Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. I must’ve been seventeen when I first heard those wise words and little did I know that it would be the mantra that I live by, seven years later.
Like most Singaporeans, I found that my life was moving so fast. One day, I was a student at a local polytechnic and the very next, I found myself juggling between my full-time job and part-time marketing degree.
Two and a half years into my degree program, I began questioning my reasons for doing whatever that I was doing. It seemed that every day was passing by so quickly and I was merely existing; going through the motions. I had then decided that I needed a break, to get away from it all; at least just for a little while. It was then that I had remembered the wise man’s words and decided to take the plunge and signed up for a volunteering program.
The two weeks in Cambodia were probably the best two weeks of my life. Availing myself to teach at a local school in the suburban area of Phnom Penh was probably the best decision in my life. More than what I had to offer to them, I had received. Their simplicity is something that I will definitely remember for the rest of my life. They were not concerned about the brands of clothes they had on; neither were they concerned about how poor or rich everyone else was.
Instead, they came to lessons each morning with their best clothing, which probably were the ones that we would throw out because of certain discolouring or stains, and the biggest and brightest smiles. Everyday, I was greeted with at least twenty over hugs and was rewarded when I saw that I was indeed making a difference in their lives, be it through the buying of textbooks for the children who could not afford them or seeing that they are actually gaining knowledge from the lessons. On my very last day, I had handed them out the “I love SG” t-shirts I had brought along to remind them of me. That was probably one of the moments I felt like I was representing my country.
Apart from my teaching experience there, I had got to eat their local delicacy: crickets and had cruised around the city on a motorbike. I also witnessed a pretty major protest and spoke to some of the locals about it. It reminded me of how fortunate I was living in Singapore and did not have to fight for my very basic rights.
I know this is the platform where Singaporeans voice their opinions about whatever that has been happening, but I would like to take this opportunity to share my short trip and to urge Singaporeans to travel to experience a different culture once in a while and of course to be of service to people who need it. Finally, I would also like to remind Singaporeans to be thankful of the country they belong in which provides first-class education, accessibility and everything else.
Sonam Sadhnani
TRS Contributor