My Choir Experience At 23 Paskal.

When I was around seven years old, I had one of the most memorable experiences of my childhood. At that time, I joined a children’s choir with my church friends, and during the Christmas season we were invited to perform at 23 Paskal Mall. For a seven-year-old kid, the idea of singing in a big mall felt exciting, a little scary, and very special. I still remember how cheerful the atmosphere was during that week Christmas decorations everywhere, the sound of carols playing from the speakers, people shopping for gifts, and the smell of food from the restaurants around us. Being part of that environment made me feel like I was taking part in something magical.

                   Our choir had a special system for performing. We didn’t stay in one fixed place like a normal stage performance. Instead, we moved around the mall together as a group. We would walk in a line, guided by my mom and a few older volunteers, and then stop at certain spots that had been prepared for us. At each spot, we sang one or two Christmas songs. After that, we continued walking to the next place. Sometimes the next location was on a different floor, so we had to walk together through the escalators while trying not to break formation. It felt fun because it was almost like we were on a little adventure, exploring the mall while spreading Christmas cheer.

                      One of the most interesting parts of this whole activity was Santa Claus. The mall had hired a Santa performer to walk around and greet the visitors. Santa usually wandered alone around the mall, stopping when people wanted to take photos with him. However, on some days Santa joined our group and walked along with the choir. It was very funny to see him trying to walk carefully behind or beside us while carrying his big bag of gifts and ringing his little bell. The younger kids in the mall were always excited when they saw Santa approaching, and many of them ran toward him with big smiles on their faces.

 

         But not every child reacted like that. Sometimes there were kids who cried as soon as they saw Santa. I remember one moment very clearly we had just finished singing “Jingle Bells,” and a mother brought her little daughter to take a picture with Santa. At first, the girl looked curious, but when Santa bent down and greeted her with a loud “Ho ho ho!”, the girl suddenly burst into tears. She clung tightly to her mother and kept saying, “Santa is scary!” Everyone around us laughed a little because it was cute. Even Santa looked shocked at first but then tried to calm the girl by waving gently instead of coming too close. These moments happened more often than I expected, and they always made our choir members giggle or whisper to each other.

                   We performed like this for about one week before Christmas. Because the school holiday had already started, we had to come to the mall every day. We usually practiced for a short time before starting the mall tour. My mother and some of the voulenteer would remind us to smile at the audience, to sing clearly, and to stay together when walking. Even though it was tiring to come every day and repeat the same songs again and again, we never complained. In fact, many of us were excited because we loved being part of the Christmas atmosphere. Besides, after finishing our performances for the day, we sometimes got snacks or were allowed to walk around the mall with our parents. I also remember feeling proud whenever people stopped to watch us. Many shoppers recorded videos, took photos, or clapped after we finished a song. Some people even thanked us for bringing Christmas spirit to the mall. Hearing those words made me feel warm inside, even though I didn’t fully understand how meaningful it was at that age. For me, it just felt amazing that strangers appreciated our singing.

                At the end of the week, we had our final performance. That day felt a little emotional because we knew it would be the last time we sang together for that Christmas season. Santa also joined us again, and luckily no one cried that time. After our last song, my mom told us how proud she was of our hard work. She said we had brought joy to many people and that we should remember this experience as something special. I truly did. Looking back now, many years later, I realize how meaningful that experience was. It taught me about teamwork, confidence, and the joy of sharing happiness with others. Singing in the mall may have seemed like a small activity, but to my seven-year-old self, it felt like a magical Christmas adventure that I will never forget.