Host : Tai Po District Outstanding Students’ Association
Reflection by Wong Wing Gi :
Getting the Tai Po Outstanding Student Award was not the thing I always keep at the back of my mind in the process of filling in the application form and attending the interview. I allowed myself to have the empty space in mind to accept new ideas, learn from different leaders and experience all the feelings it gave me one by one. This mindset of focusing and enjoying the process rather than having the only goal of winning the award in my mind made me became one of the awardees getting this award.
Being in an unfamiliar campsite with people that I do not recognize does not scare me, surprisingly it gave me the excitement because of endless opportunities and possibilities that I could have in this leadership camp. Rather than taking up the role of being a leader as usual, I have chosen to take a step back to be a team player this time. We do not only learn from our own success, we learn by making mistakes and learning from our mistakes and also the others. I soon realized the fact that being a team player can see more of the full picture than a leader. Because usually when you are under the spotlight and became the leader, the responsibility, and duties you will have on your shoulders will be heavier. So it is easier for us to focus on getting things done than observing the full picture in detail or appreciate the great qualities other teammates have. This was a unique experience for me to fully engage in all the activities in the camp while learn from the other awardees to be a better leader.
I always believe in the idea that leaders came in all shapes and sizes, and there are no specific standard or criteria in order to be a leader and the experience of joining this camp prove that this idea is right. In the camp and talent show that we had in the prize-giving ceremony, we can see that different awardees have their own strengths and talents, it is just that we need to put different people in the right place for us to make good use of our strengths and talents.
We do not always need to be under the spotlight so that we can be called as the leaders, sometimes what leaders need the most is not the recognition, attention or praise. Instead, it is the learning experience of working with and learning from different leaders that leaders need the most. The leadership camp, interview sessions and talent show behind the award gave me what I needed to become a better leader.
At the very end, the number of awards will be the not be the thing which matters the most, it is the tiny little things hidden behind every award which will stay in our souls forever and eventually change our lives.
