Kimi TANG - Thai Cooking Course Thailand
I chose choir as my major CAS project this year. Although I am not a music student, I have always been interested in singing since I was very young. Even though I had joined many different choirs over ten years before I came to shanghai, this is really my first time to join a choir that has both boys and girls. Also, members can be all in different years is quiet interesting for me as well. Because of this, I also got a chance to make new friends in younger years. For the voice part, I am in the soprano part. Most people may think soprano might be the hardest part since we need to sing highest notes. However, it is not necessary truth. The most important thing in a choir is that you need to know how to make your voice to be balance and support the whole choir. People that always be in soprano may be usually sing the major melody of most of songs. They may not be able to understand how actually hard are the other voice parts are supporting and cooperating with the major melody. Some people they have the good voice but without the ability to understand how to cooperate with the team that will be the most serious problem in a choir. Especially be in this choir. To be honest, the quality of this choir is really not equal at all. Every voice part just relies on two or three people in each part, which is a really not good thing. To be in a choir, the most important thing is not showing up your own voice but cooperate with other members. This is the real way to make a choir to be successful.
Last year was my first time to participate in this amazing event. Honestly, at the very first I didn’t know much about who Terry Foxx is and why we are doing this, I thought I should just do it because I need some CAS hours. However, this year when I was a helper I learnt lots of things and realize that this is really touching and gives a lot of things. I participated as a helper, and first thing that I did was checking the names and give them shirts that they ordered. Well, I was just sitting there and pass the shirts to them and collect the money, but I saw their eyes and I could feel their heart. I could see that they are not there just for running or fun, those people were who really cares about people who are dying from heart cancer, and when I saw those people who were donating even there are no more shirts left, I was kind of shamed about myself., every time when I was donating for something or someone, I thought why do I have to donate money for them?, I am poor too! Like this I was so selfish and don’t know why I am helping these people. But now I regret of how I was thinking. When I was collecting that money from people who were running, I felt their heart as well. I couldn’t just sit there and wait them to come back from running, I was so embarrassed and felt I’m a useless person and I had to do something. So I start cleaning the field and picking all the trash up. I know it wasn’t a big thing, but I never volunteered cleaning public place and I wanted to be helpful somehow. After when I cleaned the field I saw people were coming back in to the field and I saw their joyful face and happiness. I don’t know why but I felt that happiness too. And when I was passing them some drinks I realize why people are helping people. This great event made me to look back of my life and taught me what it feels like to helping people. Also it changed my point of view of helping people. From now I will try my best to participate on any other helping program and donate for people who are in sorrow and sadness. Because, comparing me and who are dying from hunger and disease, I’m leaving far too plenty. I am really glad that YCIS has been participating on this event and other helping program. I learned so many things from YCIS but I think what I learned from Terry Foxx is the biggest thing ever. It changed my point of view and I learned how I feel when I’m helping and participating on those kind of events. And I feel so thankful. So, now I will try my best to help the world and people. Lastly, I had great time back there and I fully recommend people to join this great event.
Jin LEE YCIS of Shanghai CAS
In the past 2 years that I have attended YCIS, I have participated in numerous charity events and developed as a person. I cannot say which event particularly interested me but if I had to, it would be Terry Fox Run and You Mao Delivery.
Terry Fox Run is an annual non-competitive charity event held every year in adoration of a Canadian cancer activist, Terry Fox, his Marathon of Hope, and to raise money for cancer research.
The year 2009 was the first time I participated in this magnificent event. I was planning on donating 100RMB to run in this event but after Mr.Hornby presented a video of this organization during assembly, I knew I wanted to do more. I went to every meeting and was in charge of advertising. Although designing posters was fun, I felt that that was not enough to fulfill my desire to contribute more. I then started to be absent from every Personal Studies class so I can go to the parents room and separate the different sizes of the T-shirts.
