Mentoring through action
A group of 14 students from College of Alice & Peter Tan Student Leader Action Mentorship (CAPT SLAM) mentored 20 students from Tanglin Secondary School (TSS) as part of a three-month programme which culminated in a cultural immersion trip to Yunnan, China from 1 to 10 December.
The mentoring programme consisted of eight sessions where mentors and mentees discussed issues such as leadership and beliefs. Each session ended with CAPT students playing a sport with TSS students, such as touch rugby and captain’s ball. An overnight camp prior to the overseas trip served as a testbed for the TSS students’ skills in teamwork. The programme aimed to inspire CAPT participants to take up more of such engagement projects and to impart leadership skills in TSS students. CAPT Resident Fellow Dr Tan Lai Yong advised the group on programme planning, with the students taking the lead in conceptualising the mentoring sessions and planning the trip.
The CAPT students ensured that the activities during the trip were specially tailored to meet the objectives. During a visit to Ning Hu Primary School, TSS students taught the children basic Frisbee skills and played games with them. Another team of TSS students conducted a Health Fair in Mandarin, to educate the young about the damaging consequences of smoking, as well as addiction to drugs and computers.
During the trip in Yunnan, CAPT students learnt that the key to healthy team dynamics was a willingness to engage in open communication. Located 3,000m above sea level, some CAPT mentors found acclimatising to the surroundings and taking care of their mentees at the same time rather challenging. By voicing their difficulties, they were able to encourage one another and work as a team.
Another key takeaway for the CAPT students was to accept one another’s weaknesses. Through honest sharing, the students were able to provide suggestions for self-improvement. Celebrating strengths was important as well, as this allowed them to appreciate every individual’s value.
The TSS students were very positive about the trip, and a number of them felt that there were abundant opportunities to grow as an individual.
A friendly game of basketball at Yu Hua Zhong Xue
Speaking of his experience, Leonard David Wee, a Year 2 student from NUS Design and Environment, said, “Looking back at the past three months since the start of this programme, it’s really heartening to know how much you can impact someone’s life based on your actions and words. Seeing how the mentees have grown through this programme reminded me of myself when I used to be insecure. Sometimes in life, it isn't always about the big things; the little things count too: constant encouragement and being assertive.”
Ng Wan Jee, a Year 1 student from NUS Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) added that it has been extremely gratifying and fulfilling to witness the growth of her mentees through group sharing and activities.
By Teo Wei Yang, Year 2, FASS
