Name : Chan Jing Yee

Matric no : A187738

Date : 12/08/24 - 16/08/24

2. Your progress so far

Compared to the first and second weeks, I feel like I've made significant progress in understanding my students with communication and speaking disabilities. Observation has been key.

For example, a man with bilateral hearing loss. He uses a sign language developed by his parents at a young age, which isn't formalized or standardized. Initially, this made communication challenging. However, by patiently guessing and confirming with him through writing, I've been able to communicate much more effectively this week. For instance, a peace sign flipped back and forth means "tomorrow" for him, and two palms pressed together facing me signifies "closed," which could be a way to inform him there's a holiday and he doesn't need to present.Your feelings and thoughts

Regarding individuals with Down syndrome, they often have difficulty producing certain speech sounds, making some of their speech hard for others to understand. A 24-year-old female I frequently talk with often uses specific keywords that I have learned to recognize. For example: “a ang” means "datang" (come), “o yi” means "cuti" (holiday), “a mi” means "younger sister" in Mandarin, “i i” means "younger brother" in Mandarin, and “ao liao” means "full stomach" in Mandarin.

Patience and active observation have greatly contributed to my progress in communication throughout the postings

3. Your feelings and thoughts

All those children born with their own difficulties without choices. I can sense that they often feel they are a burden to us or that they are at fault for situations that arise. We should always try to let them know that they are also priceless.

For example, a boy with Tourette syndrome always shouts suddenly and uncontrollably. While he is holding a water bottle and starts to drink, he gets an attack suddenly and throws the bottle away, with water pouring all on the floor. He will keep apologizing afterward. We will tell him that it's not a big deal and involve him as well as while cleaning to make him feel better. He will always apologize to us when his actions hurt us, but we should consistently tell him "it's okay, I know that you never meant to be like that."

Otherwise, people with intellectual disabilities... please don't give up on them because of this. While they may be unable to absorb what we teach them even after repeating it many times, their faces will slowly show sadness and disappointment in themselves. Even a girl with Down syndrome will start crying. we should consistently tell him

They are born with those difficulties without choices. Don't take blame on them like they chose to be like that. They are really innocent.

4. How did you learn and apply the skill of decision making in your EP journey?

Like I mentioned in the first week report, the skill of decision-making is crucial when managing multiple students with complex needs, especially when several become uncontrollable simultaneously.

I learned to prioritize the most urgent situations by assessing the immediate impact of each behavior. For example, if one student is yelling, another is throwing things, and a third is hitting a peer due to an argument, it is important to address these issues in a strategic order. First, I resolve the conflict between the arguing students, as addressing interpersonal conflicts can prevent further escalation. Next, I focus on understanding and addressing the needs of the student who is yelling, which often involves identifying their underlying issues and offering support. Finally, I deal with the student who is throwing things by calmly picking up the items and allowing them to express their frustration in a controlled manner, rather than reprimanding them immediately. This approach ensures that each situation is handled effectively and minimizes the overall disruption.

These experiences taught me to act quickly while prioritizing the safety of all students. Additionally, I honed my ability to assess situations, identify the root cause of behavior, and tailor my response accordingly. This journey has highlighted the importance of decision-making in creating a calm and supportive learning environment for everyone.

5. How did you manage your time throughout this EP journey?

My daily schedule throughout this EP journey includes waking up at 7 a.m. and preparing myself for volunteering. From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., I engage in the entire volunteering session. Between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., I take time for a short reflection and some preliminary preparation for the next day's session with three teachers. I return home at 2 p.m., have lunch, and take a bath. Afterward, I watch two episodes of The Good Doctor: Shaun Murphy, both in the afternoon and again after dinner. I then enjoy a two-hour "me-time" session before sleeping, which includes reading books, listening to music, watching Rednotes or TikTok, and browsing social media. This helps me unwind before sleeping. Finally, it’s time for bed.

6. Your plan for next week (Week 4)

I plan to fully appreciate the last week of my placement and spend quality time with all my students. Time is flying by, and the realization of our impending goodbye is setting in. I hope my students will cherish the memories we've made as much as I do.

