Student Leadership Residential Program (SLRP) 2016

                                                                                                         

The SLRP is a programme held in Saint Andrew’s Hall (SA Hall) for members of the Saints Advocate to learn more about their roles as student leaders. The Seventh Saints Advocate were fortunate to have an opportunity to bond together as a batch and experience staying in the SA Hall from 29^th March to 11^th February 2016 under the SLRP.

During the stay, we attended talks and workshops such as Positive Intentions Workshop and INtercultural Workshop These activities helped us to grow and nurture ourselves. We learnt important leadership skills and bonded as a Seventh Saints Advocate.

Here are some reflections from the Seventh, as well as pictures of our stay:

“SLRP on the whole has provided me with insights into a lot of things and along the way, I understood myself better and can better understand why I joined Saints Advocate.

To know the actual meaning of servant leadership through the workshop was interesting as I never knew about it until I came to SAJC. It is indeed a great set of philosophy as it helps everyone to grow and to become a better person. I will mould myself into a servant leader too, not because our school require us to do so, not our cca require us to do so, but because I think it will be a right choice.”

~ Valerie

A sketch of our hostel bedroom

“Although I have been staying in hostel for quite some time, having SLRP is a different experience.The programme taught me how to be caring to others. Moreover, I truly cherish the time that as a Seventh spent together. Due to our workload and academic commitment, we sometimes tend to neglect the quality time of gathering together. Thus, by sharing rooms or at least, staying in close proximity to each other, I was given the chance to know my friends better. In fact, after the programme had ended, I would miss the time when I had the chance to do so. The sessions and workshops held throughout the 2 weeks are very meaningful to me. They allowed much time for reflection that otherwise would have been very minimal when I had busy schedule.”

~ Stefanus

Example of what we learnt

“The 2 weeks stay for the Student Leaders Residential Programme (SLRP) has been an enriching stay, allowing me to learn many different skills and gain a lot of knowledge about things happening around me in the society as well as increased my self awareness”

~ Pamela

Group picture with the Sixth after Cross Country

 

“I feel that this SLRP allowed us to bond very well together as a CCA as a 7th. It allowed us to know each other a lot better because we see each other close to 24 hours everyday for about 2 weeks. I feel very privileged to be able to have this programme right after the Leadership Training Camp LTC and at the beginning of the year because then we would be able to interact with each other even before our projects start, allowing us to be able to coordinate better in the future.”

~ You Xuan

 

Group picture outside SA Hall on the last day of SLRP

7th Saints Advocate Leadership Training Camp 2016

The LTC  (Leadership Training Camp) kick started the Seventh batch’s journey as Saints Advocates on 26th February. It started with ice-breaking games like H2O and double whacko, which engaged both the Seventh and the Sixth. These ice-breaker games gave us a chance to know our batchmates and seniors.

After the ice-breaker games, members of the Seventh were split into various groups and we went around the school from one station to another, playing an amazing race which showed us the importance of certain values which are important for a servant leader. The games tested our teamwork skills, patience and understanding for one another. Besides the playing of games or completion of tasks, at each station, all groups were given parts of the Saints Advocate pledge.

Some of the station games

On the 2^nd day, the entire cca went to a HDB estate where we used the cleaning of the homes of elderly as a platform to interact with them and provide them some company. We were assigned to various houses hence as a cca we covered around 7 houses. This provided us with an idea of how our monthly Big Sweep and J1 service-learning day is going to be like. We realized the purpose of visiting the elderly is to understand their needs and provide them with company through the interaction we had with them.

The 7th Saints Advocate's first Big Sweep during LTC

“Through the big sweep, i managed to get some insight about the elderly people's lives. I realised that some of them are actually leading very lonely lives. They are neglected and they have to take care of themselves although their bodies are not as strong as when they were young. This makes me want to take part in more of such activities to be able to some joy into their lives by visiting and bonding with them. If I were in their position, I would certainly want someone to do that for me. I'm grateful that this activity was able to open my eyes.”

-Christine

 After this, we went to various shopping malls (E.g. Toa Payoh hub/ Junction8 ), in our groups and had to participate in an activity called “Operation 007”. It was a mission, which required us to advocate a cause and provided us with a first-hand experience to interact with the members of the public.

“Since it was our very first time handling a task like ‘Operation 007’, we were initially uncertain about the way we should approach it. With the help of our group leaders and seniors within each group, all of the groups managed to complete our respective projects within the time limit.”

-Sree

 

'Operation 007' at Toa Payoh Hub

On the last day, we played water games, which taught us the importance of teamwork and division of our works according to the requirements. After this, we were brought to the corridor of LT1 and the last activity the Seventh had to engage in as a whole before ending the LTC camp was piecing the pledge. This was indeed difficult but we managed to accomplish the task successfully, with teamwork, dedication and time-management.

Overall, these 3 days of LTC taught us a lot of important things which we, as Advocates and Servant Leaders would need as stepping stones to undertake our journey ahead. It also provided all of us a chance to get to know each other and start forming our bonds together as the Saints Advocate.

“LTC was the start of my Advocate’s journey and it allowed all of us to get to know each other a lot better through the process. It allowed us to bond together as an advocate family, as leaders who are willing to help other with passion.’

-You Xuan

 

Our reflection time!- Most of our reflections were done at the end of the day and these helped us consolidate what we have learnt and how we can improve, as such it is a habit all of us Advocates are strongly encouraged to practice.