At Monsoon Musings, aspiring authors, readers, and anybody else with an interest in language come together to celebrate and discuss their works. I participated in the event’s planning committee.

LO 1 :

During the preparation for this event, I had the chance to identify my strengths and weaknesses. It became clear that I excel as a team player, but I often find it challenging to assert myself and share my ideas in larger group settings. Monsoon Musings involved several teams, and I was part of the decor team, which required close coordination with the editorial team, our supervisors, and team leaders. To address my weaknesses, I consciously started sharing my ideas with everyone, even when some were rejected. I learned not to take rejection personally and instead focused on improving my ideas.

Now that I’m conscious of my strengths and weaknesses, I’m determined to take on leadership roles to enhance my assertiveness and promote open communication. I believe in being an open-minded leader who respects and values every team member’s input.

Recognizing and acknowledging our strengths and weaknesses is crucial for personal growth. Knowing my strengths allows me to further develop them by taking on roles that provide opportunities to do so. Understanding my weaknesses motivates me to step out of my comfort zone and engage in activities that challenge me.

I’m committed to working on my weaknesses and transforming them into opportunities. Conquering my fear of assuming a strong position within a team, rather than merely acquiescing, would not only benefit me personally but also give me the courage to take on leadership roles.

LO 2 :

One of the most formidable obstacles we encountered during Monsoon Musings was the severe budget constraints. We had the formidable task of orchestrating the entire event with limited resources, relying heavily on what was available or considered waste.

This posed a significant challenge, especially since we had planned to provide small keepsakes for all the participants and to adorn our venue. Adding to the complexity, the venue itself kept changing. Initially, our team favored an outdoor location, but the teachers initially settled on an indoor setting. Consequently, we had meticulously planned our decorations accordingly. However, when the teachers secured an outdoor venue later on, we faced the daunting task of adapting our previously prepared decorations to fit the new setting, as creating new ones wasn’t feasible given our zero budget.

This was a novel experience for me, as I had never before worked on an event with such limited financial resources while still striving to create a memorable experience.

Our solution to this challenge involved resourcefulness and eco-friendliness. We repurposed waste materials from previous events and brainstormed eco-friendly decor ideas that minimized resource consumption. Moreover, every team member contributed by bringing materials from their own homes, such as brown paper bags and glass jars.

I take immense pride in our team’s ability to pull off a successful event despite these budget, venue, and resource-related hurdles. Instead of giving in to frustration, we displayed remarkable resilience and determination.

I firmly believe that life is a continuous journey of gaining new experiences and learning from them, irrespective of whether we encounter failure or success. Therefore, I consider it essential for personal growth to embrace new challenges, as they provide opportunities for us to develop and thrive as individuals.

LO 5 :

I generally find it easy to collaborate with others because I consider myself cooperative and receptive to different perspectives and ideas. Being a team player is something I highly value, but I’ve also recognized a weakness in myself – the tendency to avoid addressing ideas I strongly disagree with, sometimes leading to a “yes-man” mentality.

My experience with the Monsoon Musings team was relatively smooth because all team members were from my batch, creating an environment where open communication was natural.

At times, we encountered the challenge of our cherished ideas being rejected by teachers, necessitating not only letting go of them but also generating new concepts since there was no alternative. Although we understood the teachers’ valid reasons for these rejections, it was still a difficult process. To navigate this, we adopted a collaborative approach, engaging in brainstorming sessions with the teachers.

As we mature, we will find ourselves in various group settings, occasionally in leadership roles and at other times as team members. Regardless of our role, the ability to collaborate effectively with the rest of the team is paramount. In a leadership role, it’s crucial to maintain an open-minded and respectful attitude towards everyone’s opinions. I acknowledge that I sometimes struggle with being stubborn, so learning to be more flexible is an important personal goal. As a team member, I recognize the importance of always being ready to assist and support my fellow teammates.

Although I didn’t hold a leadership position in this particular event, I observed firsthand the critical role it played in the planning process. With each organizing experience, I’ve come to understand the significance of having someone manage the group for smooth operation. Teamwork and synergy were pivotal since we collaborated on every aspect, from planning to decorations to executing the event itself.