Service Learning Training for River Valley High School

Today’s Trybe run was slightly different, because the venue was at Trybe office, instead of the school itself. It was River Valley this time round, and it was an experience for me as well. These students were really different.

I was in the logistic team for the second time, first being at CJC and now at Trybe office for RVHS. However, it was an all new experience, in a way.

In CJC, because of the special lunch that we had for them, all was actually planned and there was not much to think about. But, today the logistic team were given $500 to settle a few things and our actions were our decisions. Which I felt the pressure within myself, cause I did not want to screw or mess things up. So, I was very particular in the choices that I made and I sought affirmation for most of the decisions I made.

However, something I regretted today was I was not willing or rather I doubted myself of being capable of handling the logistic team. Which in the end, I felt it was partly my fault for the hiccup of the logistic team. But it served as a very heavy lesson to me, that I ought to trust myself and be more confident in my capabilities.

It dawned on me that for every new organisation or when I join something for a start, I will start with rather lower confidence. But I wonder if it’s actually better or worse. Because a lot of people tell me that I am over-confident. Perhaps it was due to arrogance? But it’s fading off now that Trybe has change me and impacted me.

What I got to really emphasize in my life right now is to see everyone as equal level, then will I grow further.

Going back to my experience today, I felt it was really amazing when the students went over to All Saints Home [ASH] to do a Service-Learning project. Though some of their plans could not be carried out, however, I felt they fared very well still.

Something significant about today at ASH was when a student actually approached one of the residents to help her from her "walking stick" to a chair. What the student actually had to do was to support her entire weight on his arms and help her to the chair.

I believe at that very moment, he had a mix of feelings. First of course was fear that the resident would fall or he would accidentally let go, nervous of what to do to best support her. It was really tough and I snapped a photo of it and I felt out of the 300++ photos taken today, that was the BEST shot of the day.

If I was the guy, I probably will be very scared to approach the resident because I fear rejection a lot. In the previous community trip that I went, I was very afraid to help them physically, because I was afraid that I would cause pain to them. Thus, seeing the guy was being so daring today, made me think a lot too.

When Jamie shared about the 4th point of Project Management, I realized like "oh..No wonder she gave us the freedom to buy what we think was right for the students!" she said that by empowering, the person will learn more, and I indeed learn a lot more. Like the needs of the students and what they want etc.

After the entire Trybe run, we did debriefing and I said a lot today. It was like the most words said from me of a debrief. I am not one who opens up to people, but today, I was able to. I guess there were two factors. One was that I am more comfortable with sharing as I go along and second was because of Mirabel and Jamie. Mirabel is really nice and always-smiling person, so I felt much more comfortable. And Jamie was someone whom I can just share my thoughts, cause I feel she is a natural speaker and I feel she can give me answers to my questions.

I have yet to find the person who can actually convince me their point of view but after talking to Jamie, I felt lighter, and I seem to have gotten an answer for my question! Like for the first time, my questions did not actually leave hanging there, with no answers.

After the debriefing and the accounting for the money, I continued my chat with her; it was really long that we had to stop. But whenever I speak of what I feel inside and trying to hide my thoughts and feelings, I feel uncomfortable, like splitting headache and my brain like had been crashed. Yet today, I spoke what I felt deep inside and did not even bother to hide anything at al, I was aright.

Today was really amazing! For the first time, I could open up so much and yet feel ok! The RV students were fantastic as well! They were awesome! Enjoyed so much today.

Christina actually answered my second questions and I felt good in a way. I am very interested to know people life stories and their choices in life that change them. But I do not feel right asking them to actually share it. So I actually wait for people to share instead.

Hearing why Christina joined Trybe was great! At the same time, she answered my question as well.

Every Trybe run I go is just great. I learn more things every time and the learning process is just like never-ending. Today was terrific and once again, AMAZING!!

Looking forward to the next Trybe run, which is Thursday and Friday. Wednesday have a briefing too! =) Hope to see new youths and other volunteers as well! :D


Posted on behalf of Dave