Organizing the schoolwide event Saints Spotlight '23 was an unforgettable experience that I cherish deeply. Alongside my friend Pham Tran Thanh Truc, we embarked on this spontaneous journey to provide our fellow Saints with a meaningful platform to ignite their inner passion and interests. We self-initiated and became the chairs of this event, and from the initial idea to its execution, we poured our hearts and souls into it.
We spent countless hours brainstorming event structure, event theme and potential flow of DDAY. The process was not without its challenges, especially when it came to event sign-ups and talent recruitment. However, the overwhelming response from our fellow Saints was heartwarming and reassured us that we were onto something special. The event showcased an incredible variety of talents, from KPOP dance to the history of banknotes, murder mystery acting, and soulful singing, demonstrating the diversity and creativity within our school community.
As the co chair of the event, I took charge of overall publicity, managing our social media presence and designing eye-catching materials. I also worked diligently on logistics, ensuring every lettering was perfectly displayed on stage, overseeing talent scripts, hosting dry run rehearsals, and even contributing to the stage decoration. I also became the glue that held our team together, making sure everyone fulfilled their responsibilities and, in doing so, exhibited my leadership skills.
While there were moments of logistical havoc and coordination errors throughout the process, seeing the event unfold successfully and witnessing the fantastic turnout warmed my heart. This experience was my first time taking the lead in planning such a massive event, and the months of hard work and dedication paid off in the end. It was a journey filled with growth, learning, and the satisfaction of bringing a vision to life, and I am proud to have been a part of it. This accomplishment will forever hold a special place in my portfolio, reminding me of the power of teamwork, determination, and the ability to turn ideas into reality.
I had the opportunity to lead a team as the Secretariat for the SAINTS Model United Nations, serving as the Administrative Director and overseeing the press corps. This role presented several challenges, including brainstorming debate topics such as women’s rights to education, climate technology, the erosion of minority languages, and the Vietnam War.
Managing logistical details was a significant part of my role. I coordinated the opening ceremony, hosted the guest of honor, Mr. Kishore Mahbubani, and handled the production of gift tote bags, certificates, and venue setups to facilitate productive discussions among delegates. These experiences greatly contributed to my personal growth and enhanced my organizational skills.
As the Administrative Director for Saints Model United Nations, I am responsible for paperwork, meetings, and logistics, and collaborating closely with the team to develop engaging debate content has been a rewarding experience. My primary focus was to ensure the smooth functioning of our weekly sessions, which involved meticulous attention to detail in managing paperwork, such as registration forms, delegate assignments, and conference materials. By maintaining organized and efficient administrative processes, I aim to create a conducive environment for meaningful discussions and productive debate. I worked closely with the team to design engaging content for our sessions. Together, we crafted thought-provoking topics, developed comprehensive background guides, and curated informative resources to facilitate well-informed and stimulating debates. I am also excited to be involved in planning the upcoming year's Saints Model United Nations Conference.
My role as the Administrative Director has honed my organizational and multitasking abilities and deepened my understanding of the importance of effective teamwork and communication. By collaborating closely with the team, we were able to leverage our diverse skill sets and perspectives to create a dynamic and inclusive environment for delegates to learn and grow. The role has given me valuable insights into effective event management, content development, and strategic planning. These skills will undoubtedly be transferable to future endeavours and contribute to my personal and professional growth.
Reflecting on my experience as the Vice Captain of Romanis House within the Hall Student Council, It was an immensely fulfilling role, allowing me to showcase my creativity and contribute my skillsets to a community that holds vibrancy to my stay in Singapore. This experience taught me valuable teamwork, communication, and project management skills, solidifying my passion for design and its ability to inspire and make a lasting impact.
Some of the events I have organized with the team include:
Councillor Commemoration Ceremony
Saints' Talents Show '23
Hall Graduation and Farewell Ceremony
SAH Orientation Programme
Leadership @ SAJC
Joining the ChrySAlis Leadership Summit 2023 has been an eye-opening and transformative experience for me. The summit emphasized five practices of exemplary characters: "Model the way, encourage the heart, enable others to act, challenge the process, and inspire a shared vision." These principles have provided me with valuable insights into effective leadership and have become a guiding light in my journey.
One of the most significant takeaways from the summit was the importance of creating a safe space for open and meaningful discussions. The three key aspects of a safe space—comfortability, deeper insights, and learning from others—allowed me to engage more authentically and fearlessly. This safe space nurtured a conducive environment for personal growth and helped me embrace my leadership archetype as someone who is task-oriented while still valuing relationships. Understanding my leadership archetype and acknowledging my preference for a stable structure gave me a clearer understanding of my working style and, more importantly, has allowed me to empathize with teammates who may operate differently. This newfound awareness enables me to lead with more compassion and inclusivity, fostering a cohesive and productive team.
On the next day, I attended a workshop on skilled communication which further enriched my leadership skills. Learning to be precise and concise while considering the context and audience has made my communication more effective and impactful. The workshop emphasized the features of clear speech, such as detailed explanations and tailoring the message to suit the audience, even if they are as young as five years old. This has been invaluable in my leadership journey as communication truly is the key to building meaningful bonds and friendships.
Throughout the summit, I had the opportunity to build meaningful connections with fellow participants. These bonds have not only enhanced my leadership journey but also made the entire experience enjoyable and enriching. Being able to exchange ideas and learn from others with diverse backgrounds and experiences has been a catalyst for personal growth.
This summit has undoubtedly been a pivotal point in my leadership journey, and I look forward to applying these lessons in both my personal and professional life.
St. Joans House Committee /2021-2022
House Committee is a part of the Student Leadership Programme, aiming to promote and foster the IJ Spirit through sports and school-wide activities, building up a sense of belonging to the school.
I was an active committee member that diligently helped organize school wide events like Teacher's Day, National Day Celebration, IJ Fiesta, IJ Spitit day and many more by performing mass dances, comedy skits and decorating the school. With the much heavy commitment needed like arriving early to school for dance rehearsals, having online meetings or staying back after school, I have learnt the importance of time management and prioritizing tasks such that I was able to fully experience the fun school spirit, whilst remaining focused in my academic pursuits.
Chinese & English Debate Society /2020
Kuen Cheng's Chinese & English Debate Society aims to empower debaters and harness critical thinking skills and confidence in expressing ideas eloquently.
As the Event Coordinator and Publicity Head, I was actively involved in setting up of CCA Booths, designing CCA boards and gifts for teammates in special occasions. Together as a team, we organized weekly bonding activities, Welcoming/ Farewell Party, Teachers' Day and more. Most importantly, we set up weekly debate layouts and brainstormed debate motions and adjudicated debates.
Class Vice Chair (2023-Present)
St. Andrew's Hall Bus Representative (CHIJ) (2021-2022)
I coordinate communication between Hall General Office and Saints from the same school on changes and updates in school bus schedules.
Publicity Officer of IJ Red Cross Youth (2021-2022)
I was involved in the CCA's artistic aspect which includes designing CCA board, handmaking card designs, decorating classrooms for occasions and illustrating CCA Jacket.
Video Editor and Director of Teacher's Day Committee (2022)
I led the video team to shoot an interview video in school and was involved in the video editing
Class Environmental Representative (2020)