Back to the days when i was applying for a place in the Sang Khem YEP team a year ago, i dreaded the interview that i had to go through before i was selected. So when i was selected into the team out of 100+ applicants, i truthfully thought that i was amongst the so-called “cream of the crop”.
As the YEP approached its end at the end of trip, i plucked up the courage to ask my team leader the rationale in picking me into the team. The response was simple, “We found you to be an easy-going person, that is all”.
Selecting our choice of participants is certainly not based on merits, skills or experiences alone. Team dynamics, as one puts it, is not easy to manage. We can’t have a team of leaders, or a team of followers. Having a good mix of individuals from all walks of life is what we are looking for.
Wensu and I sincerely hope that all applicants understand the rationale behind our selections and trust that we have seriously cracked our heads choosing our members. It certainly wasn’t an easy job. For those who didn’t get a place in our team, please don’t take it as a negative appraisal of you and your values. We believe that all applicants have got their merits and virtues.
To those who have been selected into the team, congratulations. We hope that the team can work as one and move on to achieve whatever we have set out to achieve. The days ahead are going to be tough but as a saying goes, “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going”. Find strength in the reason that made you sign up and that reason will keep you going strong.
Yup, being selected for this trip does not necessarily mean that you are the so-called “creame of the crop”. In fact, the very essence of the definition lies in our rigid Singaporean mentality of what is “good”. People usually look at “CAP score” or skills to judge someone. However, try to look beyond that. Life is much more complex and bigger out there.
Good qualities of the non-academic nature are often overlooked and de-emphasized. The very fact that you are “easy-going” shows a lot about who you are and what you are capable of. People who are easy-going possess a high degree of tolerance before flaring up, and have higher EQ in that aspect. Take pride in yourself and what you are capable of, no matter how insignificant you think you are, you are not.
Yup, like what was said here, keep up the hope. For you may realise that at the end of it all, your teacher in this life lesson of yours could very well be yourself, or some random seemingly insignificant event or action that could change your life. No matter the change is large or small, you have gained something out of it and you will not have regretted making the choice to walk down this path.
Something more than beautiful memories and pretty photographs will remain.
Cheers.
=)