When I first started my volunteer position, I had never helped seniors before, so I didn’t know how to interact with them, and I also didn’t clearly understand what volunteering meant in Canada.
At the beginning, it was difficult to communicate because many seniors spoke different dialects such as Filipino or Arabic English, which became the lowlight of my experience. However, as time passed, I gradually understood more and started to enjoy talking with them.
Through this experience, I learned the importance of smiling and how it can make communication easier. I gained confidence, improved my English, especially listening and learned how meaningful it is to connect with older people. For these reasons, I would recommend this volunteer experience to other students because it teaches kindness, communication skills, and gives you valuable opportunities to grow.