[Reflection] Hawon Heidi Park - From Curiosity to Commitment: Caring for the Underprivileged

To be honest, the main reason I joined the Green Tree Club was simply because Eun-Seo asked me to. I didn’t think I’d really be able to help much. Since it was a volunteer club, I figured it would be similar to what I’d been doing at a local children’s center. So, at first, I joined without much thought. But now, things are different. This club has become truly meaningful to me, and now I’m the Vice President of the club, working alongside Eun-Seo, the club President.

My first volunteer experience here was at the Robotics and Coding Camp during the winter of 2023. I wasn’t officially a member yet back then, but since I was in a robotics club with Eun-Seo, I decided to tag along, partly out of curiosity and partly because she needed my help. Walking into the Light of Life Church where the camp was held, I was struck by how much it looked like a school - the bookshelves stretched all the way up to the ceiling, packed with all kinds of books. 

Once the kids arrived, our biggest challenge was just getting started. With elementary school kids, getting them to focus right away is tough. They’re usually attentive for the first few minutes, but it’s keeping their attention that gets tricky. I’ve noticed this daily at the children’s center: kids stay focused if they’re having fun. So, I made a big deal out of how cool coding is and how difficult it can be, keeping their curiosity up throughout the activity. I also answered their questions, explained how to assemble the parts, and helped them troubleshoot. Some of the kids even asked questions that caught me off guard! When they finally got the light bulb on their robots to turn on and off, seeing their amazement made me feel proud and heartwarming.

In the future, I’d love to do more simple, fun science activities with them. A lot of kids these days seem to think science and math are boring or hard, and I want to show them that science can be exciting and enjoyable. 

My mom and aunts run local children’s centers for kids who need extra care, so I see underprivileged children every day. I’ve learned that one of the best things we can do for them is to show genuine interest. It’s not about treating them differently because of their situation, but about giving them the same respect and attention as anyone else. When people show interest in their lives, they get more opportunities, whether through financial support or by organizing fun, educational activities like we do in this club.