Changemakers 2012 - Chung Cheng Leadership camp 2012 26th-29th (Fighting your inner-voice and the Procrastination-Demon)

Hi guys....
First, I really have to apologise for this looong over due post that should have been up more than a year ago...
Well... I had been really busy with work...dance...camps....DJ-ing...travel...and for a period I wasn't in the right state of mind to write a constructive post....and then I got employed full-time...teaching...more travelling......even more busy.... Really?
NO. That's all just excuses from the Procrastination-Demon.
Time and again the thought of completing this post popped up just to be dismissed by the Procrastination-Demon. NO. MORE.

A series of events that happened early last November set me thinking. About LIFE...and what I have been doing with mine (such a heavy topic...lol). I decided I need CHANGE and really start doing things I've always wanted to do. This can go on an on...but let's not bore you with it...

Back to something related to "Leadership".....
With my new outlook in life, I booked a flight to Europe for my first solo adventure at the end of December...

The trip was not only to see the world but also for self-discovery... I remember saying in an earlier post that reflection and self-realization is key to self-improvement. Travelling solo is amazing for that. =)

I realize I might be repeating a lot of things I've said in the older post if I were to only write about the camp(which was already drafted not long after them camp). I believe you've probably read those so I will not be writing about the camp. Besides, it's probably too late. I hope you haven't forgot what you learnt during the camp. Especially lessons about YOURSELF.

This post is about "Everyday Leadership".

First, watch this: The Bystander Effect - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4S1LLrSzVE

I URGE you to watch it again even if you have watched it before.

Done? What would you have done?

Rule #1 - I ought to help someone that is clearly in distress.
Rule #2 - I ought to do what others are doing. - TO CONFORM.

Which is your inner voice? Or rather, which one usually wins?

This is a video I wanted to share with you guys either during the camp or slightly after, when I first saw it (there are many other similar experiments on youtube). While in Europe, I was reminded of the video.

I flew to Munich to meet a buddy of mine and in between, I flew to London to meet a girl(she's your senior from Chung Cheng!) I really wanted to know but have never met in real-life(one of the young and crazy things to do. =D).
London was also when I REALLY spent time ALONE. Rediscovering myself.

When you travel alone, all your senses heighten. In a foreign land, alone and vulnerable, you'd either be: Really nice, helpful, smiley and friendly to everyone, treat everything with an opening mind and be ever welcoming to all experiences; or, you be all weary, apprehensive, scared and sceptical about everything. I chose the first.

You want to be really nice, helpful, smiley and friendly to everyone because you hope everyone will be the same to you. You are alone in a foreign land. YOU NEED IT. Treating everything as an experience make you happier, because you will never be on the losing end. You always, learn something. After all, I'm a pretty big guy so I can take a little risk.
"The world out there isn't really that scary. Not everyone is out there waiting to take advantage of you. There are tonnes of people willing to help you." - Some other solo traveller wrote this(she's a girl in her early 20s!), and it is soo true!

I'm writing about this because this was my experience as the person in "distress" - the one that needs help. During my short 2 weeks in Europe, I asked countless people for help. I wanted to explore, get lost, talk to people and find my way again so I did not depend on my smartphone. Did not use the GPS or call anyone unless it was meeting them. I asked for direction to places, A LOT. Asked random people on the streets if I could borrow their phone to make a call because I did not have an overseas line.
NO ONE, declined to help.
NO ONE, waved their hand at me and walk away in dismissal....until...
I asked if I could borrow a phone from a group of 3 Asian guys(probably Taiwanese, Chinese or HongKong-er) in London, Oxford Street, in English.... the guy I approached did not even utter a word after I finish asking. Instead he just waved his hands and walked away with his 2 friends. I could tell from the way they looked at me as they walk away that they think I might be trouble. -.-"
There I stood thinking, I thought I would be easier getting help from Asians since I am Asian too???

This set me thinking. This, this "wave-hand-and-walk-away" crap happens a lot in Singapore doesn't it!? What's wrong with us?? Many of us are weary. Afraid of being cheated. I'm not saying it's bad to be cautious, its is important to exercise caution to protect yourselves. But very often our so called fears cannot really be justified. Do you really have that much to lose by helping? Why are we like that? Are we desensitized? Or have we been cheated one too many times? Or just that we have heard too much?
We need a REALITY CHECK.
The truth is this, when someone runs away with your phone after you tried to be nice by letting him make that "important call", it will be plastered all over your Facebook, Tweeter, Whatsapp and any other platform that helps you SPREAD THE NEWS. You want everyone to know.
But in a normal case, where the guys makes the call and returns you the phone, looking eternally grateful, you are not going to post: "OMG, I LEND A STRANGER MY PHONE FOR AN URGENT CALL AND HE RETURNED MY PHONE AFTER HE MADE THE CALL! SO NICE!!!"

