Sunday, January 07, 2007
reflective post coming up.
the past few days have been oh-so-tiring but very rewarding.
sec one orientation went very well, in my opinion.
it was really great.
really.
seeing sec one six blossom from quiet shy sec ones to enthusiastic class-ij-spirit filled youth made me feel so happy.
i figured it's cos i played a part in influencing the change.
and nothing else can cut close to the sense of achievement.
after the games, telematch the councillors cleaned up the whole basketball court.
it was then.
when everyone was scrubbing, splashing, carrying heavy bucket fulls of water.
using small pieces of sponge to rub off masses of flour whilst kneeling.tired looks swept every face, and yet, no voices sounded complain.it was then that i really understood the meaning of Servant Leadership.tolerance contributed a whole lot.it reminded me of obs.when mad and i did the capsize drills, we were hence delayed and far far far away from the rest of the kayaking fleet.the wind was against us.we were so tired.we were so exhausted.but something just kept driving us on.i cried whilst kayaking.tears just streamed.i was trying so hard.and we didnt seem to be making any progress.it really seemed as though the waves, the sea was testing us.testing our perseverance.testing to see when we'd cave in.but we didnt.i was crying.i wanted to give up.i cant do it.i cant.i'm so tired.i'm cying.mad! cant you see we're not moving! paddle!that's what i told myself.it was just so hard.i cried beacause i was trying so hard.and yet, couldnt succeed.we kayaked for half an hour against the wind.half an hour of crying.crying and convincing myself, NO. Samantha, dont say you cant do it.you can.i was saying i couldnt do it.yet trying to mentally convince myself that i could.it was an experience i will never forget.i pushed myself.so much.when we finally reached the fleet.i cried even more.because mad and i managed to do it.no number of words can really fully describe how i felt while kayaking.i'll remember the tears that's all i can say.cos they taught me perseverance.and when i was scrubbing the floor with the long brushing thing,i felt that again.that kayaking thing.and this time.i didnt cry.cos i knew i had the strength to do it.the strength to get through it.and hey, i did.it wasnt some hard task or anything, and i prolly sound silly typing this.but i was just tired. and pmsing.YEAH.and seeing a clean basketball court.was exactly like catching up with the fleet.servant leadership cant be learnt from a textbook.it's experienced.and cleaning up after the games, made me realise.it's not about expecting people to respect you or thinking 'nvm la, someone ELSE will do it'.it's about gaining that respect yourself.by example.it's cos when you've gained it, that you'll realise you've succeeded.no one else is going to make the change that you want to see or take credit for.you've got to do that yourself.you've got to do it yourself.respect is earned.not granted or given.and you've got to earn it yourself.mhmmm.that's what the sec one orientation helped me realise.and servant leadership.it's leading by example.at the end of the day, you learn something from what you've gone through.Storms make trees take deeper roots.
sprinkled in glitter.
4:08 PM