Ideally, I would participate in the foot drill practice for Raub’s Independence Day celebration as my students have been invited to perform. Unfortunately, I must return to college a few days before the event, preventing me from joining them. It's a bittersweet situation.

Svarna Lekha Segaran

A188518

13/08/24 - 16/08/24

2. Your progress so far 

After three weeks, I feel I've made significant strides in my understanding of Down Syndrome, and I'm proud of my progress considering it's my first time volunteering in this capacity. In addition to my involvement over the past two weeks, during the third week, my friend and I played a key role in preparing activities and cleaning up afterward. For example, after messy play sessions, we assisted teacher advisors in tidying up equipment and helping paint-covered kids clean up. We also helped set up equipment for sports day practice and participated in gross motor activitied. As planned last week, I conducted a session on gross motor activities this week. However, it was challenging to manage the kids effectively. Thankfully, teacher advisors guided me throughout and helped refocus the activity whenever needed. While I wouldn't call it a complete success, it was a valuable learning experience and a good first attempt.

3. Your feelings & thoughts

• I am very happy because some of the children in the School Age Program were able to have a conversation with me and my friend. Even though their answers were only a few words, it is a significant achievement for children with cognitive decline. This was a new experience for me, as I hadn't seen it in the previous two weeks of my volunteering. Although I may never fully see the world from their perspective, these brief conversations help me understand their needs and feelings to some extent, allowing me and their caregivers to support them better.

• I am profoundly grateful to God for the way I was born, and this volunteering experience has imparted a valuable lesson about not taking things for granted. Tasks that might seem mundane to me, such as washing hands and brushing teeth, can pose significant challenges for these children due to their generally weaker core muscles. This realization has deepened my appreciation for the everyday abilities I often overlook.

4. How did you learn and apply the skill of decision making in your EP journey?

During my volunteering with the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation as a third-year medical student, I've had numerous opportunities to enhance my decision-making skills. Interacting with individuals with Down syndrome has taught me the importance of patience, clear communication and sensitivity to their unique needs. Moreover, unexpected situations often arise during volunteering sessions, necessitating quick and effective decision-making to ensure the safety and well-being of the kids.

These experiences have not only deepened my understanding of developmental disabilities but have also honed my ability to think critically and act decisively in real-time. Such skills are invaluable in medicine, where decisions must often be made swiftly and accurately to provide the best possible care for patients. Learning to navigate complex social interactions and varying levels of ability among the individuals I've worked with has reinforced the importance of empathy and adaptability in decision-making. These qualities are crucial in fostering trust and cooperation, whether in a volunteer setting or in a clinical environment.

5. How did you manage your time throughout this EP journey? 

During my elective posting with the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation, managing my time effectively while on a break was a unique challenge that required careful planning and flexibility. Despite being on a break, I made a deliberate effort to allocate specific periods each day to engage in this volunteer activities. This involved coordinating with the foundation to arrange my schedule in advance and committing to consistent participation during the allotted times. I found that integrating volunteer work into my holiday schedule not only enriched my experience but also allowed me to maintain a sense of balance between relaxation and meaningful contribution to the community.

Furthermore, during my time off, I dedicated moments for reflection and preparation, ensuring that I could approach each volunteer session with focus and enthusiasm. This proactive approach not only helped me make the most of my elective posting but also reinforced the importance of time management and dedication in both academic and extracurricular pursuits. Overall, my elective posting experience with the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation has strengthened my ability to manage time effectively in diverse settings, preparing me to navigate future challenges with resilience and purpose in my medical career.

6. Your plan for next week (Week 4)

• As next week marks the conclusion of my volunteering at the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation, I am eager to resolve any remaining questions I have about Down Syndrome. Gaining a clearer understanding of this condition will help me consolidate my knowledge and enhance my overall grasp of the subject.

• The only activity I haven’t yet been involved in with the children is their study time, during which a teacher advisor works individually with each child. These sessions focus on assessing skills such as coloring, matching and recognizing alphabets and numbers. Due to the specialized expertise required, these sessions are most effectively conducted by teachers with extensive experience in this area. As my final week approaches, I would like to request the opportunity to lead a study session with one of the children, under the supervision of a teacher advisor. This would provide me with valuable insight into the conduct of these sessions and allow me to learn directly from seasoned educators in this field.

