CCAs

Today I went to kachiao Ms C at her journaling club booth at our school's CCA fair.

And I'm reminded of VJ's CCA fair every start of the year. The whole funfair sort of atmopshere, loud music blaring, people walking around the whole school, coz the fair would be spread all over the school campus. Choir auditions would be at LT AVA, band would be at the canteen playing their songs, sometimes the councillors would be doing mass dance at the carpark, wushu would be on stage at the hall, etcetc. It was really quite festive.

I think CCAs are essential for a student's development. One gets to pursue an interest, make friends, widen social circles, learn lifeskills, learn so much more than academic pursuits can provide. I never really believe that one of the pre-requisites for one to join a cca or activity is academic excellence.

That's why I'm really against the fact that students who sign up to go for Youth Expedition Project (YEP) (community service in a third-world country) has to have a certain GPA (grade). I don't buy the theory that they have to spend more time studying so they shouldn't be allowed to go. They need to focus on their studies, grades are more important than going for such things, etcetc... well, if this experience changes their lives, open their eyes beyond their little world, I believe they'd achieve so much more than their ITE cert can give them. I know of students who'd benefit from such an experience. Students who have a heart of giving, students who are passionate about community service, students who need to be given a push in the right direction because they are great kids, just caught up in their own limited perspectives, students who need to be exposed to the world out there to see beyond their own problems ... and yet I can't choose these students to go. Why? because they are not academically inclined.

(well..duh..that's why they're in ITE right!?)

I feel that we shouldn't penalise students and deprive them of such experiences simply because of their grades. True, some of them are just lazy and thus do not deserve to go, but many of them are just not interested in their course of studies. Many have to juggle work and school, and thus to be able to graduate is good enough for them. I know of students who are weak academically, not because they are stupid (they hardly ever are), but mostly disinterest in what they are studying, and yet i see them blossom in their CCAs, excelling in what they pursue outside of the classroom.

I myself have gained lots of experience from my CCAs. In primary school, I served on the prefectorial board, I was a Brownie for a while, and I joined a Culinary Club. (it was quite fun making pizza bread using little toastes. :P ) In secondary school, I was a prefect yet again, being given the opportunity to be the Head of Publications committee, having to interact with the prefects of other schools, staying in school late to prepare for school functions like Teachers' Day, CNY, National Day, etc. I was also in the choir as Secretary which meant half the time i was taking attendance and having to chase those who were absent for their MC and reasons. Boy..did that make me ever so popular. hahaha. But the position probably allowed me to be the only person who knew every name of every member of the choir. In junior college, I was in the choir. VJ choir's reputation was the only reason why I chose to study at VJC, when i could have a choice of any JC. But choosing to go VJ because of the choir was never a regret, because I gained so much experience singing at various functions, at various locations, even had the opportunity to travel to Europe, singing at Notre-Dame Cathedral, competing in a choral competition in Germany, having our rehearsals in a cementary ... :) Being in the choir at JC level also opened my eyes to the evident politics in any social group, having to practise at such intensity and frequency with a group of people showed me the different types of people there were in this world.

My CCA experience probably influenced the areas of ministry I was in back at TSBC. Singing in the choir was one of them... though not a regular member. Coming up with the Youth Publications entitled "R.A.Y.S" for almost a year (5 issues?) was one of my best projects ever. I also loved proof-reading all the sunday school textbooks written by Rev Lai and translated by BQ. I loved spotting the grammatical/spelling errors, and simplifying her language and changing her sentence structure to make it more reader-friendly to the masses. Perhaps my leadership position in the prefectorial board also in some way made me the "mean" one..the one who dishes out discipline as a mentor then.

So yah, i think CCAs are really essential. Students ought to join a CCA where they can be active and make new friends and learn new skills, or at least hone their existing skills. I think if students are gonna join a CCA just to get CCA points and skip meetings and try to sail through the year, I think its better if they don't join. Pointless.

And i think teachers and parents need to be more encouraging as well. Grades are important, yes ...but there are somethings in life which textbooks cannot teach, which are more essential than just getting 'A's, which are necessary in a wholistic development.



wow. i really sound like a real student development officer!