As a participant in the esteemed program held by UTM, which spanned an extensive duration, I successfully attained three important graduate attributes: leadership and teamworking skills, communication skills, and enterprising skills. The experience reinforced the significance of effective teamwork, as the successful completion of tasks relied on the collective efforts and collaboration of team members. As a crew responsible for my assigned units, I recognized the importance of regular communication and daily updates to ensure the smooth progress of tasks. Moreover, I actively sought input from team members, valuing their perspectives and making informed decisions through deliberation with higher-level committees.
Throughout the program, I witnessed notable improvements in my communication skills, a necessity due to my interactions with various program crews. Although the program was conducted online, which posed certain challenges in establishing connections and recognizing all the program participants, I overcame these obstacles by actively participating in meetings and rehearsals, fostering meaningful interactions. Additionally, the program provided a valuable opportunity to forge new friendships with peers from my own batch, as well as senior and junior batches. The friendly and welcoming atmosphere cultivated a cohesive team dynamic, devoid of any awkward or uncomfortable moments.
One of the significant challenges I encountered during both the program preparation phase and the live session was the issue of unstable internet connection. Undoubtedly, this was a drawback inherent to conducting an online program, affecting participants universally. There were instances when I struggled to attend meetings or rehearsals until their completion due to weather conditions that adversely impacted the internet connection. However, as a team, we devised strategies to address this problem and mitigate its impact.
To ensure that everyone remained updated and informed despite connectivity issues, we implemented a system where a designated individual would diligently compile a summary of each meeting or rehearsal, capturing the key discussions and decisions made. This summary would then be shared in our WhatsApp group, allowing all team members to refer back to it as needed while carrying out their respective tasks. By adopting this approach, we aimed to maintain cohesion and continuity within the team despite the intermittent connectivity challenges we faced. While unstable internet connections presented obstacles, our collective efforts to adapt and find practical solutions allowed us to navigate these difficulties and proceed with the program effectively.