3C Muhammad Rifqi (19)

After going through such great experience at Delta Senior School, my perception and the way i think of autistic children or people has changed. From a perception of them being disabled in some terms and being at a disadvantage, to gifted human beings capable of doing things very adeptly and it could be seen very clearly when they were participating with us in the sports activities we organized which was football, basketball and floorball. They were very skillful in what they were doing and my friends that took part in the other sports also commented that they were not bad. I also realized that the people in Delta Senior School just needs slightly more attention than ordinary students so that they can feel the confidence in what they are doing as i feel that they lack confidence and social skills. Hence we had to be very friendly to them and make them feel comfortable and confident having conversations with us. I started believing that they were just like us but can be so much better in very different ways. I started respecting autistic people from then on due to their inner potential in doing very well in something but only lack opportunities.

For our service learning, we really appreciated that Delta Senior School allowed us to host and organize sports activities in their school. When we arrived there, i realized that the students looked very similar to us and only a small sum of them there are a little different. The students at delta senior school were also very friendly and joyous saying 'hello' to us when we arrived. We then went to the sports area of the school and started splitting ourselves into groups where each group had to play the three sports we organized which were football,basketball and floorball. We had to play the sports with them and teach them how to play them. We were also glad and feel appreciated when the students got ready and was waiting for us to play with them. I was then one of them who decided to play soccer with the boys of Delta Senior School. So before the match started, the teacher of the boys made us introduce ourselves to one another and we shook hands. Some of them were shy introducing themselves. I find that they really are normal, in fact, they are very skillful and we did not even need to introduce and teach them how to play football. They were wearing their football gears and the match commenced. The autistic children played very well and i am very glad that they enjoyed playing football with us. The game came to a score of 3-2 and the game was satisfying. After the game, i could see that autistic children can do things very well and also has the potential do to many other things with wonders as they have shown clearly during the game.  I find that they really are normal like us, in fact, they are very skillful and we did not even need to introduce and teach them how to play football. It really inspired me that they look at the brighter side of things, ignoring the disadvantages they have and making full use of the good things they have.

After such great and inspiring experience, i would like to do more community work as the feeling of making someone special happy is just great and satisfying. Community work also can teach us lessons for example, to be sensitive and aware that there are people who needs help. I also believe that we should move as a community and look back to give a helping hand to those who has the desire to succeed, for example, the autistic children. As a whole, it can be seen that the community is made up of different people of different capabilities and that we must give a helping hand to those who needs help.