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Special Olympics: 'Service Beyond Self' is More Than a Motto
Apr 25, 2013 11:01 AM
By Olivia DiMauro '16 - '16
At the beginning of the day, I didn’t think much of what we were doing. I thought of it as another day to get service hours and help out in a fun way. But to the Olympians it was so much more.
At the Opening Ceremony, as all of the participants walked around the track, while the name of their school was called out, we cheered and cheered. It was a great moment just to experience the accomplishments these kids were making just by walking around and holding a sign. They way a child’s face would light up as we clapped and waved to them was extremely heart warming. On a day-to-day basis, I think we forget the worth of a warm smile and comforting hello, but today we were delightfully reminded by these wonderfully children.
I was helping with food, which, for me, meant going to each table, interacting with the Special Olympic athletes and asking for their drink orders. Some of the time, I didn’t know how to act or respond, but I found that every time I smiled, it made the situation easier. Some of the older Olympians were extremely grateful to me just because I had offered to get their drinks.
Toward the end of the lunch sessions, the Georgia School for the Deaf came in and I was told to take their drink orders. I wasn’t sure how to do this, so I just went up to their teacher and asked what they needed to drink. As many hands flew up in the air, I started catching on to what meant Sprite, what meant Coke, etc. Their teacher offered to come up with me to get drinks and she was extremely surprised that I remember who wanted what. The kids thanked me and sadly, because I didn’t know "you’re welcome" in sign language, I just smiled. That made them smile.
At the end, as I was packing up to leave, a women came up to me. She kept thanking me and praising me for everything that I was doing. As she walked away, I realized what a wonderful experience this must have been for all of the athletes. This is when I truly realized that “Service Beyond Self” isn’t just a part of Darlington's Motto. Within this school, we can prompt action. What may seem to be simple acts to us can actually make someone’s day, and maybe even life, a little better.
At the Opening Ceremony, as all of the participants walked around the track, while the name of their school was called out, we cheered and cheered. It was a great moment just to experience the accomplishments these kids were making just by walking around and holding a sign. They way a child’s face would light up as we clapped and waved to them was extremely heart warming. On a day-to-day basis, I think we forget the worth of a warm smile and comforting hello, but today we were delightfully reminded by these wonderfully children.
I was helping with food, which, for me, meant going to each table, interacting with the Special Olympic athletes and asking for their drink orders. Some of the time, I didn’t know how to act or respond, but I found that every time I smiled, it made the situation easier. Some of the older Olympians were extremely grateful to me just because I had offered to get their drinks.
Toward the end of the lunch sessions, the Georgia School for the Deaf came in and I was told to take their drink orders. I wasn’t sure how to do this, so I just went up to their teacher and asked what they needed to drink. As many hands flew up in the air, I started catching on to what meant Sprite, what meant Coke, etc. Their teacher offered to come up with me to get drinks and she was extremely surprised that I remember who wanted what. The kids thanked me and sadly, because I didn’t know "you’re welcome" in sign language, I just smiled. That made them smile.
At the end, as I was packing up to leave, a women came up to me. She kept thanking me and praising me for everything that I was doing. As she walked away, I realized what a wonderful experience this must have been for all of the athletes. This is when I truly realized that “Service Beyond Self” isn’t just a part of Darlington's Motto. Within this school, we can prompt action. What may seem to be simple acts to us can actually make someone’s day, and maybe even life, a little better.
