Reflection; Jia Liang

“It is more blessed to give than to received.”

Social Engagement, a mandatory subject which bring a great experience to me. Beforehand, we had discussed about what are we going to execute and we had finalized our decision, which is organizing a 3 days 2 nights camp with theme ‘Youth Attack’ for secondary students. However, we faced some problems during our preparation. We couldn’t find a suitable school which are able to provide us accommodation and we don’t have enough fund to carry this camp. After we contact a lot of the schools, SMK Shah Alam had agreed to give us green light in organizing the camp at their school compound and provide us the hostel as well. We also solve the fund crisis by selling the camp T shirt to public. In this camp, I choose to be a programme department member as I am quite interested in this department. I was in charged in interview stimulation and game master of Explorace.

Beforehand, I do quite a lot of research in different academic fields and try to get some interview questions from my friends in order to prepare for the interview stimulation. I hope that by carrying out interview stimulation, the participants can gain some experiences in interview and I believe that it will help them in future. “Scissors, Paper, Stone” is the game I conducted during Explorace. I played before in this game and I truly think that it is fun! That’s why I pick this game as one of the stations in Explorace and I believe that participants will enjoy much in this game.

On the 1st day of the camp, we start to prepare such as set up our registration counter, check in hostel and take a look around the school compound to search for a suitable place for our games. Around 2.30pm, participants start to register and collect their camp T shirt. Soon, we had started our ice breaking session. They are allocated into few groups and had been assigned one of the Marvel characters to their group as their group name. We, the organizing committees will become the group facilitators to guide them through these 3 days 2 nights. For me, I was assigned as facilitator of ‘Spiderman’ group. The 1st task given to the participants was created their own group cheers. Apparently, my group members were shy and afraid to voice up their opinions. I try my best to heat up the atmosphere. I gave them some advices to them and I also encouraged them to talk about their ideas. I demonstrated some cheers that I learned during MHS to them to give them some kickstart. They started discuss about their cheers among each other. They enjoyed very much in the discussion because they gave a lot of funny ideas and opinions. Finally, they combined their ideas and came out with a creative cheer. I practiced the cheer together with them and present it to other groups. It was fun and memorable. Then, more and more team building games had been carried out and they started to build their teamwork among each other. From them, I found out that teamwork was essential and crucial in our daily life. We need friends to support and stand for us. The next activity is Interview Tips session. Interview is a process where all human beings have to go through. During this session, the organizing committees share some interview tips and the ways to write resume to all the participants. I believe that it is a brand-new knowledge to them as they never go for an interview, they don’t know what to prepare beforehand. After they learn, they apply. For the last activity of Day 1, there was a “Interview Stimulation” which is conducted by me. Some of the organizing committees will be the interviews and the participants will be the interviewees. I divided the participants into groups according to their interested field of study and lead them to the interview room. I observed their performance during the interview and I realize that they unable to speak English fluently. Perhaps this is their first time in interview, they were stammer and lack of confidence. After they complete their interview, I start to approach them and share my experiences with them. “Practice make perfect”, this is what I did mentioned to them and I request them to find out a way to improve their English communication skills. I hope that this session will arise they awareness about how important English is and I believe that they will start to improve their English language in order to deal with their future interviews.

Proceeding to the next day, we start our day with an energetic Zumba. Our organizing committees had led the participants to dance with them. This is the time where our organizing committees hard work paid off as they keep on practice the steps until the night before the events. After this, we prepare a talk for them which is “Journey after SPM” as it is a suitable topic for secondary students. We share about the pathway available after SPM and the minimum requirements in each path. Then, we let them to approach something new which is “Let’s debate”. This is a great opportunity for them to voice up and explore themselves. They show us their potential in debate which it is quick shocking to me. They are able to react with opponent ideas and fight back with their opinions. Then, we have an exciting activity which is Explorace. The participants played a lot of the games in this session. They do enjoy very much in my station as I can felt it through their expression. At night, we started Theatro De Suenos, which is a drama performance. They showcased their talented acting in this session and I think that their ideas are pretty goods. I really enjoy in the show.

Time flies and it was the third day of the camp. We started our very last activity which is Go Green. Each group are given some recycle items and they have to make a costume with those items. They use their own creativity to design a costume for their models. I think that it is a good opportunity to let them know everything has their value even it is just a recycle item. Then, we have our Closing Ceremony and photo session before we end our camp. We take a lot of photos to keep it as our memories.

In short, Social Engagement not only provide us an opportunity to be an organizing committee but a chance to contribute back to the social. Throughout the events, I had learned and enhanced my communication skills. Communication is an important tool in our life. It helps us to transfer the information more effectively and efficiently. Besides, I get to know that secondary students are lack of awareness about the importance of English Language and how to deal with interview. After joining this camp, I have the initiative to share my experiences to them and give some advices to them. I wish to participant in such camp in future so I can help more secondary students and know more friends. It was a precious experience to me.