I'm really not good with goodbyes. :(
The training towers of AKLTG at Hoechiang is gonna move to Alexandra and i just can't bear to go. It's truly been another home to me, with all the amazing people've met from all walks of life, the lessons i've learnt, the people who've moved me and people and experiences that've changed me. Here's a walk down memory lane, a tribute to the amazing place that has house so many of my memorable public camps as I grew from a mere participant to an assistant coach and now a coach.
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IAG SENIOR, 19-22 MARCH 2009
I must admit, i learnt and changed much actually not by going through the camp as a participant. Dejun and Yuyuan were the PD/APD for that round and i recall how Dejun sobbed so badly next to Leroy in one of the training sessions.. To be really honest, i can only remember snippets of my experiences as a participant, but it was what brought me into the akltg family in the first place, so i'm thankful, nevertheless.
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IAG JUNIOR 1, 21-25 NOVEMBER 2009
Joining the coaching family back in June 2009 was probably one of the best decisions i had made in my life, and one i'd never regret. IAG Junior 1 Nov '09 was my first camp that i had coached, and it's probably one of the best and most memorable. I recall how Kenneth and Julian was the PD and APD for that camp, and how impressed all the trainers were with the coaches in that round (it was apparently so commendable that we each received a cert as a coach hahaha). Coached alongside Terry and he'd been such a good mentor and friend to me and up till now we're still keeping in touch and i'm thankful for that! Glad i changed his negative perspective on working alongside an assistant coach too :) This camp will always be one that i hold close to my heart.
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IAG JUNIOR MARCH 2010
Second camp, and i remember how crazy and hyped it was.. The energy level was really really realy high, i swear. Was quite amazing how the coaching team could still be quite close even though most of us didn't know each other from the start. :) With the ever so pokerfaced Tjhai as my co-coach, i learnt alot too, especially with my wacko group (Inspirebobs) hahaha :)
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VISITING IAG SENIOR MARCH 2011
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IAG JUNIOR 1, 21-25 NOV 2011
Well, I did manage to convince my parents to let me coach, and i'm so glad for it. This camp really marked the peak of bondedness for a coaching team i've seen thus far and it really, truly felt like family. So much joy, fun, energy, urgency, care and love in this camp :) Brought my DSLR along for 3 of the days so i was kind of the photographer for the camp as well I guess!
Taking this camp was a huge stretch and experience for me; was given a group of 13 recourse participants and was paired with Julian whom was the music man for the camp.. He was absolutely sweet and trusting though, taking care of me and allowing me to freely handle the group. I learnt so much from this camp.. And i still recall how people were telling me that Julian was pushing for my promotion to OJT in the next round :') So darned grateful for this lot, it made me feel at home and at ease like i've never before.
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IAG JUNIOR 2, DEC 2011
Amazingly, i was allowed a subsequent camp in the same season!!! #hyperventilates
Rossana and Julian were the PD/APD and i remember that this was my OJT camp.. Super taxing but it all paid off in the end, really. So glad to have grown closer to Clarence, Kiara, Benkoh and everyone else in the process too :) Oh and p.s. I passed my OJT ;)
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IAG SENIOR 1, 24-27 NOV 2012
First senior camp and i swear i was actually really really really nervous and nervewrecked over it... But alright it was really fun, i admit. Especially with no fear of the kids not understanding stuff + the supah fun amazing race :) Was supposed to have Wenkai as a co-coach but he fell ill after the first day and yeah i was left with a group of seven to take care of by myself. I guess it was good as well, seeing that i could build direct rapport with them and really get to know each and every one of them better! This coaching team was really crazy too, love them to bits and i was so especially thankful for Pearlyn, Lay, Azura and Russ (who came to visit on a few occasions), they gave me so much support advice and care :) Had some really stressful moments with handling TR3 and doing my best to help out with admin on the last day when both admins weren't around, but it deemed to be an extreme stretch for myself and it truly made me go out of my comfort zone with my limits and all. Was super fulfilled though and i saw my kids grow which made me immensely happy :) Moreover they still keep in contact with me and update me about their lives so yep :)
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IAG JUNIOR 2, 28 NOV - 2 DEC 2013
Took up the challenge and did a consecutive camp after my Senior 1 :) Above are my absolutely qtpie kids from IAG Junior 2 :) It was a reaaaaaally tough camp for me.. Though Senior 1 was taxing in the sense that i had lots of parental stress / responsibilities, Junior 2 drained my energy in a way no other camp has ever. So okay, at the start i had Sheena as a co-coach and it was a relief to me but then after an hour they figured Alicia (oh my twin sis btw) needed her more to handle the youngest group in camp (mine was second youngest) so uh huh, goodbye co-coach and hello myself yet again.
Alright so this group was really tough for me to handle for the fact that they were mostly really young and didn't understand the major segments (and trust me, it's extremely vexing). But it would be this precise fact that it was so tough that it was extremely fulfilling and enriching. It stretched my patience thin, but yet it strengthened it too.
This round's coaching team was great in it's own way too! First day's energy may've been quite low and all but (skipping the details on the not-so-nice stuff and the meeting called on the first day) i really learnt alot from this team as well. Special mention to Vanessa for being really understanding, Pearlyn for the listening ear and encouragement during her visits, Clarence for always being there (be it in coaching or life) with advice and comfort, and Russell for making the effort to come down, the comforting hugs and also for the (literal) shoulder to cry on :')
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At the end of the day there's another day dawning;
So super grateful that i have this family that has made me grow and stretch so much as an individual. Joining the coaching family has been and will always be a choice that i'd never regret; it had shaped so much of the values of sensitivity, care, service and initiative and it has made me the individual i am today to a large extent :) Through coaching, i really found my true passion in helping people unleash their potential (yeah, cheesy, i know) and made me narrow my long term career into becoming a teacher at Northlight :)
I ain't good with goodbyes, and moving out of hoechiang is actually quite a big blow for me cuz loads of my memories were there.. but i'm hopeful and excited for the new training centre, and at least the people who made these years so enjoyable would be moving together as a family as well :) Really hope i can coach in June, i'd be the pioneer batch of coaches to coach in the new facility!
It's getting real late so i'll end my tribute here. 10 Hoe Chiang Road, thanks for all the memories. May this family continue to strengthen, bond and grow through the many years to come :) x
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