Reflection; Jia Jie

“Getting to learn something new”

barely meant so much to me until I enrolled into this Social Engagement course and involved myself in the organization process. Before we decided to execute a 3 days 2 nights camp as our course activity, we filtered the schools that meet our requirements such as provided hostel in school. After further confirmations, I as the secretary of the group has updated the latest information regarding budgets and activity flow in the proposal to be sent to the tentative schools and prepared the further approval letter for the purpose of funding. Such preparations have improved my writing skills in formal letter. Not only that, we also sell t-shirts to cover costs of camp t-shirts for participants. Gathering up information from team members and updating them from time-to-time has made me learn the fact that time management is important in order to produce works without any mistakes. For example, time being used to sort out t-shirts size and quantity to be ordered by the customers, team members and camp participants.

The camp lasted for 3 days but knowledge gained from the students are more than what I could imagine. On the first day, 5th April, we departed from Universiti of Malaya at 10.30am and reached at 11.30am. We took 2 hours to get the preparation work done, including checking into the hostel, having a site visit around the school for activities to be carried out and also categorised participants’ t-shirts based on the size. At 2.30pm, students started to register themselves and soon the team building games started. We as facilitators got to know our group members. For me, I was assigned to the group of “Thor”, and we had to create our own group cheer. From the very first, group members seem quiet and did not share much of their thoughts. As the facilitator of the group, I tried to give some ideas regarding the cheer. Ending up that the cheer created was funny, and members got to enjoy themselves through laughing and from there, their awkward feeling towards each other slowly faded. Then, more and more games being played to enhance the teamwork and the sense of belongings in their group. Followed by the activity of Interview Tips, students were being exposed with the knowledge of preparing resume and interview session. For the night activity, there was “Interview Stimulation”, where facilitators as the interviewer to interview the students based on the field of study they interested. From this session, I got to observe several students based on their communications and the idea of answering the sampled questions. Some of the students had higher confidence and therefore had the initiative in answering questions while some students who were lacking of english proficiency in their communication had no confidence in presenting their ideas. From there, we told them about the importance of English in the future interview world. However, the effort of improving themselves always can be seen in students.

Proceeding to the second day morning, where I learnt the most valuable lesson from students. There was a zumba session in the morning. As the person in charge of this session, my member and I prepared 4 songs to be dance with the members. Before the day, all of the Social Engagement members were cooperative to practice the steps together to make sure the smooth flow during real event. During the zumba session, students were enjoyed themselves and since we still have extra time for the session, students from “Senam Robik Club” volunteered themselves to lead 2 songs. I was amazed with their talents and courage of being able to present such wonderful zumba steps perfectly. Coming up with the “Journey after SPM”, students are being shared with the path available and the requirement regarding results or compulsory subjects for each types of path.Then followed by the session of “Let’s debate” where ideas of students are being explored and this session had definitely showed the students’ potential in debating and their ability to react quickly with opponents’ points. Explorace that being held in the afternoon included outdoor games that require physical activities and indoor activities that require their peaceful mind such as solving puzzle in the shortest time. All in all, explorace had definitely boosted up their team spirit. Next, followed by a big event at night which was the theatre session that every group had to present their own storylines based on the title given. There are groups came out with interesting story and some even with funny storyline, making the night filled with laughter and good memory will undeniably stay in their mind.

Time passed a little too fast and it was already the third day of the camp. Students started their morning with the last activity of “Go Green” where they had to use the recycled items to decorate one of their group members to be compete in the fashion show. Through this activity, I realised that students are talented in their own way, expressing what they felt and thought through the idea of decorating the “model” of their groups. Then, students were being asked to sit accordingly to their groups for the Closing Ceremony of Youth Attack. Prizes were given out to every groups because we know that winner should not just based on the marks accumulated but also the spirit they contribute for their team. Therefore, each of everyone of them should be rewarded with something and they should only feel happy to join this camp. Every facilitators were given a certificate of appreciation for the contribution throughout the 3 days. The camp has officially came to the end with the shouting of our slogan “Youth! Hu! Ha! Attack!”. It was a great and precious memory, for every participants and members, I believed.

After the camp is completed, there will still be some activities being hold. For example, the post-mortem session to share among members what we have learnt throughout these 3 days. The process of claiming the expense and the preparation of reports for presentation would be divided among members too.

To conclude, the experience I gained the most was during the Zumba Session, where students were applying the “practice makes perfect” rules through the proof of their skilled zumba steps. The spirit of such passion in them truly inspired me, in doing things we actually interested in, and make ourselves outstanding through practised talents. I have definitely learnt some new values from students in SMK Shah Alam. The initiative of bringing improvement in myself, and the courage in sharing out my own ideas. The spirit showed by students truly remind me of the importance of being myself, not to be scared to pursue my dream if I am doing things I have passion with. Through this camp, I believed that it has brought awareness to students regarding their future options and the importance of path they going to choose. This can be considered as improvement of learning and knowledge process. Not only that, I think we have successfully achieved our objectives where we brought the information needed by students to them. If such activity can bring an impact to a student’s future, I would really want to involve myself in this sort of social engagement activity in the near future because only through the knowledge sharing session with them, students get the information they want to know based on real experience we had gone through. I believed that, with every single action we take, it changes their perspective toward their future in a better way. Looking forward to the next sharing session like this!

Together, we made a difference.