Blog from Gulsen Pak
It was November, and I was eight years old. I had just complained to my mom that I wanted more toys. She told me we were going to a new program. At first, I didn’t want to go, but later on, I was okay with it. My mom, dad, and I drove to the BAYCC, and when we parked, I saw it—everyone was making kits or blankets, and some were even painting dollhouses.

It was fascinating to me. I wanted to paint right away. I remember how hard I tried to stay inside the lines. Afterward, we formed a line and each got different jobs to make little kits. Throughout the week, we went to different places and made different things. First, we made dollhouses and playgrounds. Then we created hygiene kits, and later we packed food.

Something about helping others kept me going—it humbled me. It’s like when you help an injured bird or give something to someone in need; it makes you think, it makes you wonder. From that point on, I started asking myself every day, How can I help? What do people need?

That proves Compassion Week made me a better person. Everyone who participated learned something new. From then on, I knew that what we were doing mattered. That’s why I look forward to Compassion Week every year—it makes me so happy to know that I’ve helped so many people!