1. Name: Regina Swaaty A/P Ramis, Matrics No: A189110, Date: 13/8/2024 -16/8/2024

   
   

2. Your progress so far

In Week 3, I continued to immerse myself in the daily activities at the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation Johor Bahru Center. My confidence in interacting with the children and supporting their developmental activities has grown significantly. I have become more adept at understanding their needs and providing appropriate assistance during various tasks. Additionally, I have started to take on more responsibilities, such as leading certain activities and providing feedback to the teachers based on my observations. I was given the opportunity from one of the teachers to assist her during the one to one study session. Furthermore, this week there was a session to practice for their upcoming sports day. I helped out in setting up the place, guiding the children and determining the teams based on their ability so that both teams would be equally distributed. This session was exceptionally fun as we had to keep cheering and motivating the children to follow the instructions. Even though it was just a practice we cheered as though it was the real thing and this was very exciting and funny as well. Once it was over I immediately cleared the place and prepared for the next one. In addition, this week had many messy play sessions, so I had to spend more time in the preparation and cleaning. For example, I had to mix the flour, some toys, balls and coloring and after the activity I had to wash the things and wipe the area.

3. Your feelings and thoughts

This week, I felt a deeper connection with the children and the teachers at the center. Witnessing the children's progress, even in small steps, has been incredibly rewarding and has reinforced my commitment to this volunteer work. There were moments of joy when a child successfully completed a task or showed improvement, and these moments were very fulfilling. I also felt a sense of camaraderie with my friend as we worked together to support the children. Overall, I am feeling more confident and integrated into the team. In addition, more of the children had recognised me and my friend and those in the older age group tried to converse with us which made me feel proud and realized that my efforts to get closer to them were not a waste. Other than that, as I had the chance to assist during the study time I realized that what the teachers are doing here is not easy. This job requires them to be patient as most of the children here are unable to focus and get distracted easily due to having low cognitive abilities. They also need to be empathic, stern at times and observant. 

4. How did you learn and apply the skills of decision making in your EP journey?

Throughout my EP journey, decision-making has been a crucial skill, especially in situations requiring quick thinking and adaptability. For instance, when leading activities, I had to make decisions about how to modify tasks to suit the varying abilities of the children. I learned to observe the children closely, assess their needs, and make informed decisions to ensure their safety and engagement. I also applied decision-making skills when dealing with unexpected challenges, such as a child becoming upset or uncooperative. In these situations, I had to decide on the best approach to calm the child and re-engage them in the activity, often relying on guidance from experienced staff members and adapting my strategies based on their advice.On one occasion, a child became visibly upset during the group messy play session as she felt uncomfortable and not used to handling these textures.I had to make a swift decision on how to handle the situation without disrupting the entire group. Observing the child's behavior, I decided to stay with the child and demonstrated it with my own hands first so that she would lower her guard down and then I took her hands and slightly played with the dough so that she would get used to it before letting her play with the dough on her own. After a while, she got used to it and managed to have fun during the session.This approach not only addressed the immediate issue but also taught me the importance of individualized attention and the effectiveness of using calming techniques. Furthermore, when I encountered situations where I was unsure of the best course of action, such as a child exhibiting challenging behavior, I sought advice from the experienced staff members in order to avoid any unwanted situations. This collaboration reinforced the value of teamwork and utilizing the collective knowledge of experienced colleagues to make better decisions.

The decision-making skills I developed during my EP journey will be invaluable in my future medical career and beyond. In clinical settings, I will need to make quick and informed decisions about patient care, often under pressure. The ability to observe, assess, and adapt learned during my EP will be crucial in diagnosing and treating patients effectively.Just as I collaborated with teachers and staff at the foundation, I will need to work closely with other healthcare professionals. Effective decision-making will involve integrating their insights and expertise to provide comprehensive care.The experience of managing unexpected challenges with the children has prepared me for dealing with unexpected situations. Staying calm, assessing the situation, and making swift decisions will be critical skills.