On the day of the marathon run, I was running around helping everyone I could, I passed around water to those who were running, I brought children to the nearest bathroom, I even helped draw a portrait of Terry Fox’s face on the cement with chalk.
When this event ended, I was tired but it made me feel like I actually did something nice for the society.
You Mao Delivery is a charity event where you would be given a bag and were to fill it with presents for those who need it the most. Last year, I received a bag and was assigned a 9 year old boy. I decided to buy him shoes to prevent him from being cold and some electronic toys. Although I “finished” my part by donating items, I felt that my contribution was not enough and wanted to do more so I came in on a Saturday morning to sort out the bags and fill them with some toys from Carrefour. I remember on the day of the delivery, it was pouring rain. Everything was in a mess and somehow the numbered bags got separated, everyone was panicking and confused. After jumping on the taxi truck (that helped deliver the bags) and trying to organize the bags, I finally got to deliver the presents to the children. When their names were called, you could see their whole face light up with a big smile, it was the best feeling in the world. We played games with them and learned a little bit about each and every child, they also taught us how to sing a Chinese nursery song.
I started signing myself up to volunteer in other events. I have helped out with Battle of the Bands, ACE, Terry Fox, Heart to Heart, Pakistan Flood Fundraiser, Giving Tree, You Mao Delivery, and Nexus Library Project.
Throughout these charity events, I have learned that each cause could better the world even though my contribution is not a lot; I still feel that a little bit at a time could slowly improve the world.
Connie HUANG - YCIS
Ms Sieve and Mr Sylte present Patricia with an IB Award at YCIS
Last April, I had the incredible opportunity to go to the remote Chinese province of Inner Mongolia with the Shanghai branch of Roots and Shoots, a self-labelled “environmental” NGO. As part of this school’s Qing Lin Environment Club, throughout the 2009-2010 academic school year I took part in raising money to plant trees in that region through that organisation. Because we raised a certain amount of money that corresponded to a certain amount of trees planted in our name, we were invited to go up to Inner Mongolia and participate in the planting of our trees. Needless to say, it was an eye-opening experience. This is the first time that I had actually followed through a charitable act; usually, one donates money with a vague idea of where it is going but is never sure about what exactly it funds. But this time, I would see my money and that which I had worked hard at collecting all the way through.
After taking an airplane from Shanghai to Shenyang and then riding on a bus for 3 or 4 hours, we arrived at a town seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Kulunqi. I was impacted by the barrenness of the surroundings, of agricultural land that seemed completely lifeless. Though it was the beginning of spring, my eyes told me we were in dry winter. Yet in the middle of this wasteland, strikingly beautiful in its own deserted way, we arrived at a cluster of modern-looking buildings, à la Chinese. It was evident that whoever was in charge there was willing to “modernize” or “westernize” the small town, while, as I would later learn, destroying the livelihood of the native inhabitants. Though the Mongolian people are rich in culture and tradition, dependent on the Earth for sustenance, this was apparently slowly being destroyed by the lure of a shiny modern life.
The first night that we arrived, we found out that we were staying in a more plebeian hotel, the nicest one in the town having been reserved for government officials. Even staying in that hotel was an experience in itself, especially as there was no hot water and the pillows were filled with a type of grain husk. It was very real and humbling. That night we were taken to a restaurant where a traditional Mongolian welcoming ceremony was taking place for us. In the Mongolian way, we were made to drink a bit of baijiu, sprinkling drops of it on ourselves before. While that was the interesting cultural aspect of the trip, the environmental bit, the one we had come for, was to come the next day. The next morning, it was a bright cold day in April. We were taken to see a tree-planting site that was already a few years old. We were meant to see what our “forest” would look like in the span of a few years, and we were amazed to find that the 2cm thick saplings that we were going to plant were to grow into fine young hybrid poplar trees, just like these. We were then taken to the planting site. It was complete with a granite plaque commemorating our school’s efforts in earning money to build up the forest, and it was surrounded by the plots of other schools and corporations that work with Roots and Shoots so that they can say that they are “committed to the environment”. Though all of the city dwellers in my group, including myself, thought that planting the mini-trees was not going to be very hard work, after a couple hours of “toiling the earth”, we were exhausted and famished.
