Hello, my name is Celeste, a third-year undergraduate studying electrical engineering. I have always been passionate about giving back to the community and engaging with people from all walks of life. Last semester, I decided to register for GEN2060X, Reconnect SeniorsSG, a course that requires students to befriend seniors to encourage volunteerism. The course has been a remarkable journey, filled with enriching experiences and valuable lessons.

I chose to enrol in GEN2060X because I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and make a tangible difference in the lives of lonely seniors who lack support systems. The idea of elderly befriending intrigued me because it seemed like a unique opportunity to connect with a generation that has so much wisdom and experience to share. Additionally, I believed that this course would help me develop empathy, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of the social issues faced by the elderly.

GEN2060X is designed to foster community engagement and social responsibility among students. It is a year-long service-learning course, where students are paired with elderly individuals to provide companionship, support, and social interaction, over the course of 12 months. The course focuses on elderly befriending, where students are paired with elderly individuals to provide companionship, support, and social interaction. GEN2060X partners with NTUC Active Ageing Centre (AAC) to facilitate the befriending process, providing a structured and supportive environment for both students and the elderly. The course included tutorial sessions that focused on effective communication, understanding the needs of the elderly, and how to build meaningful relationships with them. Throughout the year, students are expected to regularly visit their elderly friends, engage in conversations, and participate in activities that enhance their well-being.

Initially, when my partner and I first met out senior befriendee, we got to know that she was bedridden and was limited in her movement and speech. I had envisioned my befriendee and I going out for walks, having home cooked meals together, and so much more. Despite my initial disappointment, my partner and I persisted, guided by the NTUC AAC manager’s advice to try different methods of engagement. The first session was awkward, but in our second visit, we discovered that watching TV with her and making comments about the show piqued her interest. To our surprise, she responded with a single word, “Happy,” in Mandarin.

This breakthrough, though seemingly small, motivated us, and over the next few sessions, we saw significant improvements in her responses. She was able to make sounds to show that she was acknowledging our conversations during our befriending sessions. These interactions taught me the importance of perseverance, the impact of simply being present, and the value of nonverbal communication. Celebrating these small victories has shown me the importance of taking life one step at a time.

This befriending experience has taught me to never give up, as even the most daunting situations can improve with perseverance. It has also highlighted the significant impact of simply being there for someone and the importance of physical communication over verbal communication. Celebrating small victories has become a valuable lesson that I can apply to my daily life.

In the future, I hope to get my befriendee more active in the community and improve the overall effectiveness of elderly activities by having regular befriending sessions to check-in with my befriendee. While my befriendee’s physical condition might not improve much, I aim to bring light and joy during my befriending sessions and visits by focusing on emotional support and providing a positive environment.