5. How did you manage your time throughout this EP journey?

Managing my time effectively during my Elective Posting (EP) at the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation was crucial, especially since it took place during my semester break. Before the EP began, I communicated with the staff at the foundation to plan my schedule. This involved determining the best times for me to come in that aligned with their activities and the children's schedules ensuring that my presence would be beneficial and not disruptive.This pre-planning ensured that I could maximize my time at the foundation, participating in key activities and learning experiences. It also demonstrated my commitment and professionalism to the staff. Other than that, I tried my best to set specific goals for what I wanted to achieve during each visit. By having clear objectives, I could prioritize my tasks and ensure that each visit was productive. Having clear goals helped me stay focused and ensured that I was making the most of my time at the foundation. It also allowed me to track my progress and adjust as needed.Since this EP was during my semester break, I also had to balance my volunteering with personal commitments and rest. I made sure to allocate time for self-care, relaxation, and other personal activities. By maintaining a healthy balance, I was able to stay energised and motivated throughout the EP, ensuring that I could give my best effort during my time at the foundation. In conclusion, managing my time effectively during the EP at Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation was key to making the most of this valuable experience. By planning ahead, setting clear goals, creating a structured schedule, balancing commitments, and staying adaptable, I was able to contribute meaningfully to the foundation while also enhancing my own learning and development. These time management skills will continue to serve me well in all areas of my life. 

6. Your plan for the next week (Week 4)

As I enter the final week of this elective posting, I plan to focus on building even stronger connections with the children and teachers, making the most of the remaining time to learn from and support them. Furthermore, I would like to take this opportunity to clear up any questions I have about Down Syndrome children so that I am able to comprehend it better by asking the teachers. Other than that, I would also like to try leading some activities by myself as I would be able to experience it firsthand. I would also spend additional time reflecting on my experiences and documenting key learnings and observations to compile a comprehensive report of my EP journey.This final week will be dedicated to making a lasting positive impact and ensuring that I leave with valuable experiences and meaningful connections.

Nur Alissa Aisyah Bt Azlan

A188217

12/8/2024 - 16/8/2024

2. Your progress so far

In the third week of volunteering, it was quite challenging because my supervisor took three days off, and instead of managing two students, I had to manage four of them. When being told about it, I immediately knew it would be difficult because I was already familiar with their behaviors and needs. During the first day alone, I struggled to control the class without the usual help. I could not frequently ask for help from the other teacher because I was worried it will disrupt her class. So, I tried managing it on my own and gradually, I started to understand how to handle certain situations by recalling on how my supervisor would handle it. Eventually, I got the hang of it.

Additionally, as planned last week, we began preparations for the National Day. I led the preparation and involved the students as much as possible according to their capabilities. At first, It was hard to control all the students together because they don't particularly enjoy doing group works. But with the help of the teachers, everything went smoothly.

Overall, this week has taught me a lot on patience, adaptability, problem-solving especially under pressure and leadership.

3. Your feelings and thoughts

At first, I felt quite burdened by the thought of having to handle a whole class alone. This was because some students want full attention from their teacher. If they don't receive, they may start running around, leaving the class or throwing tantrums. Some of them can be left alone with work, but without the teacher's supervision, they tend to lose focus and the work given will be unfinished. These challenges were manageable when my supervisor was around because twith two teachers in the class, we could give more attention to the students. Moreover, he is more experienced and students listen to them more.

On the first day without my supervisor, it was a challenging one and I became quite exhausted trying to meet every student's needs. I could leave them doing whatever they like but that would haven been a waste of time. Being alone in the class made me think of ways to help the students meet their objectives, stay focused and complete their tasks without my constant supervision. For example, one student loves colouring and one of his learning objectives is to write the word "eat". I gave him a task to write the word eat and told him that he could colour a picture once he finished as a reward. I gave him a picture of a person eating to enhance his understanding of what eating is. This approach made him focused, allowing me to attend to other students without worrying about him. I became very happy and proud that I found a way to make him seat throughout the class.