Though this gave us a chance to play the roles of farmers for a couple of hours, the most eye-opening experience I had in that trip was to take place that night, when we were shown a movie about the consequences of deforestation and desertification, which was what we were now combating. The movie showed us other rural regions in China that had the same problem as Inner Mongolia. Only a century ago, the province was mostly fertile grassland where indigenous nomadic tribes coexisted with the few farmers that sustainably worked the land, feeding their families and the lightly populated villages. However, with the population explosion of relatively recent years and the will of many rural dwellers to achieve the “city dream” by leaving their traditions and homeland to trade them for a miserable, dirty existence in the industrial cities, not only did the demand of agricultural products increase exponentially, but the people available to work the land significantly decreased. In order to feed the masses, Chinese farmers all over the country have been forced to abandon their sustainable generational farming practices to achieve short-term results to pay their rent and survive. In doing so, they have destroyed their source of life, the Earth. This is exactly what happened in Inner Mongolia. All of a sudden, people who were before content to lead natural lives were tempted by modern conveniences and thus found the need to strip the land of its resources. In consequence, the humus, or superficial fertile layer of soil, has been depleted and the ground has dried up, inviting the spread of desert all over formerly fertile grassland. And what was most amazing was that on the second day of tree-planting, we were able to experience the actual desertification phenomenon first hand. While we were planting, we were hit by a sandstorm so massive that for half an hour we had to hide in the ditches where we were planting. Afterwards, we all had sand everywhere, in cracks that we didn’t even know we had. It was hard evidence of what we had come for.
What we were trying to do with our tree-planting initiative was to not only counteract carbon emissions from faraway Shanghai, but also to give the farmers back their humus. By planting trees, we were inviting life back to the region, which would restore the fertility needed for farming, needed to sustain the livelihoods of these farmers. While I do not necessarily believe in “cutting carbon footprints”, as we need to stop emitting rather than superficially make up for them, I do believe in the noble cause that is stopping desertification and thus helping these farmers rescue their way of life. I am glad I had the opportunity to actually witness the problem, rather than just hear about it from afar. When one hears about issues, it is common to just place them in the backs of our minds and forget. But when one witnesses depravity and the consequences of one’s actions, it has a greater impact. One can truly see that it is up to humans to save the planet, because it has been humans who have destroyed it. I loved the Inner Mongolia experience and would recommend for others to repeat it in the years to come. Perhaps this initiative is what will bring those farmers a choice to stay in their land and live naturally rather than to fall into the traps of modern greed and materialism. We can hope; more importantly, as this trip showed me, we can play an active role to assure that we do the most that we can.
My major project is Video & Camera team. I started to serve in this team in 2009, August. That time, I was just a member of the team. The Video & Camera team is a team in a Shanghai Korean Community Church that manages all the TVs, videos. There are many events in the church and the job of the team is very important. Firstly, we handle all the TVs in the church. The church is the biggest Korean Church in Shanghai. The building has 6 floors and overall there are more than 25 TVs. We handle all the TVs and projectors in each room. Secondly, for each event, we need to make advertisement so that people know about the events and take part in those events. Also, when the events are held, we have to broadcast the event with cameras so that people at the back of hall and other floors can also watch the events being held.
