Community Service: Reflective Journal One

In the very first class of Community Service, our lecturer, Miss Rabiah brief us that we are going to have fun in this program where we are expected to go for SMK Convent and Methodist Boy School for PACE activities. After the first tutorial class with our respective tutor, Miss Kelly, I was looking forward to go for teaching them all the time. We volunteer ourselves for being the first group to design one hour ice breaking session on the first week of meeting them.

Today, 10 of April 2014, apart from my 20th birthday, it was an eye-opening day for me to interact with form 2 students from SMK Convent Girl School. Things firstly did not go according to our expectation. We were required to start the Ice breaking session by giving out the exercise prepared by Miss Sharon for the interaction purpose of mentors and mentees. The Ice breaking games that we had planned well was changed to half an hour instead of an hour. Indeed we felt disappointed as our efforts were wasted. Although it’s just games, we met up often for discussion. On Wednesday night, we spent time in campus to trial run the event. However, on that day itself, games were changed to just 15 minutes or lesser. My group was beginning to panic as pressure started to pile.

I had experience previously of running events where pressures were common. My leadership mentality told me to remain calm and lead the class. I believe the job was done because the session went well and class was in control. Before the session end, I requested Miss Kelly to allow us perform “Peel Banana Song” dance and it’s a funny song that made everyone dance, laugh and had fun together. One disappointing fact was some mentor and mentee did not join the fun. Apart from that, I was able to see positive result of everyone enjoying with big smile hanging on their face.

The highlight moment was Miss Dorothy approaching me with satisfied expression, shook my hand and giving me complement that I did a great job as a mentor. Besides that, she was happy and impressed on the way I approach to the shyest timid girl in the class and motivate her to speak up. I was delighted that my small action without even realizing had helped others as well as able to give positive strength to people who needs it. Isn't that what community services are meant? To help people and give back to the society by delivering service in form of physical, emotion, social, mental, and spiritual well-being.

I had limited time to interact with my mentee, Nuraishah because of responsibility to carry out the ice breaker. However, I am glad to have a good partner, Weasley who help me to assist her. As the mentor, I promise my mentee that I will accompany her more next week onwards. I was happy and touched when my classmate sang birthday song on the bus for my 20^th birthday and meet Miss Sharon whose birthday fall on the same day. It’s truly a meaningful and unforgettable birthday. Honestly, I am excited to meet the group of people again soon.

I hope our group able to motivate the next group to perform better. Although handling a class is difficult, but it’s actually a learning process for us as student to understand the lecturer’s feeling when student are disobedient. This is a good subject for us to reflect ourselves and it’s time to learn to give back to the society.

Beginning of the class, right hand side is student(Mentors) from Taylor and
left hand side is student (Mentees) from SMK Convert.

Miss Sharon greet us by starting a welcoming speech and then proceed to teaching summary.

My mentees, Nuaisyah . Sadly, I didn't get to interact with her often but still we had a good time.

Interacting session of Mentors and Mentees.

Mentees are required to introduce their mentors and mentors are required to introduce their mentees.

During the interaction time, the timid girl in the class was so shy to speak infront of the class. I manage to help her build up a bit confidence to talk at last.