Prefect and Student Council Leadership Training Camp to Bintan

This activity involved the prefect board and the 4^th Student Council of the school. From 20 – 21 June 2008, we boarded a ferry from the Singapore terminal to the terminal at Bintan. This activity involved us learning to work better as a team, through games, activities and scenarios alike. On Day 1, we participated in ice-breakers from 10am to slightly after noon. We played several games which involved innovative thinking and intense teamwork to achieve success. We managed to relate to the games and work to the best of our abilities, as a team. From 2pm to 6pm, we engaged in a ‘race’ around the coast of the island, involving stops along the way, challenging our teamwork and navigational skills. At the same time, we remembered to indulge ourselves in heaps of fun. On that night, we took part in a night trek on the Wakatobi Trail for two hours. This activity aimed to help us overcome our fears and help us realize more about who we are. On Day 2, we participated in the Team Challenge Pyramid. This involved a 25-meter high structure, which we were required to scale as a team of 5 or 6. This challenged our fears to the limit. We learnt more about ourselves and about others, and how we can help one another achieve our goal, be it in terms of mental encouragement or physical strength. Following this activity, we played a round of paintball.

From this activity, I have learnt that we should focus on others as well and not just on ourselves. I have learnt that because we work as a team, we are accountable to one another. At times, we have to make sacrifices in order to benefit the team as a whole. Specifically, through the Team Challenge Pyramid, I have learnt that a team is only as fast as its slowest man and that if one falls, everyone else falls together. From the night trek, I have learnt that fear is an illusion everyone can conquer, no matter how big. On the whole, I have learnt that we can use each person’s unique and special strength to our team’s benefit. If I were to do this activity again, I would improve on my planning and organization skills and I would encourage more people and be more sensitive to them.

IBDP Service Trip to Chiang Mai 2008

A group of 22 students, myself included, from my school visited Chiang Mai from 25th – 29th May, the first week of our mid-year break. This activity involved the provision of our service, mainly educational, to 28 students, aged 4 – 11 years, in a village in Ban Pha Mon. The school, adopted by the Raffles City Rotary Club in Singapore, at which we were situated at for our period of service, was located on a mountain several thousand feet above sea level.

The first day of our trip involved mainly travelling. Upon arrival at the school, we unpacked our belongings, planned our lessons for the following couple of days and were provided with dinner and accommodation. On the following day, we were introduced to the children and we mingled with them for about an hour, playing soccer, talking with them, etc. When mid-morning arrived, we began lessons with them. The 22 of us were divided into three groups (prior to the trip itself) and each group undertook approximately 10 students, arranged according to their level of education. During lessons, we taught them the English language with the help of picture cards, physical symbols such as airplanes and animals, assessment books and coloring activities. When lessons had ended, we planned for our last day of teaching. We agreed to follow up on several effective lesson activities such as the picture cards. Also, we participated actively in area cleaning. This involved the cleaning of toilets, dishes, classrooms and floors. On our last day, we taught for a good amount of time, much similar to the day before, and we planned and practiced our cultural performance in whatever remaining time we had. We also trekked down the mountain to visit a plantation area. When night had fallen, we walked into the main village to give our performance – singing two culturally-focused songs with actions. We participated in the sparklers and fireworks, and lantern celebrations. Furthermore, we gave out our tokens of appreciation – picture-frames with pictures taken over the past couple of days. This was also when we passed on our donations of clothes and stuffed-toys to the families within the village.

In this activity, I feel that I have accomplished what I set out to do. This trip to Chiang Mai has allowed me to realize more about myself and others around me which I would not have otherwise had. I have accomplished our main goal, which was to educate the school children to the best of our abilities, through planned lessons and activities. I also feel that through this trip, I have established fresh bonds with the school children and have learnt more about the culture of Thais and their way of life. In this trip, I experienced several difficulties, which I overcame in the end. I demolished the face of fear and standard of living in terms of accommodation and hygiene. I was able to endure, without much complaining, whatever came our way. Furthermore, when we had a hitch in our lesson plan, we acted quickly and wisely so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for all.

I have learnt, from this activity, more about other parts of the world and that things are not always as they seem. I have learnt and understood that life without love is nothing. I have learnt to be modest and humble when it comes to all things. I have achieved the ability to meet challenges, big and small, and that it is not so much that result that counts, but more the process in achieving it.

This activity was supervised by Mr. Charles Png and Ms. Ng Sho Ching, two members of academic teaching staff. They assisted in the planning of lessons and the approval of proposals. They also donated a color printer to the school in Chiang Mai. They organized meetings and assisted in being the backbone to this activity.

This activity benefitted both parties, those in Chiang Mai and the 22 of us. We understood more about each other, I believe, and that we have helped and changed each other, be it in a small way or big way. If I were to do this activity again, I would request more time with the children, perhaps the role of not solely teaching, but more bonding and making a physical change to the school.