To make advertisements for the events, the first thing that we do is a meeting to share each other’s ideas. We talk about the main theme of the event and share our ideas for the advertisement. We choose which genre that we are going to use and make image board for our film. When we finish deciding the basic shape of our video clip, we start to make an actual script for every team members. Then, we check how many cameras and microphones are available to us. The Video & Camera team can be separated into 3 teams: Middle school division, High school division, Adult division. Most of devices are responsible in adult division so we have to complete a form about borrowing the devices. After checking devices, we start to work. If the video clip needs people, we need to cast people who match to the characters. If the video clip needs drawings, we draw on a paper or in the computer with tablet pen. If the video clip needs photos, we take photos by own or find photos in the internet. In every video clip, we need music so we also find music that matches to each scene. With long and hard working period, we finally make a video clip that matches to the event. The video clips that we make are mostly advertisements that tell people the information of events being held but also there are video clips that show people how much the events were successfully finished.
The church hold lots of events but one of the biggest events is YOUTH KOSTA. YOUTH KOSTA is the acronym of YOUTH KOrean STudents Abroad. It is the big festival that is being held every once a year in many cities around the world. The festival held in all over the world where Korean Students are. Mostly it is 3 or 4 days and this is the busiest time for the Video & Camera team. As instructors, many famous ministers, missionaries, singers and movie stars visit our church. Because it held in our church, the whole Video & Camera team is responsible for all the broadcasts and video clips. To participate to YOUTH KOSTA, 800-1200 students visit our church from many different Korean churches. Many singers come to YOUTH KOSTA as instructors so the event always have concert in its schedule. All the videos which are broadcast are collected by our team and being made as DVDs with editing. We sell the DVDs in the last day so broadcasting is very important. Mostly we set 5 cameras in the hall and in a control room, we use controller to control three stationary cameras and switcher to choose which camera we are going to use as a broadcast. This needs high skills and perfect team work. Communication with each team member is the most important thing for these works.
When I joined the team in 2009, I was just a member of the team. But in March, 2010 I became the leader of Video & Camera team in Middle and High school division. Being a leader of 15 people was not easy. Actually it was very challengeable to me. Arbitrating in the middle of members and separating jobs fairly was the hardest job as a team leader. But by being the leader of the team, I could learn about responsibility and leadership by experience. Also I had to cooperate with all team members and other team members so I learned about team working. It was valuable experience to me. As a leader and a member of the Video & Camera team, I learned skills that can serve in other places so if I have chance; I will do this job again. At last, I am sure that this experience will be helpful someday in my life.
Amy
From May 10th of 2010 to October 31st of 2010, Exposition was held in shanghai. Since where I lived was very close to the venue of the exposition, I was looking for a vacancy of visitor assistant. While I was finding for the vacancy, I found out two organizations where I could register for the job. One of the organizations, Shanghai Gubei cultural center didn’t respond to the registration although I had waited for a long time. However, fortunately, the other organization, Korean association of shanghai provided me with the job. After being separated into groups, I was instructed how to assist the Korean visitors. In order to perform services well, I visited the expo place. It indeed was enormous and magnificent. The first building I saw was towering and wide that I couldn’t believe that it was a creation of human. Also, in commensurate with the reputation of expo, there were lots of colorful and well designed buildings representing their countries. In addition, there were incessant parades and small concerts every where. The number of volunteers was tremendous too; there didn’t seem any gap for inconvenience. However, I was a bit disappointed to hear that my role is not to help people around in the actual place few days after. The organization informed me that I my role was to help Korean visitors to shanghai by providing necessary information through phone for the assurance of the visitor’s safety and convenience. Thus, I received training in the organization on how to answer the phone call from visitors. Having listened to the lecture carefully, I was very convinced that I’m prepared for the assistance. However, it was certainly not comfortable to deal with people who I don’t know well for the first time. Thus, I made lots of mistakes such as stammering and mumbling or forgetting the information I needed to provide the callers with. Hence, feeling the sense of responsibility, I determined to prepare for the phone calls. As a result, in preparation for the emergency calls, I practiced remaining calm and clear in addition to preparing a sheet of paper to read for smoother communication. Also, I acquainted myself with the addresses and phone numbers of facilities I had to inform visitors of. In compensation for all my efforts, I have received all the rests of the phone calls well. However, because of the initial mistakes, I lost an award for the best assistant. However, the activity was still worth doing because I learnt some lessons and felt some achievements while helping people. Through listening to problems the visitors in confusion faced and giving them solutions to hear them becoming delightful, I felt a great achievement and a feeling that even I can help people to get out of difficult situation. In addition, I learnt that helping people not only brings happiness to the beneficiary, but also to benefactor. Hence, It was a unforgettable experience and I will continue voluntarily joining to the communal activity when opportunities are available.
