Day 5: farewell Chiang Mai

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.” –Douglas MacArthur

Today was leadership day. We started off the day with Prof Zachary speaking to us a little about making good first impressions and leadership qualities. One line that he said really struck me, it went something like, “You guys are not kids anymore”. University education has pushed many of us in so many different directions and allowed us to step out of our comfort zones and grow as a person. We indeed do not have the luxury to behave as we would like anymore as we are now soon-to-be adults who have to learn how to carry ourselves well and for that, I am thankful for his timely reminder and little pointers here and there.

After some warm-up activities, it was time for the amazing race to commence! I think our group started off pretty well as we got the help of one of the hotel receptionists to help us plot down all three locations on the map so that we would have a clearer game plan as compared to running around aimlessly. In no time, we reached our first destination and completed the task. In high spirits, we set off on foot to our second location which was the furthest location. However, after walking for awhile, we started to get really lost and was unable to find our next location. It took longer than expected for us to reach Prince Royal College.

Nonetheless, though we made a few wrong turns here and there and did not perform as well as what we hoped, I still enjoyed the amazing race. For one, it let me see the other side of Chiang Mai. The roads we walked along seemed more industrial and residential and I really love how there is an element of surprise every time you turn your head to look at one of the alleys. Each and every one of those small alleys always gave off a different feel and a different vibe which really makes all of them unique. We do not get this in Singapore because for example, when it comes to HDB flats, flats in the same area often have the same structure, same exterior and thus, it was definitely an eye-opener as we trudged along to the second location.

The post amazing race reflection allowed us to learn about one another’s leadership styles as well as points of improvement for us to take away. I guess none of us are perfect leaders but what we can do within our capacity is to strive to be a better version of ourselves and to become a better leader day by day. My group did not perform the best and yes, we could definitely have done better but sometimes in life, we remember the imperfect experiences better and maybe this will become one of them. I hope to become a better leader that can constantly look out for others and to earn their respect by being able to listen to people and understand their needs. It is so important to be a good listener but sometimes people fail to realise that when they are caught up with the completion of tasks or too caught up with their own feelings but I guess it is hard to be selfless all the time and I can only yearn to become a better listener and supporter to the people around me.

The youth culture subgroup made our way to Central Festival Mall where we had our last full lunch together along with our seniors and Fye. After conducting a few interviews and giving out a few surveys at the cinema, we got free time again! Not wanting to miss out on a great opportunity, we decided to make our way to Tuang Thong Canyon View which was also known as the “Chiang Mai Grand Canyon”.

After the initial hesitation and slight nervousness, I decided to join my friends in cliff jumping and yes, I am proud to say that I have no regrets doing it! That momentary suspension in the air felt a little crazy as I am not a big fan of the ‘free fall’ feeling but it felt really good when we finally hit the cool water and it was nice to swim around a little. It was refreshing and the feeling of exhilaration at that point in time was definitely the highest during the course of this trip. This is definitely one of the most adventurous things I have done in my life and I guess I accomplished my goal of trying out new things on this trip and making this trip one of many firsts.

This trip was definitely enriching and fun both at the same time and I am happy to have gotten to know some of the usp people better. As we took one last short walk at the night bazaar near our hotel, I am thankful for the opportunity to be here because who knew Chiang Mai would be such a beautiful place that could offer so much more than expected. The people here makes the place even more special; they are like little flowers in this beautiful garden, lighting up people’s lives in the smallest way possible but yet, allowing people to feel all sorts of warmth and happiness. I am unready for school as ever but I am ready to head home with a happy and appreciative heart.