My 2nd RAC course turned out to be a memorable one. What I initially thought will be a disastrous week actually became one that will stick with me for a long time to come.
A motley all-boys group comprising of St Pats, GMSS , Deyi and HCI. The first impression the group gave me wasn't a very positive one with a few whose body language clearly told me that they really did not want to attend the camp. A sinking feeling hit me as I started my first get-to-know-you conversations. It wasn't as pleasant nor positive like my previous few courses. Nevertheless, I had to just press in and do my best to liven up the atmosphere and to have the boys buy into the programme slowly but surely.
If anything, I believe Simon and myself had divine favour as we heard of other instructors dealing with scuffles and defiant students who had to eventually be dealt by the higher management. In comparison, I believe we had a reasonably manageable group. Not only were we able to have control over the group, we also had opportunities to speak hard truths into these boys.
I felt that over the course of the programme, the hardened hearts were softened allowing them to better receive whatever we had to tell them. For this, I was extremely grateful that we could make time for special activities like the Supper Club and switching from doing the External Rockwall to the more challenging VCA, which led to most of them experiencing a personal breakthrough.
Boys being boys, they like challenges but not necessarily be challenged, especially when they have to be confronted by their inadequacies and fears. It hits them at the core of their ego and I thought our game plan to just keep pushing the boundaries for them paid off. Not only did they stuck through the entire duration of the course, they grew to become boys who understood a little more about themselves, others and more importantly, how to be a better person as compared to who they were on Day 1.
Like my parting words to them during the final debrief, I hope they will become BOYS TO MEN.
A motley all-boys group comprising of St Pats, GMSS , Deyi and HCI. The first impression the group gave me wasn't a very positive one with a few whose body language clearly told me that they really did not want to attend the camp. A sinking feeling hit me as I started my first get-to-know-you conversations. It wasn't as pleasant nor positive like my previous few courses. Nevertheless, I had to just press in and do my best to liven up the atmosphere and to have the boys buy into the programme slowly but surely.
If anything, I believe Simon and myself had divine favour as we heard of other instructors dealing with scuffles and defiant students who had to eventually be dealt by the higher management. In comparison, I believe we had a reasonably manageable group. Not only were we able to have control over the group, we also had opportunities to speak hard truths into these boys.
I felt that over the course of the programme, the hardened hearts were softened allowing them to better receive whatever we had to tell them. For this, I was extremely grateful that we could make time for special activities like the Supper Club and switching from doing the External Rockwall to the more challenging VCA, which led to most of them experiencing a personal breakthrough.
Boys being boys, they like challenges but not necessarily be challenged, especially when they have to be confronted by their inadequacies and fears. It hits them at the core of their ego and I thought our game plan to just keep pushing the boundaries for them paid off. Not only did they stuck through the entire duration of the course, they grew to become boys who understood a little more about themselves, others and more importantly, how to be a better person as compared to who they were on Day 1.
Like my parting words to them during the final debrief, I hope they will become BOYS TO MEN.
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| Attempting the Raft Escape |
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| Celebration Dinner |
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| Our parting shot initiated by these boys |
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