Let me share an experience before our event start on 8th of May. Yes, it was the planning stage before the event. Prior to the event, our initial activities were different than what we did. We planned to have a some competition such debate and fun activities such as movie session and karaoke. But after consulting with our KK master, we decide to change to the now current plan. We have to reorganize almost every activities. Most of it we have to drop it and we add in some more meaningful activities that bond us with our OKU friends at a personal level such as reader sessions and learning the brailer. Why do we change? The reason is simple. We understood the meaning of social engagement for deeply when we talk to our Master. She said social engagement is to interact with our OKU friends and find what they really need and fulfill it. Which in my opinion, the words has ingrained in my mind. Not to mention, we are thankful to our supervisor, Dr. Makmor for allowing us to change the plan. He really gave us so mch flexibility to plan for our social engagement. Last but not least, we appreciate the collaboration with the KK 7 SOKUZA (Club for OKU students). They let us help in their activity called Family Day and we are in charge of planning and executing the games.

What I have learned from this experience is that we should always be flexible. Nothing is deadly fixed and things are constantly changing. Thus, we must constantly be vigilant to suit our plan according the environment. It is no easy task and that is why the virtue of patience and hard work should be practiced. Though by being flexible, I am by no mean that we should change everything from its core. There is to be a certain value or objective that cannot be change. What changes is the mean of achieving it which in this context, we upheld the value of understanding our OKU friends that persuaded us to change our activities. Thank you.

By Soong Woei Meng.