Chen !1 Rita Chen Mrs. Perez Block H 2.26.2019 Reflection Paper My grandmother was there, heartily greeting the hundreds of readers in her book launching ceremony. This was her first published book, The 27 Funerals I Attended. In the past 21 years, she has volunteered to help socially and economically disadvantaged families with funerals and burial expenses. Seeing her devotion, I realized that although none could escape the destination of leaving this world alone, they deserve the last journey of respect, remembrance, and peace. I have loved to listen to my grandmother reading her meaningful stories. I often asked if I could join her work, but she would gently turn me down, telling me that it was not suitable for a little girl to be in a place filled with only cries and sorrow. So I waited, and it was not until last summer that she finally nodded to let me follow. Shock and speechlessness were the only words I could come up with to describe my feelings. Standing before families who had just lost their most beloved ones, I fell into a complete loss and helpless, not knowing if I could bring any actual help and comfort. My grandmother encouraged me to start with some simpler tasks. After continually trying different duties and meeting more families, I came to figure out better ways to give them strength and could involve in complicated work like setting the scene and informing the families’ relatives and friends of funeral arrangement. Every time I listened to a family story, my mind became entangled meanwhile, thinking how lucky I am to born is a lovely family that full of joy. How I wished I could do a lot more for the ones who were still living but had no chance to escape poverty
Chen !2 and hunger. If someone could give them a timely lift, they could lead to unimaginably better lives. The summer serving in the funeral parlor made me see what I can be to leave my mark. I have turned into an even stronger and more active person, who is ready to lend a helping hand to the needy. This time of experience totally changes my perspective of looking at society and the world. I know that there are still millions of people need our help, and I will try my best to help them. I grow up not only my mind but also my body because I step out of my comfort zone to experience a whole new world that I have never seen. Although the place I volunteered is full of weeping, I feel stronger after helping the needy. As long as more people take the initiative to care, discover problems, and make the most of government resources, we can heal this world by spreading our love.