It was a Sunday morning, up and early... Took a cab to school and along with my friends went to Hospicio de San Jose. It was not my first place there… I had been there before some three years ago. I did my community service with my classmates from St. Benilde there.
Walking the halls, garden and church was quite reminiscent of the days, seems a bit surreal. Back in the days our CWTS was compose of caring for orphans. Preparing programs and their play activities.
I’ll cut the time travel and begin with the story… So we arrive at the campus. A big lot… I read the sign that it was in the management and care of the daughters of charity. We were in our clue community shirt and maong pants. When we arrive we were divided into two groups… Then were designated to different areas for organizing and cleaning the place. We were given brooms, dustpan and garbage bag to put the trash. I think… I saw Sister Socorro, it was she who handled us in our previous VH subject. We missed her very much. She had a sense of humor that lighten the room with laughter.
We spent the whole afternoon plucking weeds… Contemplating the life of the weeds. Wondering why we are there and connecting it with nursing. This is community service… our service is our labor and time. We are not mere cheap labor in tiding up the place but following requirements the school has imposed. Is our heart there? No. I guess, forgive the criticism but in leading a group. The leader must inspire and motivate his workers. Awake their spirit within, answer the questions why we are there not merely just fulfilling a requirement.
We were in the heat of the sun 3 of us on the garden.. plucking the weeds endlessly.. seems it would never finish. Entertaining ourselves on stories about plants and animals life cycle.
I was there to serve… fulfilling a janitorial job. I took up nursing to connect and help the people. I didn’t feel that.. I connected with the weeds more.