During my summer holiday in 2010, I was honored to be given an opportunity to work at the Queen Mary Hospital as a volunteer worker. This experience have not only allow me to understand what the healthcare system is about, but also to understand what does it mean to patients who are on the edge of life and death.
On my first day, I was directed by the staff at the hospital to the ward. The ward was called B1 and is designed take patients in that have been emitted through the ER room. The majority of the patients come from elders home and many of them have difficulties in mobility. I was directed to the Nurse Station and the Ward Steward begin gave me a brave introduction about the ward, the rules of the amenities, what is nearby the ward and what do I need to look after. After this, she began to give assignments on filing the documents for each of the patients in the ward. She gave me a template of what the file should look like and so I begin my work as the girl in the “purple jacket”.
Ever since then, I begin the day with attending the doctors’ “grand round” across the whole ward where the MO’s (Medical Officers) will report to the Professor which is responsible for the whole ward. This opportunity has given me a more in-depth insight on the importance as it is extremely crucial for both doctors and patients. This is also the time where the patients will raise their concerns towards their MO’s and the Professor in which can allow an interactive discussion to be taken place. In the 2nd week of my stay I was introduced to another volunteer named Anita. I begin to show Anita around the ward and we had great fun working together. Throughout this period we have completed numerous tasks in the ward; this includes fixing the notice board by the door, the “Daily Ward Routine”, the “Ward Duties” and the “Specialist” boards. We also have fixed approximately 40 patients’ folders in 3 days.
Other than spending time in the ward, I have also joined other activities offered to us. This includes attending to a seminar done by a famous plastic surgeon on what plastic surgery is about. Through this seminar, I have known more what plastic surgery is about in a medical perspective and the sophistication and knowledge needed for a successful surgery to take place. Apart from this, I have also attended to a seminar on “Inflection Control” and have learn more on the correct method to order to get rid of the possible germs on our hands. As the presenter had worked at the Intensive Care Unit, I have found her first-hand-experience incredibly useful as this show the significance of these procedures in protecting ourselves from possible harms especially under an environment where large amount of viruses and germs can be found.
Furthermore, I have also visited many other departments in the hospital. During my 4 weeks of volunteer service I have see the effectiveness between the departments and the specialists themselves. Having a conversation with a Speech Therapist and a Pharmacist in the ward, it has allowed me to understand the measures that have been enforced in order to avoid possible human errors. Furthermore it also has allowed me to make new conceptions towards the job of the Speech Therapists. For example, I have always thought that it was the dieticians’ job to make corrections on what types of food should be consumed by each individual patient. However, after talking to a number of Speech Therapists it turns out to be one of their duties!
Having be able to stayed have not only allow me to see the importance of supports given to both from the patients and doctors, but also the importance of timely actions as the patient herself is between life and death. Seeing the nurses and doctors working dedicatedly towards the patients and explain patiently towards the families of the patients have allow me to see the strong bond between our society. Sometimes when you hear them talking you will not feel like hearing the “routine” talks between doctors and patients but rather between 2 friends talking and will support each other. By the end of the 4 weeks I have made many friends with other volunteers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and even with some the patients. It was happy for me as that I will not need to come in everyday at 9 am and stayed all the away till 5 pm again however I did felt nothing like that. Having have meet these group of people have further enrich my experience at QMH and they were the ones that have made these whole process thriving and memorable.