I also felt tired when the students sometimes refuse to follow instructions. I questioned myself several times on why I couldn't get them to listen as my supervisor did. This made me recall on how my supervisor managed to make them follow orders. He would usually raise his voice slightly, make a stern face and even if the child refused or threw a tantrum, he would remain firm and not immediately console them. Eventually, the student will follow his instructions, and my supervisor would praise them and give them a high-five. I tried doing the same, although my voice is not as loud as my supervisor's. However, I tried staying firm and eventually, the students did follow my orders. I felt proud because I successfully applied my supervisor's techniques with the students.

4. How did you learn and apply the skill of decision making in your EP journey?

This week alone has given me a lot of opportunities to apply my decision-making skills, especially during critical times. For example, I had to manage various student's behaviour such as deciding what to do when a student suddenly threw a tantrum. Having to decide which method works better on different student is very crucial to resolve certain situations. I tried many techniques I learned from the teachers and from my own reading. As a result, some methods were effective for certain students, while others were not. After a long time being with them and making observations, I finally figured out which methods work best for each student.

Some of the students require me to raise my voice to get them to stop, while others would throw a bigger tantrum if I did so. Therefore, I sometimes have to go and console them gently or give them space until they resolve it on their own. Other than that, when conflicts happen between the students, I have to decide on the best way to resolve the situation. This could involve separating the children, guiding them through conflict resolution steps, or deciding on appropriate consequences if needed such as taking away their favourite items. These decisions need to be made quickly because, if not, it could lead to harm such as students hitting or biting their friends or teachers.

Furthermore, to meet their learning objectives, I had to think of various ways to get them to be interested in it. I asked for advice from the teachers who previously handled the students on what method works best. For example, getting a student who loves colouring to colour a picture related to his learning objective or using a whiteboard to teach a student who enjoys drawing on it. This helps them engage with their learning and simultaneously increase their focus and interests.

Lastly, I also need to figure out ways to get a student to participate in group activities as this is important for their social skills. Some students dislike group works since it's too loud and chaotic. Thus, they prefer individual work and will tend to sit in their class alone. In this situation, I have to come up with the best solution to help them join the group. For instance, I might stay beside them so they still feel they are receiving individual attention, even when sitting with others or allow them to do what he likes in the group even if it differs from what the other students are doing. This gradually helps build their interest and makes them more comfortable sitting with their friends.

In a nutshell, this elective posting has helped me to improve my critical decision-making skills which is also required in the medical field where understanding individual needs and responding quickly to varied situations will impact the outcome of it.

5. How did you manage your time throughout this EP journey?

Throughout my volunteering journey, I managed my time by prioritizing tasks for each student according to their objectives and setting goals on what I wanted to achieve each day.

For example, everyday I would come early in the morning to prepare the classroom and materials for the day's activities before the students arrive. I made sure to prepare all worksheets and learning materials in advance and placed in an easily accessible location to prevent confusion and so that the class will go smoothly. I will also discuss my plans every morning with my supervisor to gain insights on what more I can do on the day and which part of my plan can be adjusted.

Throughout the day, I will prioritize the important tasks such as doing a one-to-one teaching with the students to meet their learning objectives. Since some students are rigid with their daily routines and even their classroom environment, I would sometimes take them outside of the class to let them experience a new learning environment. I would also build time for breaks between each lesson, allowing the students to receive their reward after completing a task and giving me time to prepare for the next lesson, whether with the same student or a different one.

In the evenings, I would review the day's events and will plan for the next day with my supervisor to adjust my approach based on what worked well and what didn't. I also used this time to search for new learning materials that could be used the next day. If the materials needed to be printed, I would ask the person in charge to print them, or if they involved building or creating something, I made time to prepare it.

6. Your plan for next week (Week 4)

• As next week would be my final week for the elective posting, I plan to finalize my teaching with the students so they fully understand and can remember what they learned forever. I also plan to explain my teaching methods to the teachers to help them continue with it so the students would not be too shocked with a new teaching method.

