Wrapping Up the Service Year

Lauren C. of the Walton High School Chapter shares her thoughts as her school year and service year come to a close.

Our year of service towards local seniors, showing them compassion and companionship, is something that I learned throughout the year that they needed much more than I had originally thought. We have built strong relationships with the seniors who have been there since our first visit of the school year, back in August, when there were just five of them. We have continued to build bonds with each senior who joined the home and there are now eleven. I have connected with them, learned their likes and dislikes, what makes them smile and laugh, what they're comfortable with, and that they all deeply love and appreciate us coming and spending quality time with them.

Every time without failure, they turn disheartened as we tell them we have to leave. They desperately ask us when or if we will be back. Always, we say, "Yes! We will back so soon - just next month!" Until this last visit, when it was our last visit of the school year. We could not say "See you soon!". Although I am disappointed that I will not be there for them throughout the summer, I am extremely proud and happy of the time we were able to spend together and the smiles we were able to bring. I cannot wait until next semester when we get to go visit our senior homes again!