On July 28, Newton high school student and pianist Matthew Ding, accompanied by four friends, stepped out onto the largest stage at 2Life Communities’ Brighton campus, a local senior living center. To much acclaim, they performed Pachelbel’s Canon for the audience in the 255-seat auditorium. This concert, while Ding’s largest endeavor yet, was far from his first time volunteering at 2Life.
Ding originally started going to Golda Meir House — a 2Life Communities living center in Auburndale — to visit his grandfather. In fifth grade, he began to volunteer there, as well. Ding said that his desire to make a positive impact pushed him to begin volunteering.
“It just began simply because I really enjoyed helping people,” he said.
2Life Volunteer Program Manager Natalie Thoersen said that Ding’s generosity and amiability make him popular with residents.
“Matthew is really kind and warm,” she said. “He clearly really values getting to know residents and giving back to his community.”
Over the years, Ding has performed a variety of jobs at Golda Meir House, from working at the front desk, to helping residents with technology, to teaching Spanish and Chinese language classes. For Ding, the most rewarding parts of the work are the relationships that he cultivates with residents.
“That sense of connection with the residents is what inspired me to keep coming back,” he said.
A piano in the lobby presented yet another way for Ding to connect with residents. Ding, who has taken piano lessons since the age of 6, originally started playing at 2Life as a way to practice. But after noticing that many residents enjoyed the music, he began playing more often and picking specific pieces that he thought they would enjoy.
“Whenever I play music, people recognize me,” he said.”It forms this connection with the residents.”
Thoersen said that residents love when teenagers like Ding come to help out or put on a performance.
“Any time we have young folks come to 2Life, to our campus, it just brings this fresh sense of energy and excitement,” she said.
This past summer, Ding decided to organize his largest performance thus far. While he usually played solo at 2Life, this time he enlisted four friends and formed a small ensemble. He said that he had hoped that including more performers could benefit both the residents and his friends.
“I wanted to make this much bigger thing,” he said. “Not just by myself, but also [so] that I could involve some of my friends, and they could build connections with the residents, too.”
Next, Ding was tasked with choosing a piece to perform. Pachelbel’s Canon, he said, felt just right.
“I knew that [it] was the perfect one, because it was both slow and melodic, but it was also something that was well known,” he said.
The concert at the Brighton campus was successful, garnering praise from residents and staff alike.
Volunteering at 2Life has taught Ding that he enjoys bringing people together and building connections. Currently a rising high school junior, Ding said that he wants to continue volunteering in a similar way as he enters the next chapter of his life post-high school.
“Even if I’m not living nearby in the future, I really do hope to continue similar projects wherever I am,” he said.
Ding said that for those who would like to do something similar, there are many opportunities to volunteer locally — from helping at a retirement community like Ding to volunteering at a food pantry to fundraising for a cause, there are boundless ways to get involved. Ding said that what really matters is choosing something personal.
“Find something that you really like to do, and if you’d like to contribute back to the community, you can align those two things and make a project,” he said.
Thoersen corroborated Ding’s sentiment. She said that she admires how he made an impact that was special to him.
“I think it’s just great to align it with your own personal passion,” she said.
Andrew Petrilla is a Fig City News summer intern and a rising junior at Newton South High School.
