The Process

It's been almost a month plus of non-stop action, one of the most demanding period of this year. First, it started off with preparing for the Marine Conservation trip and the trip itself. Then it was preparing for Poly Forum, Pre-Forum and the event itself. The last stretch was Canoeing Club's sea expedition. It's amazing how I survived it all, and all only possible because of the graces He provides me through. Thank you Lord!

And it is also during this period what I'm challenged most is not my own preparation to the events, rather the students.

How does one determine the success of the event? The good turnout (no. of people), smooth execution of programme, a team effort that was well carried through etc? Yes, surely, definitely. But I'll like to add in one more perspective. The learning process. As educators, we often speak about benefiting from the learning process. Just how much do we allow ourselves and the students to fail or succeed? What are the means in achieving it?

I like to cite a recent event example which I think is process and thought provoking.

We were supposed to row to this part in Malaysia, near Singapore, place for this year's expedition. As advised by a few people and with the support of boss, I threw the spanner at the team that the sea and weather conditions may not be favourable. It was a tough decision to make. Really. And after some of their discussion, it was decided that we stay in Singapore. Recce and preparation began underway.

Then the event day itself came. Weather was almost perfect minus the fact that we were rowing against current. Then upon reaching the campsite, it was a horror fact to many of the participants as they weren't expecting to be that rugged a condition. Maybe because the venue was changed, organisers didn't do much to plan proper programmes for all. It may seemed like a cruel decision made earlier to make them all camp at Ubin. Organisers swayed their plans to please participants. Logistical items and money that were needed were left in school. Pissing mad situations when students run to you to say they need money and expect it to drop from the sky.

After some rounds of pep talks, it was done in a bid to have the organisers firm themselves up better. The last night, a storm hit us. An element which I hope that we could have missed as I know the participants were somewhat stretched beyond their limits. Some began to abandon their tents because water went in or collapsed. I was awake when the storm started. For some apparent reason that I don't know why, I was awoken just before it started. I was struggling in my tent to whether I should make them re-set their tent properly or just allow them to seek shelter in the hut for the rest of the night. The question that was in my mind, how hard do I want to push their limits? They are not the adventurous group after all. But this is a joke because their expedition acronym stood for Canoeing Adventure Proficiency Skills. So adventure in canoeing only or all aspects?

Yes, there were lots of complains from the seniors who had the luxuries before the previous years. The President wrote something encouraging on their club blog to the organisers. It may have been some consolation to some from the message. What was the message intent? Consolation or encouragement?

So, what determines if the event was a success? I would like to hear from each and every of them. For to me, if they can tell me what went wrong, what could have been done and improve next time, this expedition is a success. The process of learning was not only in doing but understanding the whole thing it all.