19 January 2013

Learning Journey

Its been a while since I posted something on this blog, it seems ages ago that people are blogging as most of us, in reality, follows the trend of the society; i.e. facebook-ing.

Well, these couple of months have been a roller-coaster ride of emotions from being driven with motivation to get things right and being low from the reaction of others. However, the time for a decisive decision is near. 

I've always wondered about how my life has been like and how will it be in the future. Can't really say its exciting compared to others, however can't exactly say it's boring as well. However, it has been a rather interesting learning journey ever since I took on Scouting as a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) since secondary school. It stuck on me on how much there is to learn and to re-learn over and over again. Discovering and re-discovering new methods of leadership and implementation of skills. 

I've always talked to several close friends and leaders about the ideas of Scouting, why the Founder (Lord B.P.) started such a movement and why the difference in sections or age group. Over time, I've discovered some distinct differences and perhaps I will continue to discover more as I continue on this journey.

I wasn't a Cub Scout during my younger days, reason being: the meetings are all in the morning... I was rather lazy to wake up just to attend to such a matter. However, I did have experience handling these kids, most of which are rather lively and always looking for to fun times. I guess as a child, you don't expect much and you don't have to worry much as you just want to have fun.

I begin as a Scout, it was rough (mainly due to school environment), however it was fun too. The boys did many stupid things (now that I think back about it). It was more than learning to be a Scout and learning the soft and hard skills. Like what the sociological theorists said, socialization from an institution. I've learnt more importantly to just achieving merits, there are friends that will walk the long way with you and are still doing so. 


As a Venture, it was a time that I did venture around, moving out of my comfort zone and going into bigger projects to learn, experience and cultivate myself. It wasn't easy, largely due to my own characteristic, however I learnt to be open (venturing motto) and accept things as they come by. Somehow it allows me to see things at different angles, understand how people feels and why sometimes their action may seem unreasonable or irrational. 

As a Rover, I was very much in a dilemma, stuck between being a member of another unit and serving as a young leader for my own. It was a rather tough balancing act altogether. However, as one of my respected leader (Sox) mentioned, rovering is about the time of discovery and helping others through this discovery as well (what they called guided discovery). It's a time for young adults to discover themselves and if they have already done so, to help others to discover themselves. It's strange as how sure are we that we fully understand ourselves in the first place.

It was said to learn to love yourself before you love others. I guess its very true to the point that if you can't love yourself, how do you know what love is? 

Currently now, as a leader, the weight of being a responsible adult is on me. Things haven't be easy, especially dealing with the current generation of 'strawberry' kids. Expectations are different from before and technology has overtaken basic fundamental skills that might be useful in the past. 

Well, whatever the future holds for the group and for me, I will just move on. Back to the wanderer that I was and to help other people. In doing so, perhaps I can take the chance to change myself again... to change to be a better person so that when I die someday, hopefully there will be someone that will say: "He was a true blue scout, that upholds the promise and law that he had taken".