Author: Chinh (Reggie) Dao
Despite being offered a wide range of activities in my high school years that varied from volunteering to cultural events, entering the world of Crafting Smiles that gave me the chance to work with bright, young faces confined in their hospital beds, repaired the deep hole in my heart. There has always been a burning desire inside of me to allow those less fortunate in our society, that do not always have the chance to experience fun hobbies, to experience them at least once and to know what it truly means to be a kid. My heart strings felt a strong tug the moment I entered my first zoom session, realizing how fortunate I had been, to have good health most of my life. But it didn't take even a split second for a beaming smile to go over my face, as I was able to make colorful pottery with the patient, unleashing my inner child at the same time. The child's sadness was blown away as we began to shape clay animals together, and I was beyond pleased to allow this child in pediatric care to once again understand what "fun" is. My understanding of what it means to give back to the community grew with a more positive outlook, as a result of watching youth who had been receiving medical care grow back into happy children. I realized I wanted to pursue healing children’s passions in the future.
As I hosted another zoom call, I was ecstatic to be able to help a child in need, to forget about their situation and to concentrate on the enjoyment they were enjoying right now. I love that I was able to let the child’s closed up wings due to spending multiple hours, days on days, in a hospital bed, to finally soar and to feel connected to their childhood and interests. Experiencing these virtual rooms where I interacted with the hospitalized youth and to be the warming touch during those thirty minutes, has geared me towards joining more programs where I have more opportunities to help the less fortunate. My goal is now set to spread education and joyful entertainment across all kinds of struggling youth, and any of you can make a change through Crafting Smiles’s program as well. It provides a hosting of several choices you can perform with a child going through pediatric care, that can rekindle their emotions and fascinations.
Origami
It can be calming for both you and the child to fold and run your fingers through the vibrant origami paper. Since it’s the art of origami, the flexibility to make a range of simple animals, shapes, you name it, is endless. This will allow you to teach the child on how to create the weaved origami objects, enabling communication and a heart-warming bond between you both.
Pottery
Things can get messy here, but the child can have more enjoyment when the activity is messier. A really entertaining activity from being able to bend and sculpt ceramic mud, and overall uplifting the child’s mood as you make their favorite animal out of clay with them. You will be able to instruct the child and have them follow along as well, while establishing a friendly nature and a pleasant relationship.
Art
Another relaxing activity to engage in with the child, drawing has countless possibilities and only requires imagination and a pencil. Any type of drawing the child is interested in can be made, and while you teach them how to draw it, it raises up their spirits and brings them closer to the pursuit of art.
Storytelling
You can collaborate with kids to write stories that revolve around their interests, which is an engaging exercise that can help them discover their inner author. It can feature entertaining characters and events, and all you really need is creativity to pull this off. Without a doubt, the child will feel more connected to this hobby and be able to thank you for guiding them.
It goes without saying that the Crafting Smiles program taught me a ton of lessons since it allowed me to interact and connect with sick children, bringing them closer to their hobbies instead of having them concentrate on their everyday, mundane hospital lives. I have come to realize how fortunate I am to have gained experience in all of my interests, and I will continue to impart this knowledge to poor youth, who wish to advance in these areas but do not often have the opportunity. I've also had the chance to interact with children who suffer from physical conditions, and it really compelled me to research about them in order to understand their struggles. I was able to provide color to an otherwise black and white world and once more introduce their hobbies in a positive light, and for that, I will always be grateful and happy I partook in Crafting Smiles.
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