disabled students because they are cute. Teacher also taught us how to help them. After teaching us, we started to assist them.

9/7

I taught one student how to hang the towel on a rack. First, I held his hand to assist him in hanging the towel. Then I taught him how to hang the rack orderly.

9/10

I took Yi to restroom and assisted him in using restroom. After using restroom, I helped him to brush teeth and wash the face.

9/11

After Hsiang finished his lunch; I took him to take elevator. When I arrived at the floor, I found that he is gone because I forgot to tell him to come in the elevator. After I took him to the classroom, I helped him to brush teeth and wash the face. I was too careless. I can’t make the mistake again.

9/12

Today teacher asked me to assist Cheng in using the restroom. After using the restroom, I help him to clean up. This is my first time taking care of others in the restroom.

9/13

Today JoJo got hurt, so he can’t brush teeth and wash his face himself. I helped him to brush teeth and wash his face.

9/14

Today I felt so touched because Hsiang didn’t push me while I was helping he to brush teeth and wash his face. I got a stomachache and lay down on the ground of the classroom. Then Hsiang came to me and smiled. At this time, he was like an angel.

9/17

While I arrived at the classroom, teacher asked me to help Cheng to use the restroom. After using the restroom, I taught him how to wash hands and took him to brush teeth. While brushing teeth, he swallowed the toothpaste and water. Then teacher told me that next time I can use drinking water instead of running water in case he will swallow again.

9/18

I was late to the classroom today. When I arrived at the classroom, they were going to take a nap. I didn’t help anything. I will be here earlier tomorrow.

9/19

Today I finished my lunch so late, so when I arrived at the classroom, they were going to take a nap. I felt so sorry about my being late. Tomorrow I will be here on time.

9/20

Cheng kept beating his head and body while taking a nap. I asked teacher about the situation and teacher told me, ‘Because he don’t know how to express his uncomfortable, so he expresses in this way.’

9/21

When we arrived at the classroom, teacher asked us to the fifth floor. She gave us moon cakes made by students of Class Love. The moon cakes are much more delicious than those sold in the stores. Everyone only got one moon cake. Later, we took a picture together.

9/27

Today I did the same things as usual. I helped them to brush teeth, wash their faces, and take care of them while they took a nap. They are so cute, so I want to see them every day.

9/28

Today is our last day. I felt sad and didn’t want to leave them. After teacher told us that we can go to visit those students if we are free, I felt better. Today I helped them to brush teeth and wash the face and I finished those things earlier. We stayed there for a while because we wanted to remember their faces.

9/29

When we arrived at the classroom, teacher asked us to gather in life classroom. Teacher held an event ‘Passing on the volunteer work’ in order to let us share our feelings and experience of being volunteers in Class Love. Although one month is short, those students of Class Love left good memories in our heart. During the month, I understand that healthy people have to cherish what they have; mentally or physically disabled people don’t give up yourselves, you can be successful in the future.

Let’s brush teeth.

Let me wipe your face.

Hung the towel on the hanger to let it dry

Let me put on the blanket for you.

Chan, Ya-Ting’s feedback

　　Thanks to the experience of being a volunteer in Class Love, I learn that some healthy people sometimes do things which are harmful to their health but students of Class Love don’t give up easily and they learn hard. I think that most of people must be afraid of those students of Class Love because they are different from us—namely, they can’t move freely. We need more patience to help them. When the first time I came to Class Love, I didn’t like many things such as their behaviors. After several days, I started to feel that they are cute. They also can cooperate with me although sometimes they are not well-behaved. We usually spent a lot of energy to take care of them, but when every time I think of their cute faces, I forgot those difficult things.