About 120 students turn out. Ice breaking as the first program really got the kids mixed among themselves. Each group was purposely set up to consist students from every level so that they got to know each other. In their quest to make their group the champion in every activity, they really work together. A lot of barriers are broken down in the process.
What touched me the most is the kids feedback in the 'Coffee Mate' activity. A clever student (the Coffee) was paired with a weak student (the Mate). A Coffee was suppose to be a counselor and interview his/her partner of the problems that he/she is facing to study. Is it personal, financial, or any other type of problem. Then he/she is suppose to give advice. The Mate, on the other hand, was supposed to interview his/her Coffee how he/she study and how does he/she overcome any problems faced. After a period of 20 minutes of doing that, I randomly choose any student, particularly the silent ones. One Coffee said that her Mate has financial problem to begin with. She did not have adequate reference books. Another problem was she didn't have anybody to teach her. So I asked the Coffee what is she going to do about it. She said she is willing to share her reference books and offer her Mate to study with her. To me to achieve this kind of collaboration and team work from a half day program is simply incredible and touching.
One Mate said after her discussion with her Coffee she now realized that she had not been a good daughter all this while since she is always quarreling with her mom. She also realized that there's a lot more that she needed to do to succeed well in her SPM examination. The realization that kids will listen more to their peer friends was the drive behind this particular activity. We teachers had been telling kids all these a thousand times. But when they hear it from their peer friend it was as if it was the first time such thing strike their mind and soul.
One Coffee said his Mate has the problems of spending too much time riding bikes, chatting, playing football and the such. When I asked the Mate to response to that he said he sincerely admitted that he had those problems and he would try his best to improve. A very good self reflection.
One would said that such program should be held at the beginning of the year. I would say it is better to do it last minute than not to do at all. We teachers are learning too on how to handle programs to motivate students. There were four major activities and each one of them produced unexpected results. A lot of confessions, self reflections, realizations, and great presentations.
We embraced each other at the end of the program. Many girls hugged me for a very long time. Some cried on my shoulder. I kissed every girl, a manifestation of my genuine love for all of them. Bond formed and bond sealed.
Good luck to all my girls and boys. Good luck in your SPM examination. May Allah bless us all.
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