For those of you who doesn’t know — I’m currently doing this “Emerging Leaders Program” at UBC, and it’s quite similar
like CAS (if you did IB) for leaders. In this program you need to participate in different activities to fulfill your requirements in different components, and then do evaluations afterward. If you’re at UBC but you haven’t join, I definitely suggest this program to you (click here for more information) , and if you’re planning to go to UBC, this program is a good one for you to start with.
There are lots of things I learned ever since I joined this program. The most non-leadership thing I learn is probably the fact that our VP Students loves bow tie… but that’s another story. At first I decided to join this program for the sake of my JumpStart workshop credit, but as time goes by, I find this program a great place to know people who have the same passion as you do – leadership. The first time I looked at the booklet on the components that I have to fulfill, I freaked out. I have to do at least 9 different activities in 6 months. But looking back at my high school activities, I’m very optimistic that I can accomplish the requirements, so I decided to go on with it.
So, trying to ‘manage my time wisely’, I thought of coming to workshops since they don’t require that much time and it counts as one activity. I joined two workshops, one is about stress management and the other one about public speaking, and I promised myself that I will never join any other workshops that I’m not interested in. Not that those two are boring and useless, but I realized later on that it is easier for me to learn about something when I actually take part and do the activities rather than listening to other people talking about theories. CLASS was fun though, I get to understand how Prof. Gateman teach and how to score in his class, and to use my time wisely so I can still have a balanced life between school and extracurricular activities.
The next thing I decided to do was to apply for Sauder Rep in CSSS (Computer Science Student Society). I didn’t get it, but they offered me a ‘First Year Rep’ position, and I decided to give it a shot. Trying to be more involved in the Computer
Science department, I also took part in Tri-Mentoring as a mentee (which didn’t really work out since my mentor got Co-op job so I’m kinda mentor-less), and I also volunteered for GIRLsmart, an event planned by the Computer Science department for grade six girls to learn more about computers. There, I was the procurement coordinator, so I get to go to bookstore and take supplies from there and pay with a piece of paper (it was fun!), decide for the whole team and all. For a first year student coming from another country, it was a hard task, rough start but it ends well. By the end of the event, I learned how to order foods from Safeway, who to talk to for different things needed in the department, and to sacrifice my free time for this event’s success. Out of all my involvements, I can say that this is one of the two activities I learned the most from beside the reading break project — I’ll talk about that later in this post.
While helping out with the GIRLsmart team, I also decided to help in the All Hallow’s Eve halloween party decoration team. This time, IPP planned the event. It’s a new experience for me since I never really celebrate halloween before. I’ve heard of trick or treat but that’s about it. I didn’t do as much like in GIRLsmarts, but I helped on the day to decorate the
room as well as some planning earlier that week. In that event I learned what halloween really is and the history behind it, also the story of the Jack-o-Lantern. I grew up in a conservative environment, so the dance itself is a new thing for me. I ended up liking it though, and I can’t wait for another halloween party =D
After the halloween party, I decided to take a break from my activities to focus on final exams… so the next activity I took part in is the SLC. Since I haven’t had the chance to deal with any A/V system ever since I got here, I decided to volunteer in the A/V team. Working with several other volunteers, we are in charge of transporting the A/V equipments, help troubleshoot if needed and things like that. It wasn’t like what I expected it to be. Apparently our leader was not prepared and all, and to be honest, he drove me nuts. Lots of things happened to the point where I wanted to just go back to my dorm and not help anymore, until my friend reminded me that that’s not how leaders deal with their problem; they face the problems and solve it, and see it from a different perspective… so that’s what I did. I decided to see things from his perspective, and I tried to put up a positive attitude throughout the event even though I don’t feel like it. Ever since that event, I learned to not put my standard towards other people because more often than not it’s going to disappoint me, rather I use that as a motivation for me to learn more about others.
I was reluctant to volunteer for another event because of SLC, so I did not apply for any, until I got an email from a senior that there’s going to be a technical career fair and they are inviting companies that deal with technology, something that I’m really interested in, so I decided to give it a shot. During that event, I learned a lot about how a job in that area looks 
like and what kind of people that the company looks for. Being a first year student, I was a little confused when they asked me what I major in because I haven’t decide, but the career fair assured me that technology is something that I will enjoy. I also learned the different things that I get to do with my major later when I graduated.
And the last activity I did was the reading break project. I went to East Hastings with a group of UBC students to teach children in kindergarten – grade 2 about magnets, forces and motions. The group was then divided into two; the group leaders and the experiment leaders. I was part of the group leaders, and my task is to take care of seven students and take them to different experiment booths. Little did I know, my group is one of the ‘special’ groups, so teachers kept on following our group just to make sure that things are fine. It was great on the first day, but it gets rough on the second day. The kids started rebelling and whining (I like kids, just not this side of them), some got into fight, some cried and all. By the end of the day, I got very exhausted and I felt like giving up and skipping the last day, but again I got reminded that giving up is not a leader’s trait, especially when you’re 18 and you’re facing 6 years old kids. On the last day, I learned, though it is a little too late, that it is very easy for children to trust
someone, and they try to imitate their role model. One of my kids remember exactly how I say the word ‘come on’ in my half-Indonesian accent, and she started saying that to me early that morning. That’s also when I realize that my ‘come on’ is actually a bit annoying. Anyway, aside from all those, I learned that setting attainable goals before doing something is a very good way for you to stay focused while doing your activity.
Aside from all the activities listed here, I also volunteered for some events, one of them being I Crave: Intimacy held in Place Vanier last week, UBC REC’s Triathlon Duathlon, SERA Focus Group, and an upcoming one, Destination: Indonesia. I decided to join all these because I learned from the previous activities I did that I like meeting new people and to learn about other culture, and I know I won’t have the gut to be this involved during my first year if I don’t have anyone I know to guide me through and if I don’t know anyone who’s doing the same thing. Through all these activities I learned a lot about myself and my capabilities, and what works for me and what not. It’s never too early to start doing anything, and the faster you find where you fit in the community, the faster you’ll feel that you belong in it. I found a community where I feel a sense of belonging, and I think everyone at UBC should too.
