Reflection; Syforn

Greetings,

To be honest! At first, my first impression to my teammates is not very good since not even half of the group member was attended the first meeting even though it is agreed prior; therefore I’m feeling very anxious on how we are going to carry out the planning, preparation and execution of this project with less committed team. In addition, to make it more worrisome, Group 13 and Group 14 decided to collaborate with each other for the project so I’m a bit unsettled since more member means more uncertainty and variable must be considered. But I try to stay optimistic and positive that everything will go well.

PREPARATION

Most planning was carried out through online medium “WhatsApp” since it is quite hard for all the 0member to attend the meeting predetermined. At first, I feel quite upsetting since not everyone is contributing their idea or opinion in the group chat. But then we came up with more systematic way to distributed the task by dividing the member into a smaller group made of 2 or 3 person to each slot held in the event which I feel much relieved because we can have everyone to gives idea and help in the preparation. So basically, each group need to brainstorm idea for the slot they wish to do and present it on the simulation day where all the group would present their activity to the whole member for any improvement and adjustment.

For me, I’m in charge in the slot of Inspire to Aspire and Explorance Station 7 in the same team with Nurhanisah Huda Binti Abdul Razak. We work quite well together and able to generate a lot of idea in short period which makes me begin to see this project future in a brighter side and more committed to make this project went smoothly. On the simulation day, Huda and I presents our ideas with a hopeful feeling that other member would like our proposal and open to give their comment and critics to improve our activity as we are open to any suggestion to improve the slots.

The preparation day was held for 4 nights whereas we improvise all the activity in the first 3 nights and for the final night which is on the night before the event day, we are doing a brief final simulation for the whole event in the project with hope the project will went smoothly the next 3 days at SMK Shah Alam.

EVENTS DAY

1st DAY

D-Day!! Finally, the long-awaited first day is happening. I’m feeling quite excited to meet the student and very nervous to make the event went perfectly. I know my other team member also feeling the same, so we decided to go to the venue early to be prepared physically and mentally.

After we arrived at the venue, we unpack our belongings and go for the Friday prayer. Then, right after the prayer at mosque nearby, as we cannot wait to meet the participants, so we start the registration process at 2:30 p.m. I’m very happy as the students welcomed us with warm greetings and i also quite surprise since the student is very polite and time punctual.

Sharps at 3:00p.m. the ice breaking slot starts. I cannot ignore the fact there is big boundaries between us and the students, but I just take it as normal situation since we still haven’t gotten to know each other better and can just hope that the ambience will get better as times goes on. We do a lot of games to creates bonding with them in the ice breaking slots and allocated the students to their respective group with temporary assigned facilitator whereas me in charge in the Group Dr. Strange. I think by not giving them a fixed assigned facilitator is a good idea so they can get to know another facilitator as well.

After the Asar prayer, we executed the interview tips slot as I acted as an interviewer of Petronas Holding Berhad. Following the objective of the project we provide a slot which we think will be useful for the student in the future. It's also quite beneficial to me as it gives me more knowledge as I am researching the typical interview question asked in interview and how to answer it. So, I realize that not only the student gets to learn something new in these events but also me and the other group member.

VIDEO 1 - TEAM BUILDING GAMES

In case the student might have been bored with all the talk given, we hold the team building games slots. By this, I started to notice that most of the student has open up to us and actively interact with the facilitator as shown in the video. They are not restraining themselves to avoid playing the games instead they enjoy the games and not to feel ashamed to do the punishment sets if they failed their mission. I feel very glad that we started to become close after spending some time with the participant in less than 1 day.

At the night time, we held the interview stimulation session where we can do a face to face session with the student which helps us to know them better as individual. Besides, this activity gives me an opportunity to closely observe, guide and help them with their needs and concern. Furthermore, in this slot, I noticed most of the student is very lacking in conversing in English language. But then I learned that it is their low confidence level is the main cause that makes them afraid and hesitate to speak in English. I able to share some tips to enhance their confidence in speaking English in front of other and ideas on how to answer interview question properly.

