Leadership Journey

This class has been a great experience so far because I've improved on many of my weaknesses such as, public speaking, not being shy, and self motivation. I think I'm still finding my way into becoming the ideal leader slowly but I can see the progress occurring. For example, I now am able to stand up for someone and make sure their voice is being heard. This shows how my ability to public speak and making sure there's equality were triggered. Seeing so many motivated peers around me helps me be motivated and moved to contribute. My strengths would be bringing a positive attitude to class. This week how it was raining, I was still positive about walking in the rain and looking forward to the experience again. Also, I think my organization skills and time management skills are further developing because during I believe that my leadership journey is making its way up to where I've always wanted it to be. 

Tree Planting, Litter Pick-up, Blackberry Shrubs.

This was my very first time actually planting trees and other plants. It was raining, but I overcame that accepted the fact that I will get dirty today and its for a good cause. I really liked digging a hole for the plant into the soil because the rain had made it moist and soft, which was very easy to work with. At first I would pat the soil down with my shovel, but then I realized that now that I'm out here, might as well use my hands. I really liked planting trees and hope to be able to get that experience again.

So far we have done 2 litter pick ups and both times have gone pretty well. In my opinion, although we are out there, not much of the school grounds are covered because of large sized groups. If there were less people in a group (ie. 2-3) more grounds would get covered. For example, the front entrance is very big so there should be at least 2 groups there to have more of an efficient job done.

Digging out blackberry shrubs was both sort of painful and lots of fun. I found it really fun to use the big cutters & cut the long roots and vines. Although the thorns would sometimes poke through the gloves, it was also fun to pull the blackberry out. From this experience, I learnt that the blackberry shrubs were not a naturally growing plant here, but it was introduced. I had never dug out blackberry before but it was a good experience.

Remembrance Day Assembly

In my opinion, the Remembrance Day Assembly went really well. Resleen and I were the MCs and I was very nervous at first. When I first started talking, I felt as if that if I look up, I'll laugh really hard. But when I looked up, I couldn't see anyone's face and I was more confident. This was a great way to improve my public speaking skills which was one of my goals. It was really a privledge to be the MC at such an important assembly and it was an amazing experience. All in all, I think it was an honour to be able to be part of this crermony to honour the fallen.

God's Little Acre Farm

I had an amazing time at God's Little Acre Farm, from the big wagon ride to getting my hands dirty while picking carrots. I found it really amazing that the farm was all run by volunteers and that the grown products went to the Food Bank or to people who can't purchase groceries. I learnt a lot on this incredible experience. To be honest, I found picking pumpkins kind of boring because it was just moving the pumpkin from one place to another. There were little thorn things on the stems and I learnt that the hard way. I have always been the type that isn't too happy to get their hands dirty but, actually bending down, pulling out and brushing dirt off the carrots wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, it was my favourite part to just put my hands in the soil, it was just really relaxing and felt good. In my opinion, the soil smelt refreshing and you could just tell that the carrots were just perfect. I feel that this trip really connected me with nature and I felt very accomplished once we had finished picking a whole row of carrots. I would really like to go back sometime and re-live the whole experience again.

Leadership Progress Report

As a Sulli Leader, I have learnt many new things and grown out of a shell. I have noticed how I have developed as a team worker and am able to stay more on task and keep the group together. In my opinion, I have become more positive with the way I take things and more open minded than before. When we were planting trees, at first I was not willing to get dirty but then I thought that now that I'm here might as well take it to my best advantage. In the end I really enjoyed myself. For the future I would like to build upon my developing skills right now.

Hero Project on Oprah Winfrey

Here is the link to my prezi on Oprah Winfrey:

http://prezi.com/c6h0qk80hcam/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Grade 8 Retreat Reflection

1. Overall, what do you think went well?

I think everything went really well because the grade 8s were really cooperative, energetic, and pretty attentive. If I had to choose one thing that went well it would be the red rover game we played with both the afternoon and morning group.

2. What would you change to improve it for next year?

I think for next year it should be a rotation every 15 minutes or so and have each group of leaders specialized in a certain set of games. Then the grade 8s would get a bigger variety of games to play and it would be easier for leaders to change or modify games to make them better.

3. Based on yesterday’s experience, identify your strengths as a leader

I believe my strengths as a leader were being able to get the attention of the group, explaining games, encouraging grade 8s to participate, and making sure grade 8s who wanted to play different games got a chance to be a leader. 

4. Based on yesterday’s experience, identify areas for improvement as a leader

I think that as a leader I need would need to have more patience.

5. Come up with a specific compliment for each of your group members in terms of their leadership.  Give them the compliment verbally

Harina- She was really good at keeping the group together and making sure everyone was participating.Mansi- She was good at demonstrating and explaining games.Resleen- She was always motivating the grade 8s to keep playing and was good at running the games.Simran- She was amazing at explaining games and getting everyone's attention. 

6. Identify a moment you had as a teacher

One moment I had as a teacher was when I was explaining the game Flinch to the morning group. I realized how hard it is to get up in front of a group of people and explain something. I found it difficult to be able to explain everything verbally so all of us leaders demonstrated a mini game between us. 

7. Identify a moment you had as a learner

I think in this whole experience I was always learning along the way. For example, how to get their attention faster, how to modify games to make them more fun, etc. 

8. What did you find most challenging as a facilitator?

I think the most challenging thing was getting everyone participating and playing according to rules.