During the mid-semester break, I attended a UTM Green DNA Bootcamp hosted by our UTM Green DNA Club. This bootcamp will last three days and will be conducted online via an online platform. I participated in all three days, which took place from December 6th to December 8th, 2022. The main objective of this bootcamp is to increase awareness of the need of environmental preservation. In this bootcamp, I became a member of the organizing committee and served as treasurer. I joined up for these bootcamps because I wanted to expand my knowledge and get new experience organizing an activity with a group of individuals. I was first pretty nervous and lacked confidence in my capability to do my part properly throughout this bootcamp. Furthermore, I was chosen as one of the bootcamp's presenters. This had made me feel stressed since I get apprehensive when I have to speak in front of a large group of people. Fortunately, the director of these programmes had inspired me and offered me some of his expertise. I sincerely appreciate his assistance.
Initially, I was quite nervous and lacked confidence in my ability to fulfill my role effectively throughout the bootcamp. To my surprise, I was even selected as one of the speakers, which added to my stress since speaking in front of a crowd made me nervous. Fortunately, the program director provided me with encouragement and shared his experience, which greatly helped boost my confidence. I am genuinely grateful for his support. I then began researching the responsibilities of a treasurer in a bootcamp like this. Additionally, I invested time in crafting my presentation on the intriguing topic of "Aquaponics." Despite facing obstacles while creating the presentation slides due to my unfamiliarity with the subject, I persisted. I started from scratch and gradually grasped all the necessary information about "Aquaponics."
As the preparations came together, my primary concern loomed ahead: delivering the presentation to the participants, even if it was virtually. It demanded courage to effectively convey my topic and ensure its clarity to the audience. To build my confidence, I practiced in front of a mirror. On the second day of the bootcamp, I presented my topic to the participants. Although I remained slightly nervous and spoke a bit too quickly, the presentation went relatively smoothly. This experience bolstered my confidence in speaking in front of an audience and I consider it a valuable lesson for future presentations. I had promised to myself that I will try my best to prepare for the future presentation and train my confidence to talk in front of people.
Furthermore, I wish to express my gratitude to my fellow committee members for their collective efforts that contributed to the seamless execution of the bootcamp over the course of three days. Collaborating with my fellow committee members, engaging in discussions, and exchanging opinions greatly contributed to the success of the event. This experience not only allowed me to improve my teamwork and communication skills but also enabled me to grow personally. Overall, I consider my participation in the UTM Green DNA Bootcamp a significant learning opportunity, helping me gain new knowledge, skills, and valuable experiences in event organization and public speaking.