Today was day one of my volunteering career at The Renaissance. My friend and I volunteer as a pair, and when we arrived we were given the task of playing Hangman with some of the older adults, a fine group of women. We were in over our heads at first, being thrust into directing the event without much instruction besides being given couple of lists to use in the game, but soon it became a breeze.
Usually, one may think the older adults would have a hard time playing such a game because of the mental energy needed, but these ladies were the very definition of normal memory aging (which we discussed in class during the week). There was hardly a time when these women were at a disadvantage when compared to us, playing off each others' answers as if they were still in their 20s or even 30s. It was wonderful to see, and they all were so excited to play. One resident knew almost every answer before even half the letters had been discovered, and she let us all know.
At the end of our time at Renaissance today, the women thanked us warmly and gave us the gift of smiles and joy. It was beautiful, seeing how happy they were to simply have a chance to spend time with us. We cut up, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company for about two and a half hours, something I will value each and every week. I look forward to each and every new experience volunteering will bring.
Great post, Brandon! You did a nice job of tying classroom knowledge and your experience together. Also, pat yourself on the back for jumping in and leading an activity right away without much direction from the staff. It sounds like the residents had a good time and enjoyed your company!
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