At the end, I would like to my appreciation to my supervisor Ms Luk for her guidance and support throughout this 4 weeks period. Thank you to all the nurses for their guidance and jokes in the “Tea Room”. It has been incredible that I could get a chance to meet and talk to them about their jobs and opinions towards both their jobs and lifestyles. Thank you to the doctors (Richard, Clare and Kai), speech therapists, dieticians and pharmacists in the ward for your explanations towards my enquiries and the patience you have with me.
Wing Shan
In 2008 I began a program at the Shanghai Morning Post. This opportunity was really coincidental. Seeing an advertisement on the newspaper, my original aim was just to try and examine my Chinese ability. Unexpectedly I passed the exam and therefore started my journalism experience with the academically strong local students.
During this two year course, I have learned a lot. Apart from all the basic journalism styles, what I learnt more was the different perspective the local students and I have. I realized that I had taken bilingualism for granted and my thoughts are influenced by a melding of two languages and two cultures. It was very interesting to be taught by a local newspaper as what I was taught in an international school is slightly different. In class we discussed the use of the media which should be unbiased and comment fairly on matters of state and people. This idea however was often met with some indignation on the part of some of the local students as it has always been the ideology of Chinese media to protect and enhance the image of the country.
The course also provided me with precious experiences. I would never forget the interviews I had either in galleries, supermarkets, book shops and such. Taking the first step was always hard, but now I am used to carrying my journalist qualification around and interview strangers. The interview process pushed me out of my comfort zone but built up my confidence, observation skills and critical thinking. The time between an interview and writing an article is very limited, as articles are valued because of its speed and freshness. Therefore the pressure forced me to focus and organize my thoughts faster. With my classmates, I went to a camp with my peers who had just experienced the 512 Si Chuan earthquake. Although it was just a day, but what I had learnt was enormous. Their optimism moved me, they were not lucky ones, indeed they had lost love ones but they did not lose hope. By the end of day I began reflecting ‘So why are we complaining so much when we are so lucky?’
The lectures that professional journalists come in and give were also impressive. I had listened to different kind of journalists and photographers varying from the social, economic, international news and the entertainment sections. There was amazement, shock, tears; I have indirectly experienced the world out of my zone from someone’s mouth. Their experiences also prove that journalist isn’t an easy job at all.
There was an extremely unique chance when I could have been a formal student journalist. It was a team focused on interviewing high school principals. The competition for the precious few spots was intense. Apart from school work, I was preparing for the extra exams and interview. I was overwhelmed when I got my acceptance letter, however as fair as the world is. I had to let this opportunity go in order to attend GYLC that summer. But the preparation itself and the results both allowed me to reexamine my ability. I can also never forget the joy when I saw my article published on the Shanghai Morning Post, although it was just in a small corner but the name of mine printed on it was alone significant.
I have enjoyed the training greatly although I thought I couldn’t persist at points when school work builds up. But I am glad that I made it. During my ‘graduation’ when I received an excellence award, the 2 years suddenly seemed too fast. By going through this graduation prepared me for the upcoming high school graduation. Value the time we have now, for it is too short already.
Linda Wong
Mrs Polson told us that this year she would not be directing the memorial day and proposed that we could do it. Valerie volunteered to be the director and began planning a rough script and stage directions. The first time we got to see it we were all together in the Drama room and rehearsed it, reading of the script. It was obviously still very unfamiliar to most of us and seemed somehow strange. This was because it was very hard for us to see this performance happening on a stage. We then sat together and came up with further suggestions. I then proposed to include the Character “Grimm Reaper” in this play as a substitute for a normal general since this would add a deeper meaning to that part. Valerie and the others agreed and I was given the task of finding an actor and costume for the new role. I asked my brother to take the role since he is the tallest person in this school and it would have a nice effect on stage. I then went to a Chinese tailor nearby, who was able to make a Grimm Reaper costume. Three days before the performance we went to the hall to practice it there for the first time. At first we had many small but very wrecking difficulties with the lighting, the stage directing and with remembering our lines but with some teamwork, effective communication with the staff that was send to help us with the technical’s and under good direction by Valerie, we overcame all of these problems as a team. The show went smoothly and with barely any mistakes and the crowd seemed quite affected by our play.
