Learning Outcomes:
Demonstrates having taken on significant challenges and learned new skills
Demonstrates skills and recognizes the benefits of working collaboratively
Recognizes and considers ethics of choices and actions, and the role that privilege and power plays
After the 14-days expedition, my journey as a CEC leader did not stop there. After the summer break, we have to come back a little bit early than the other second years. We will have a post-retreat trip to Story Ranch before orientation starts to refresh our minds and plan an actual program that we will have next year. We spend 3 days there to heal ourselves and prepare mentally and technically for orientation. As always, we have a lot of discussions and brainstorming ideas for next year. We worked as a team and trying to get the best ideas possible to implement it in our first year. During the discussion itself, I personally find it hard to participate fully. My challenge is still this thought of not being good enough to express my thought. This is an ongoing challenge that I face but specifically, during that time, it was hard as something else was in my mind other than focusing on what we need to plan for our first year. Anyway, the discussion revolves around "what kind of environment we want to create for our first year?" , "what role you guys want to play as a CEC leader? something that is practical?", and "what needs to be improved for orientation this year? ". What I realized during this time was that our 14-days expedition was to prepare our soft skill if we encounter a problem or issues, later on, however, this post-retreat was for practical planning for our first year. Either way, I have discovered new challenges, new skills, new insights, and fully understand the importance of working collaboratively to make an impact in our community.
During orientation, we have a couple of important roles as a CEC leader. some of us have the responsibility to take care of each first-year group, some of us need to help with the workshops, some of us doing the outdoor group activities, and some of us leading a circle discussion. Many roles and very fast-paced work. We could not really see the impact of orientation at that moment but after a couple of months, it appears. What we were discussing during our trip at Story Ranch has possibly come true. We were hoping that orientation could be a little less stressful for the first year, after orientation we could be the person they asked if they ever need guidance, and that throughout the year we are the people who are available if they have an issued and want to ask advice and maybe holding a Restorative Justice. After these moments passed I realized how my power and privileges as a second year really determine how the first year experience in the first couple of months in UWC. We really have the controller to set the mood, experience, and program their first semester in UWC. I felt more responsible for my words, actions, and thoughts shared with them considered my position as a CEC leader.
This responsibility continues when we had a CEC retreat in the middle of the semester. The purpose of this is to check in with them for their experience in UWC so far. Here, our job as a facilitator in which we learned in the College of Idaho last summer was tested. Me with my partner, Claudia were given a group of people to guide them during their time in this retreat. Here, I have to overcome my fear to speak in public and have to show them my best side as a leader. I do not have any intention to let them down and planning to give them the best experience they could ever have. Being vulnerable is the key to this retreat. The presence of vulnerability makes it easier for us to share stories with each other and being open to advise. As we have a couple of sessions with our group, I have discovered a lot of new insights because of the stories I heard in my circle. These learning experiences are rare and precious to me. What interesting is the fact that I forced my self to be the best leader possible for them while being able to be vulnerable at the same time. No exact word could express my gratitude for this moment. One thing for sure is that I really am grateful for every little or big learning experience with this program.
It has been a valuable experience for me to be able to contribute to a huge program like the Constructive Engagement of Conflicts program in UWC. I can not imagine how my second-year experience without being part of CEC. Thank you for the memories and I will see you in my last post soon! Adios~
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