Summer Mission: Program Management with Summer-Pre Program Course 2022 [Part 2]

“What would happen to the world without those who do, think, work, produce? Those are the egotists. You don’t think through another’s brain and you don’t work through another’s hands. When you suspend your faculty of independent judgment, you suspend consciousness. To stop consciousness is to stop life.”’ by Howard Roark, The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand.

I do things that I am not asked to do. I do things as an instinct, a strong drive that others can judge but cannot stop me. The mind is the source that keeps my senses energetic. I want to keep that fire burning throughout my life. For Roark, it is to be an architect, an egotist, for me, it is to be a facilitator, a supporter, a learner. Thank you for allowing me to create something special over this summer, the last summer at School of Global Studies.

1. Data analysis and presentation

I did a number of research analyses before. The data collection and synthesis process is quite comfortable for me. I manage to have everyone complete the form at once, then find patterns of data via spreadsheet and Miro.

oops, the resolution of screenshot is too bad, but here is the Canvas on Miro

The new step is how to generate percentage visualization through formulas and charts. That piece is the highlight of the report, and that’s the only thing the department of quality assurance and finance cares about. So, my report has a stance, I must communicate the weight and relevance - the visual evaluation of success, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

This chart gave me a tough time converting the scores of different sessions into percentage, then counting the average of them, representing values of GREATS. I applied Pivot Table to play around with the data, and I found a faster way than last year's analysis. ;)

2. Self-Directed Management

I am proud to be a self-directed individual.

When being the lead, self remind to keep track of the progress, look at the goals and the timeline on a regular basis, take actions at its course. Write down the tasks in an internal system.

a green field trip, my Ajarn P'Nan and my genious seniors

3. Be an MC in 2 big events

I designed objectives, agenda, wrote scripts, practiced and ran it on my own, no co-MC. I like to speak in front of everyone and see their reaction when they followed my speech.

Facilitation is my job, I was capable of setting goals, outcomes, designing content, facilitating, engaging the audience, and assessing the activities. I invited participants and guests, contacted P'Staff to arrange venue, snacks and lunch.

Appreciation Time

So, I did not teach them, I facilitated them and assigned work for them. Yet I believe they got my energy of reflection and expressing gratitude. I run a short activity for everyone to show appreciation for one another, my favorite one I learnt from JUMP! Foundation. I wish to have more time so I could take part in this one as well.

I asked everyone to read some last words I wrote for them.

My final words in my MC script for the students: "As a senior, a GSSE student, I would like to wish that you will gain that kind of beautiful takeaways and reflection throughout your coming years. There will be moments of pressure, overwhelming workload, personal issues, Be READY for that. ;) Yet everyone has to move on no matter what happens, I wish you pay attention to the details, be grateful for being a SGS student, find joy and actual growth. Especially, Be a proactive and persevering student who will dare to challenge yourself and explore the wonders."

4. Empower students by task delegation

• Group management when it comes to field trips, they take care of their own headcounts. They are adults, they should be responsible of one another’s participation

• Presentation Order Selection

• Video Recap of the course

• Share feedback about sessions

• Prepare for activities’ materials

I better do more empowerment next time such as:

• Collecting presentation slides

• Have students be in charge of the event registration by themselves

• Sharing weekly blogs to the educators by themselves

5. Have clear communication with team to be on the same page

• Issue of room booking

• Misunderstanding of pay rate

• Verbal communication should be prioritized to group texting. I got emotional at times because of the unclear conversations and updates.

6. Put aside personal bias

I wanted to invite some of my favorite professors. My suggestions were rejected because of political concerns. I cried to hear Aj said that “you need to stop romanticizing reality”. It was really painful to hear.

The curriculum I designed was inspired a lot by their work in the first year of SPPC but I didn’t attend the course. I dug my mailbox history, I found the course schedules, slides of many sessions. I crossed your names out of the instructors’ list but your spirit is fabricated in my work.

7. The rigidity of bus services at Thammasat

Bus service is terrible in terms of attitude and manner. Customers suffer from the rigid attitude not to use Google Map or meet passenger's needs. I would like to inform you that if you ever book the bus service at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, make sure to choose a kind driver who is willing to bring a comfortable journey for you.

Something I wish to have if I do this kind of work in the future:

1. A team with dedication, support and flexibility, and have open communication for problem solving and collaboration. Communication is essential to collaborate, run the work and eventually to exchange feedback for improvement. 2. Payment deserves my efforts. This is essence for human right and reward for contribution/ creation. ;)

Extracts of Student Testimonials:

Field Trip to Bangkok River City and Talad Noi, hot and fun

“GSSE has many field trips and training and group projects where we have to work together. It's a very nice faculty with so much teamwork. And that’s the best in life.”

“Appreciate everyone who coordinates and makes this programme possible in person. As an international student I feel very welcomed by everyone and I am grateful to have been a part of this. Special thanks to our seniors, the staff, the Ajarns and especially P’Linh for creating such a great environment to welcome everyone into GSSE.”

“It was very fun! I could build friendships even before the semester starts.

“I appreciate this summer program, if there wasn’t a program like this and I was immediately thrown into classes I would’ve had a more severe mental breakdown than I already had.”

“Our Summer Program creates a family. I am grateful to have known all my friends through the class activities and final projects we have put efforts into. We may have imperfections and it is okay because we learn from our mistakes and errors. Only with family from School of Global Studies, the Summer Pre-program course has built a bridge for us to walk on heading towards the next journey.”

I want to cry when I read the report I created by myself. I am so proud of myself. I am relatively an egotist, inspired by Howard Roark, a character in the Masterpiece I just finished after 7 months on and off reading. However, myself is still part of a collective minds in this society which conflicts with his belief. HAHA.

#endprogramreflection (not report)

#gratitude

#selfappreciation