The bad-stuff spreads wide as fast, but the "good", is deem as normal and no one really talks about it. Because guess what? IT IS NORMAL - this means normal people, in our normal world is not out there waiting to cheat us and run away with that iPhone5s or S4 that we worked so hard and saved-up to buy. But of course, know where you are and what you stand to lose, don't be stupid.

Our response to things around us very much depends on our past experiences; what we hear from our friends and loved ones. What they will do when in a similar situation. It's our innate need to CONFORM, to be able to RELATE. It's is human and hence that's how the majority of us behave. Most, if not all of us are AFRAID TO BE DIFFERENT at some point in some given scenario.

You camp was title - CHANGEMAKERS. Leaders stand out because they dare to be different. They took the LEAD and created that change - see how that first person TOOK THE LEAD to help that lady lying on the floor and suddenly there is a CHANGE. A "new group" is created, the group that helps, and others start to help too. How that lady saw something wrong and wants to help. But only FOLLOWED after seeing someone else helps first.

Which one are you? Are you willing to be different? Be judged?

We can talk about this more but it will be too long and draggy than it already is. Instead of just me talking, leave a comment.
Let's play tennis.=)

P.S.: All of you should have graduated from Chung Cheng right? HOPE EVERYONE's DOING GREAT!!=)

21st-23rd May 2012 Unity Sec 1 Camp

It's been sooooo long since I've updated this blog. But now since I've graduated(FINALLY!) and have more time on hand, maybe I should start writing again....

It's the time of the year for Unity Sec 1 Camp again!! YEA! It's the 4th or 5th time I'm doing this program!
So many times I can remember. Maybe Olivia/Yatie (i hope i got the names correctly) from my first batch can enlighten me on that. But anyway, same time of the year, same school, same program but different campers!

For those who have been waiting for the post, Baloo maybe? Really sorry for the late update, have been really busy with camps and stuff... Let's get started...

Well, first, its really good to be back with family at Trekkers League, all the fun at camps with the students and fellow trainers...tiring, but fulfilling. I hope all the students had as much fun as I did and very importantly, learnt something from the 3 days.

This years Unity Sec 1 program is a little different from the past. The neighborhood hike/amazing race was on the first day instead of the last. This of course meant that we had more time to bond and know each other while we moved from point to point during the hike, however it also meant that sometime was needed to "warm-up" and the the team together. As a results, less check points were covered despite the same amount of time given. Luckily, the time and distance traveled was still sufficient to observe and know the group better. I hoped the members of Baloo did get to bond and know each other better from the hike too.

Over the 2 days, my little monkeys continued to monkey around (what can I say, they are with the Roaring Monkey...lol....), playing and running around, disturbing and playing jokes on each other even during briefings before games. I had to scold them and my co-trainer, Farah, usually such a soft-spoken nice lady,  also had to scream at them. Well, I guess that typical of Sec1 students? I was probably more mischievous then.

3 days really isn't much and the fact that I was stationed at the abseiling station on the last day did not help. I wish I could spend more time with them, but I guess I can say that I'm still happy. We made a pact to that Baloo will behave and do our best and end the camp with a bang. I'm glad to say with the noise I heard from the group and the feedback from Farah and the other trainers, I'm Happy. =))

It's now 2 weeks plus after camp and like it or not, I'm here to remind you. Don't just remember all the fun you had in camp. Remember the lessons learnt. Self-believe and focus. Who cares if you are in the Normal stream now, if this Big Monkey here managed to get where I am now, you little Monkeys can too. Like I've said, some of you have already begin to realize how important it is to stay focus on a task and believing that you will succeed. Remember what we went through during Helium Loop?? How I had to impose a punishment for not completing the task in time? Remember how easy was it to finish it eventually?? You just have to WANT TO DO IT. I can't be there, no one can be there to keep pushing you and forcing you to focus. Don't be discouraged by little set backs, DON'T STOP BELIEVING. because I still do. =)
JIA YOU BALOO!!!

Baloo, ever been called the Strawberry generation?? Looks good on the outside but soft on the inside, can't take any pressure? To tell you the truth, this term "Strawberry Generation" started when I was about your age. To me the Strawberry Generation is nature by our circumstances, being over protected and over spoon-fed. Having everything done and given to you. Challenge that! I AM NOT A STRAWBERRY! When things are done for you, given to you, that is a bonus. You don't need it. We you greet your teeth and fight back, with you work for something, work hard for it, the results will be so much more fulfilling.
In your case, that would be to study hard!!! That's your basic duty as a student isn't it??!

I hope I'll be back next year for another Sec 1 camp and I'll hear all of you telling me how well you're doing!

And....by special request.....
123 321 BALOO BALOO NUMBER ONE! B. *four claps* A. *four claps* L. *four claps. O. *four claps* Oooo. *clapssss* B A L O O. *four claps* BALOO BALLO ALL THE WAY! WE BALOO HERE WE BALOO THERE WE FIND OURSELVES A CAVE, A CAVE, A CAVE CAVE CAVE! 💜