Reflection; Qing Jun

It has been said that the giving of one’s time to others is the best gift one can give.This notion extends to volunteering for an organization, or for anything, without being paid. Obviously, Social Engagement course ,which is a mandatory course, brings me lots of fun here, it is really worth for me to participate in this course. A 3 days 2 nights camp has been organised by us in SMK Shah Alam from 5th April to 7th April 2019. In the preparation time of the camp, as a programme department member, I have given out the idea of some activities such as “Interview Stimulation”, “Scissor, Paper, Stone” and so forth. Also, Jia Jie and I designed the T-shirts for our event together, and everyone of us had to sell above 5 T-shirts to other students in order to cover the cost of giving free T-shirts to the students in SMK Shah Alam who participated our event. Furthermore, I have designed the name tag of every faci. Through all these preparation, I appreciate what my members did accept my works and ideas, I have improved my photoshop skills and critical thinking skills.

In the first day of 3-days-2-nights camp, I was so excited to go to the school as I loved to meet new people and share my experience to these people. We have gone through “Grouping and Ice Breaking Session”, “Interview Tips”, “Team Building Games” and “Interview Stimulation”, I felt it, the enthusiasm of the participants ! My team —— Scarlet Witch, made lots of cooperation and responses to me, I was happy that we both involved in socializing, networking and friend-making. We created our own group cheers together, likewise the pride of our group. We were shouting proudly —— “Scarlet Witch” to other groups. Other groups’ cheers were so amazing too, there were lots of laughters, hahaha, it was so interesting! Plus, all participants were exposed with the knowledge of preparing resume and interview session. Although most of them were not so good in speaking English, they have been trying hard to speak every term, this was a good effort for them.

In the second day, because of I am a dancing-lover, so I loved this activity the most —— Zumba, every participant was dancing with us when we led them to dance in front of them, that kind of feeling, so refreshing and thrilling. Through Journey after SPM, I shared my honest experience and information about the road after SPM, how should they pursue their courses and what should they do now. Some of them didn’t even know what is Matriculation, STPM, Diploma, Asasi, Foundation, so they were really grateful for knowing these information from us. Besides, we had gone through the debate session, the participants did so well until I admire their way of speaking fluently and confidently, they were aggressive and acted like lawyers to debate the topic. After that, an explorace was carried out, there were 8 stations for them to compete and win, every group had their own strategies, they discussed, they fought, and they might be the winner. I was one of the station masters, I felt their team spirit, their unity, their optimism, they might have been always determined to win the game, they never lost to exhaustion, especially my team leader, haha. Apart from that, every group had to show for their own theatres —— Teatro De Suenos. Their theatres were so creative, interesting and surprising, every group member took their own roles so well and tried to perform their best show for the participants, the facilitators and the juries. They did not end up with crying on the stage although they had the fright and nervousness. I think this was the best time for them to have memorable time together since they prepared so much for their theatre, audience’s laughters, claps, and cheers, all were remembered in their mind.

In the third day, this was the last day that we could be playing with them, also a day that they knew each other better compared to the first day of the camp, they looked so tired but the time for them to sleep was not reached yet. The last session for them —— “Go Green”, they had to create their only one costume by using the recycled materials given and then present to the audience and the juries in a fashion show. Yes, every group ended up with an attractive, creative and disparate costume which was worn by the “model”, I think their critical thinking skills and cooperation were improved since they could make their costume within 30 minutes only. After watching their fashion show, every participant’s face was filled with smile as bright and brilliant as sunshine, happiness killed their tension and tiredness. The models’ funny moves, air kisses, strange voice brought lots of laughters in the fashion show. After this fashion show, my favourite part of activity came up again —— Zumba, we heated up the hall and danced the same moves, “ Just feel it Bboom Bboom”, “ neon Sugar Free ije neon Sugar Free”, all was dancing with high spirits and putting hands up in the air. The participants started sweating but never said “stop”. Then, the participants had to sit accordingly to their groups for the Closing Ceremony of “Youth Attack”. Every group was given a hamper because the winner was not only based on the marks accumulated but also the spirit they contributed for their team. Hence, they will feel very happy because everyone can be rewarded with something which was unexpected. But, there were only 1 best male participant and 1 best female participant who are called Anwar and Alia respectively, they were rewarded with special prizes. Plus, I was so surprised because I didn’t expect that the school authority gave each of the facilitators a certificate of appreciation for the contribution during these 3 days. Again, a slogan of “Youth! Hu! Ha! Attack!” was shouted out loudly, the camp had officially came to the end.I appreciate all the time being with the participants, thank them all for accepting the presence of us in their school, also the school authority as they prepared free food and free hostel room for us. The time for leaving was coming, we snapped our last group photos as for a frame of memories, hopefully these millions of memories in these photos never faded. Things end, but memories last forever.

What I learn the most in this activity is gratitude, I have to appreciate and cherish what belongs to me and don’t always complain about everything. For instance, most of the students of SMK Shah Alam involve themselves in co-curricular activities more than academic activities, hence they perform better in sports and they keep pursuing their sporty life like becoming a football player in the future. This is what I say that they appreciate what they belong to now, they also don’t murmur that why they can’t perform in the academic field. I told them,“yes, you still can get pursuing your future course in University of Malaya, don’t ever look down to yourselves, everything is possible”. Hence, I cannot also look down to myself, God also gives me most of the things I want, for example, pursuing Accounting course in University of Malaya, so I have to appreciate what I belong to now.

Apart from that, yes, it is true when some people say that a mandatory volunteering is an unfair stuff for all people since it does not reach the meaning of “volunteer” which means it is free to choose to do it. Nowadays, although there is an increasing number of population that more people are willing to get involved in the voluntary jobs, I am sure that there is still a lot of people in need, helping hands never appear to be undesired. Volunteering is for everyone, and every single person can give 20 or 30 minutes to an hour of their time a few days a month, our world will better than before. There are much people who are still need our help, they are helpless and pitiful, for example, a homeless child who is thrown away by his or her parents. Volunteering is so refreshing that basically restarts our energy clock, increasing our optimism and feeling of productivity in university life. We can keep ourselves away from assignments, stress, busy event temporarily when we get involved in Social Engagement, I would like to thank my university for making this course mandatory so that I can broaden my horizon and knowledge which never appears in textbooks. If there is still any chance for me to participate in this similar event, I would like to lend a helping hand to make others’ life better and happier. Let’s lend out our hands to lead a brighter world in the future, just you and me!