Back to Singapore - inspiring as ever
- Aoyumi Jung
- Sep 29, 2022
- 4 min read
29 Sep 2022
Favorite debrief questions:
What just happened?
Why did things happened like that?
What do you think this game teaches us?
Why is it important to consider this as a leader?
What else could you have done better if you go through this experience again?
Congrats for accomplishing a happy program at SAS - Singapore American School!
I realized, I internalized some facilitation skills when I was in this program, and when I read again some theoretical documents about facilitation skills such as front loading, debrief and maintaining students’ attention. I cleaned my table, I sorted out some docs I printed out 2 years ago when I first interned with JUMP!. However, I never had a close look at them, or I did and I didn’t understand much without practice. Now, I could visualize the scenario as reading the instructional information.
This program surprised me about my capabilities. I became a supportive teammate where I was able to explain some activities to my teammates, who were new with JUMP! If I have to do it again, I should have been more kind to articulate the whole activities to my friends. Sometimes, I didn’t act like a good explainer, but I tried to make it fast. However, I did run through one activity as real, which I should have done for all. Trial-run is like role model, or exemplary that allows the information to become visual.
In all of programs in the past, I was almost always the person with the least facilitation skills. I had the minimum expertise thus I was under pressure to catch up with my experienced friends. I need to ask for others to repeat the goals, instructions, and receive lots of good plus and delta. So, suddenly, I was in a team where my humble knowledge became pretty valuable.
New friendships...
I didn't have a photo with Gita, my lovely roommate...
Building confidence!
I ran Growth Mountain! For me, running any activities with a new group feels new every time. The intention remains similar, but the energy and quality shifts according to the students’ dynamic. I love how I began by my imaginary hiking story that frames the concept of the mountain. I love having my co-facilitators to demonstrate how the prompts work, and how they responded to them.
Essentially, I made it through as setting the safe space and silent activity right away. Together with the quick toilet break to refresh their attention, the teachers’ nudging their behaviors, students were just silent and vulnerable for once! Making students quiet and reflective to themselves, observant to others is what I love to do. I find myself at peace as a facilitator, being able to hold a safe space for new students - who don’t know me at all…, to speak up about something they don’t talk about often.
I met different types of teachers who support students in different ways. As facilitators, we are the host of the activities, we have the right to tell them how to get involved. I no longer fear how others look at me, how they perceive my young face or small body. I learnt to speak with confidence and just focus on the students.
I ran 2 activities in front of 2 groups of 100+ students, two completely different tone of voice... To describe later... HAHA
1, Fill the bucket
2, Gratitude and hopes
What I could have done better:
Have better transition statements to connect the objectives of different activities. My teammates didn’t focus on this aspect, I did but I did not perform well enough. There was some moments my brain went empty which I dissatisfied with afterwards. Debrief is not the end, it is the closing part of one particular activity after which there must be connection points, especially in deep topics such as leadership and personal discovery.
I can always reach out to people of experience from other team, or from other place! It is all about asking, and I will get the support. Most of the time, I asked P’Khae about her plan. Her explanation was clear, to the point and was very helpful for me to craft my own plan. I struggle with some parts where I don’t see the logics so I want to design my own activities.
Importantly, we will be more clear in communication with teammates pointing out how we could support one another before hand. For example, what roles, what materials, at what moment of the flow, so that the activities are to happen smoothly.
I already wrote my plus and delta in terms of being a facilitator after the Community Days, I could capture my notes on iPad! I love that part so much, thanks to the facilitation of Anand. We reflected individually after the program, then we shared in small groups to learn from each other. Sorry for my poor handwriting - also due to time limit and tiredness at the end of the day! >.< ^.^
List of activities I did throughout the week:
Common ground
Value Discovery
Advisory Map
Game of Life
Blind Square
Annie the Artist
Fill the bucket
Debrief: Mango & Sticky Rice
Gratitude and hope
Check-in: object share
Splat - name challenge
5 finger contract - group norms recall
Growth Mountain
Leadership Walk
Community Mural - Leadership Reflection
This is the most comfortable program I have ever been with. So I had time eating good food, meeting my friends, and exploring Singapore!!! Thank you so much for having me again...!
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