After all the activities for the first day is done, we just realized that we haven’t eat anything for dinner, so we had a pizza delivery and do a preparation for the next day. We practice ‘Zumba’ dancing and do a brief discussion for the second day events.

2 DAY

VIDEO 2 - ZUMBA AND DANCE

The next morning, we woke up at 6:00 a.m. and do a team gathering at the open square for the Zumba's final practice. At 7:30 a.m. after the students had their breakfast, we started the Zumba and dance session where I leaded the warming up session. The most surprising thing is after our team finish the Zumba and dance slots we prepared; some students ask us for permission to perform several dance tutorials by leading us the steps. I am very surprised by their courageous act in actively want to volunteer to lead the session on the stage in front every other student. By this, I have learned different side of the participant.

Then, we proceed to the journey after ‘SPM’ slot. In this slot, I felt pity and a bit sad towards the student as they lack information on the channel for them to continue their study after SPM. Most cases, a lot of the students want to pursue study in Matriculation after the test, but the problem is majority of the student didn’t take Additional Mathematics subjects which is compulsory to apply in matriculation level. They share that their teacher is the one that told them Economic subject is adequate to replace Additional Mathematics to enter matriculation. So, I’m a bit upset due to the teacher lack of knowledge and ignorance. Moreover, there is rumor where the teachers purposely told the student the wrong information so the student would not be taking Additional Mathematics since it is hard to score to keep the school academic ranking high which I think is very unethical if it true.

In the Let's Debate slots, it is very chaotic due to the person in charge are not able to attend the event on that day so other facilitator needed to lead the session. I also noticed that the student is not following the rule and only some students are cooperating with their teammate, so I think the slots not very successful as I expected.

For the slots Inspire to Aspire, I try to make all facilitator to contribute in this slot especially the international students team member since I noticed they lacks participates in this event. Every student can get to learned from the facilitator in this session and the sharing session is to create more bonding with the student by telling our story.

After the Zuhur prayer, we do the Explorance slots. It is a station-based game where I and Huda in charge in Station 7: Human Tic Tack Toe. I’ve seen their hard work to win the game by cooperate with each other. I feel glad that the student enjoys our station and the whole explorance slots.

VIDEO 3 - TEATRO DE SUENOS

The last slots Teatro De Suenos for the second day went successfully as planned. I become one of the judges for the theater and I observe the teamwork of every group has improved greatly and their confidence in playing their role is very impressive.

3rd DAY

The final day starts with a mixed feeling where I feel excited to reach the climax of our project, but I also cannot ignore the feeling of sadness to separate with the students. Nevertheless, we proceed with the final slots hold by our team which is Go Green.

We able to work with the student in making recyclable thing into a fashion show with highest cooperation so far in the event. I noticed the students already fully comfortable with us so the slot is like a happy ending in movies. We also provided with a proper closing ceremony by the school to appreciate our event which I very much thankful.

VIDEO 4 - GO GREEN

AFTER

So, now I'm here writing an individual reflection after few days the event has passed recalling every activity I have done and gone throughout the preparation and 3 days during the events. If I may say I’ve learned a mountain of thing thanks to my teammates and the students back in the SMK Shah Alam. I am thankful to University of Malaya and the staff at SMK Shah Alam for making this event happen in the first place. I once again learned that nothing is impossible if we put endless effort to something just like when me and my teammates brainstorming idea for the event so it can be flawless and enjoyable for the participants. Second, it is proved throughout this event that our effort never betrays ourselves as my whole team and I put an enormous effort to this event, everything has gone well worthy our sacrificed in our time and energy.

In addition, as I started this project with uncertainty whether the students to like our activity or not. I keep being optimist and positive that the event will went well. I’ve experiencing a lot type of emotion along this event such as nervous, upset, anger, sadness, happy, excited and grateful. I do believe that this event will impact everyone who participate in these events even though by changing only a small part of ourselves towards a better person.

Final word, once again I am feeling thankful to everyone who helped this event to be successful starting from our teammates, students of SMK Shah Alam, our supervisor, teachers and staff at SMK Shah Alam and University Malaya. I confidence that I will join more events like this in the future to become more better person than I am today. Thank you.