Final Post....I miss Summer SCHOOL!!!

Firstly, let me say that.... I miss Melbourne, I miss Trinity College and all of Summer School. These two weeks has been highly enjoyable to me, and i really really treasured all the precious memories we shared together, truthfully i did not want to come back to Singapore.. at least not so soon. But apparently as the old saying goes " All good things must come to an end."

In this fortnight, i have seen a lot, heard a lot, learnt a lot and experience lots. I've broaden my horizons and appreciated many other cultures. People all around the world come together in this enriching program that i felt everyone enjoyed and benefited in. I felt that i myself have learnt a lot and as the name of the programme suggests.. I have learnt to be a better leader and i aspire to become one. But at the same time, i hope to improve not just my leadership skills but also my own character and strive to be a better person.

Starting from the first day, prior to alighting in Melbourne, i was extremely excited about the whole thing. In the welcome dinner, we came together as a group to not just eat, but also to interact and socialise with other people who attended summer school, we had some partying game such as the limbo, dances and many other mini-games. I myself tried out the limbo and it felt really good. However i noticed a flaw in most Singaporeans, other than me, there were not many other Singaporeans attempting the activites. Even our neighbours, Malaysians, are much more pro-active than us. Hence i told myself "Since i'm already here, i might as well just participate.". I took on the slogan of Nike and i am happy to said i enjoyed myself, therefore i feel that we should break away from our comfort zone and experience many other things. For there is always a first time in everything!

Thereafter, we were splitted into groups and had lots of fun socialising with everyone. We attended lectures, had a Karaoke Night, A trivia game. Had 3 meals a day together. Participated in events and encouraged one another. Observed and reflected what happened each day in our debriefing with the teachers, Ms Tan and Ms Low. Went to the Museum, the Zoo, hit the beach in Mornington Peninsula. I even got a sand spa there, played frisbee and soccer with many people... Went shopping in town, rock climbing,Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibition, Astrophysics lecture on the Outer Space, a wonderful "Trinity's Got Talents" and Cultural Night. And finally bringing the curtain to a close, the final stroke of a wonderful fairytale... The Valedictory Dinner.

I have grown a lot both physically and mentally. Physically due to the magnificent feast i had in Melbourne and on a more serious note, matured over the two weeks mentally thanks to the many mentors that guided me. In this case, "mentors" do not only applies to the many caring seniors that led our teams and made the programme a success, of course they were endearing,entertaining,helpful and a great role model for all of us young-leaders-would-be. However other educating figures also played their roles as "mentors", such as the many wise lecturers we had, the heartwarming staff of Trinity College, and of course Ms Tan and Ms Low, whose debriefing session was incredibly educating.

I've gain better knowledge as to how to improve myself and the many qualities that a good leader bore. A leader is one who inspire others, not force. A leader guides others and leads by example.

A good leader should respect others, have good perception, be disciplined and assertive yet determined and confident, integrity is a must, they must encourage others, have the courage to make crucial decisions and bounce back from failures, they must take initiative and be pro-active. A leader must take pride in what he or she do, but not proud.

These are but a few of the infinite qualities that brings us up the ladder of leadership, i am sure every single one of us has a little of each of these qualities. What we should do, is identify it, amplify it and achieve it.

Through Young Leaders Summer School, i have better identified my flaws and is currently working to correct them. I am not afraid to say there are a lot of major flaws in my character such as a violent temper, impatience and sometimes insensitive to others. I have been curbing the former for quite some time and are now much more aware to others, it has become my goal to change myself and at the same time strive to be more calm headed, have more empathy and be more aware of what others are doing and feeling. I must put myself in other people's shoes to better understand what they might be going through, for every problem there is a solution.

Linking this back to what i can contribute to Ngee Ann, my first thoughts come in the form of my CCA. As a CCA leader in the Wushu Team, i have already took up the role to lead others during training, but i have noticed certain actions done wrong by me and as i am striving to correct myself, i hope to lead better too. I certainly would try to bond the team better and try to serve as a role model to my juniors, especially since the new batch of Sec 1s are coming and i hope to lead by example and propel Wushu to earn MORE MEDALS!!

I shall also lend a helping hand to people in need at school and hope to aid the teachers and staff to building a better community in the school. I would focus more on my own CCA, however i am willing to help out with other events, such as the Sec 1 Orientation Camp or Sec 3 Koref Camp, if i am still able to apply for it!

Combining this experience with previous beneficial courses such as LEADS for Leaders, Outward Bounds Singapore, being a volunteer for Asian Youth Games, i have truly learnt how to communicate and interact with others and also toughen myself mentally for challenges as in life, there will always be ups and downs, and we need to learn to face it. Young Leaders Summer School has come to an end, but i know i will miss it for i already am, i know i will love it for i already has, and i know i will treasure all the friendships i have forged and all the memories that i have. I love Melbourne, I love Trinity College and i love all my new friends and of course old friends!

Signing off for the last time,
Jing Yi

Quote of the day "A good leader not only lead but also follows."

P.s : I will miss Melbourne food, okay not really but i will miss EVERYONE!!! I WANNA GO AGAIN!!!! Hopefully i can, but theres only a slight chance...