• I also plan to finish the preparation for National Day and conduct it next week when the preparations are all done. The teachers also planned to do activities amongst the teachers on Monday (26/7/2024) Therefore, I have decided to extend my attachment until Tuesday (27/8/2024) to attend the activities before wrapping up my whole volunteering work all together.

• Leevandraa A/L Mahendran (A188020)

• 29/7/2024 - 31/7/2024

2. What have you done ?

• This week I was mainly tasked in carrying out duties in both errands and especially in Pharmacy department together with some menial tasks to be done under the PR department too. Honestly I feel like I have made significant progress of growth in the past two weeks. I was under the care of Ms Aida, a fellow pharmacist, albeit a very busy one hence it was hard to grab a photo with her, to help create morphine for patients who require it. It was definitely an eye-opener as it was the first time I'm seeing how oral morphine was being created. I have only ever seen intravenous morphine and those were in way smaller bottles.

• I was introduced to a whole slew of drugs that palliative care patients require such as opioids, analgesics, and so on. In the photo above you can see a green board with specimens of drugs attached to it which were strong opioid drugs such as oxycodone, methadone, tramadol, fentanyl and so on.

• I usually never see these drugs up close in the hospital and here I have it in my hands. Throughout the course of this week I was helping her to label and do quality control checkup on the morphine bottles batch by batch, garnering up to nearly 300 bottles or so to be distributed to specific patients.

• Besides that, I had to arrange several huge frames that consisted of old patients' stories in the attic as Hospis was preparing for an event in Sunway University. It was a very basic job and consisted of me arranging them, doing an itinerary check, taking pictures of each of them and selecting which suitable ones are fit for their program.

• Morever, this week I was also paired with IMU medical students to aid me in these tasks too. As I was working in the PR department alongside the others as well, the IMU students each helped to carry out inventory checking in the other departments of Hospis. Since I was technically a senior volunteer at the time, I had to guide them showing the ropes of what needs to be done as they were only going to be here for a week.

• In the time together with them, we also helped create posters as can be seen in the photo below for the event that was going to be handled in Sunway University in September.

  
  

3. Your feelings and thoughts

3 whole weeks into volunteering with Hospis and I believe I have already found my niche rotating between each department and felt more comfortable with the work-life balance it was offering together with the aid of my other co-workers being the IMU students as well as the existing Hospis staff in there such as Qaisara, Ms Chloe, Ms Suba and also Mrs Tham who was the Head of PR department.

I definitely felt very much at home in Hospis and everyone here treated me well and kindly, what more can I expect from a place that focuses on caring for patients in palliation? I am proud this week that I learnt something remotely medical such as helping Ms Aida in the pharmacy preparing drugs as well as helping out the IMU students who seemed to look up to me as a senior since they were all seemingly younger than me.

4. How did you learn and apply the skill of decision making in your EP journey?

I would definitely say the application of decision making was learnt very early on especially in the first week of my EP journey itself since I adapted to the tasks given by Hospis pretty quick. This is vital as it determines how well your peers see you as capable and how well you are able to maneuver yourself when it comes to adversities and challenges.

The way I learned how to apply the skill of decision-making is by trial and error, weighing which is the best decisions out of the bad ones out there. For example, when it came to task delegations between me and the IMU students who came by, my supervisor lumped the task of me to delegate duties to them as I knew the roles better. Hence, I took some time to recollect my thoughts and calmly segregate them into the different departments based on their skillsets which they portrayed.

This also still applies to the contacts of the companies which requires me to filter out those who are not as charitable than those who are, making a flawless list based on the networking offered by Hospis to send out sponsorship request emails too.

5. How did you manage your time throughout this EP journey?

Its fairly simple since I only attend Hospis for around 3 times a week. I usually wake up at 6am and get ready prepare to leave home by 7.30pm. From there I will take the LRT Kelana Jaya Line from Subang Jaya and exchange to the MRT Kajang Line to MRT Taman Midah which I shall reach by 9am. From then, I will walk towards Hospis which I take around 15 or so minutes to arrive then my work starts at 9.30am which goes on until 4pm, roughly 6 hours.