I had several great experiences during the rehearsal, the acting and after this play. First of all, it was frustrating at first when we had so many difficulties in the Gm, but once we started to talk to each other and constructively work on the play as a team, everything started going smoothly until we felt confident enough about this peace to say that we can now perform it in front of an audience. To see how we could eliminate problems as a team made the whole experience twice as rewarding and enjoyable. Then acting this peace was great as we all felt confident about our parts. The audience showed a great amount of respect as they were absolutely silent during the play and even while leaving the hall. The feedback we got from some of the teachers and other students was then the icing on the cake as it proved to us that this peace had all the effect on the audience we wanted it to have, and that is the greatest reward and compliment any actor or director of a play can get.
This experience has taught me that everything can be solved by effectively working together with your team. Also has it showed me again how much pleasure i can receive from perusing my hobby acting.
Caspar
After the tryout of basketball team of my first year of IB, I’ve been notice that I didn’t make it, which is I the choice I have left is I can only walk away from basketball like other people do, but I don’t want to quit like rest of the people who didn’t get in to the team, but after I argue with the coach, they still think that I’m just not good enough for the team yet, so apparently there is no way that I can play on the court with my friends, and support them on the court for getting the honor of winning every game.
Even these dramatic feeling sounds a little bit childish and exaggerate, but I think it because when people don’t care about basketball might think it doesn’t really matter for them, but for me, basketball does matters, it something that I can be hundred percent focusing on, it something that I will be willing to keep practicing hours and hours for it. After all, I think my passion for basketball is the main reason that I become a manager for the team.
The reason I know a team will need a manager is because I was in the team before, and it will be always nice if someone can check what should we be focusing on the game, is it defense? Or is it offense? Who is their main player, and what is their “spot” on the court, and the most important thing, the game set record, it something that can only be done by some one who know basketball, but it cannot be the players of coach in our team. There is too many things that should be done if there is a manager, but normally no one will want to be a manager, because everyone want to be a player, but if they didn’t get select by coaches, they will just choose to quit and forget about the team. Another reason that I choose to be a manager is that I’m always a team player and supporter on the court, so I think even I cannot support those team members on the court, I can still support them off the court if I’m a manager of the team. Beside helping people, I think being a manager can help myself too, because playing basketball is not only about how strong you are or what special skills can you use, I’m not saying these is not important, but other than talent, speed or strength, your IQ on the court is important too, the reaction of every immediately situation, how wide can you see, which player is white open and what decision is best for the team, these decisions will need to be made in few second, but some of them can not be learned that easy when you are playing a game, because in the game we cannot notice everything and looking at everyone, so if I can have more chances to stand beside the court, watch every move and every decision that players make, that will be a wonderful chance, because every player have different minds and personality, it change the decision they make, so to compare with every different decision in similar situation I can learn that what can I do and what will be best for the team if I’m facing the situation on the court.
After I start doing manager’s job, I realize being a manager is harder than what I thought, I cant spend too many time on the marking sheet, I need to keep looking up, otherwise I might miss something, and after the game I need to report to the coach, what should be improve, what did we do to make the team win, or what the thing we didn’t do to make the team win, these details thing is important to the team, because if my suggestion is right, our team can put more time on practicing the right thing and improve it more efficiency.
I think what I learn from this is that if we really want to support something, and treat it seriously, for me is like basketball team, for others can be any subject, business, or anything, there is always something we can do, I want to join the team, but physically I’m not that good yet, so I become a manager first, what I’m trying to say is “When God close a door, he opens a window” by this way, I wont waste my time, it gives me different chance to learn new skills. After the basketball season, I think spending time on this really worth the time it cause.