After that I arrive home at 5pm and hit the gym for at least an hour plus, have my dinner and do my hobbies such as gaming or reading. Subsequently I sleep early if the next day requires me to go to Hospis again or I can sleep in if its a day off.

6. Your plan for next week (Week 4)

The fourth and final week in Hospis will be an extremely eventful week requiring me to go to Menara Star to observe two medical personnel from Hospis be interviewed under 988, the chinese host show owned by The Star. Besides that I will also be interviewed by The Star in the next few days alongside the CEO of Hospis Malaysia as well as shadowing a nurse for patient home visits.

2. Your progress so far:
In week 3, I’ve made good progress and feel more confident in my role. I’m getting better at helping patients with their exercises and knowing when to push them a bit more. I still ask the physiotherapists for help, but I feel like I’m able to do more on my own now. Overall, I’m starting to understand the patients’ needs better and assist more effectively.

3. Your feelings and thoughts:
This week, I felt proud of how far I’ve come. I’m more comfortable with the patients and the tasks I’m given. However, I sometimes still feel unsure when things get complicated, especially with exercises I haven’t seen before. These moments remind me that I’m still learning, and they push me to keep improving. I’m excited to continue building my skills.

4. How did you learn and apply the skill of decision-making in your EP journey?
I’ve learned that making decisions as a volunteer means paying attention to what the patients need and working with the physiotherapists. This week, I had to decide whether to make exercises easier or harder for some patients. I made these choices by watching their progress and asking for help when I wasn’t sure. It helped me feel more involved and responsible.

5. How did you manage your time throughout this EP journey?
Managing my time has been important because I want to learn as much as possible. I plan ahead for each session by thinking about what I want to focus on, like helping a specific patient or practicing a certain skill. Outside of volunteering, I spend time reviewing what I’ve learned and reading more about physiotherapy, so I can be better prepared for each week.

6. Your plan for next week (Week 4):
For week 4, I want to improve how I make decisions when helping patients. I plan to be more confident in guiding them through their exercises, while still being careful to ask for help when needed. I also want to get feedback from the physiotherapists on what I can do better. My goal is to keep learning and to become more comfortable helping on my own.

• Nik Nur Zahirah Zameri, A182430

2. Your progress so far

• I was on the verge of finishing a staff birthday month chart board. It was originally supposed to be completed by the intern students who came before me, but they couldn’t finish it, so I volunteered to take over.

• I’ve been trying to make every second count because I know I’m going to miss this experience when it ends. I’ve grown accustomed to the schedule, the environment, and everyone here.

3. Your feelings and thoughts

• Honestly, I’ve started to second-guess my decision to pursue medicine, hahahaha.

• I used to feel so much pity for the kids because they have to spend their lives here with little to no freedom. They always complain about how bored they are. But something one of the teachers said changed my perspective. She said something like, "If you’re bored, go outside and pick up cans. You should be grateful—here you’re taken care of, you have a place to sleep, food, and drink." That statement stuck with me, and I’ve thought about it a lot. It’s true—they are much better off here than if they were left outside.

4. How did you learn and apply the skill of decision-making in your EP journey?

• Throughout this experience, I’ve learned that decision-making involves not only thinking about the task but also considering how it impacts others. For instance, when I volunteered to finish the birthday board, I had to decide how to manage my time effectively while still ensuring I did the job well.

• I’ve also learned to make quick decisions in unpredictable situations, such as when kids asked for help or advice. I had to trust my judgment and make choices that were in their best interest, which built my confidence in decision-making.

5. How did you manage your time throughout this EP journey?

• This week, I started waking up earlier to give myself more time in the morning. This allowed me to buy both breakfast and lunch beforehand, so I didn’t have to rush during rest hours. Planning my meals ahead of time made the day smoother and less stressful.

• I’ve also been setting small goals each day, which has helped me manage my tasks more efficiently. By breaking down the work, I’ve been able to stay on track and finish my projects without feeling overwhelmed.

6. Your plan for next week (Week 4)

• To organize a "makan-makan" event for the kids as a token of appreciation and give them small gifts.