2. These last two weeks were mainly focused on harvesting mushrooms. I learned the correct way to harvest them so that they can grow again, as one bottle typically produces mushrooms 3 to 4 times. Meanwhile, we had to monitor the temperature and humidity of the warehouse. Since the fogging machine hadn’t arrived yet, we had to manually spray the mushrooms with water. After harvesting, we weighed the mushrooms and then proceeded with packaging.

This mushroom production project had two objectives which are to sell raw oyster mushrooms and to fry the mushrooms to sell them as salted egg mushrooms. The mushrooms needed to be harvested every day to prevent them from drying out, and they had to be stored in the fridge. Additionally, we regularly checked the progress of the new bottles to ensure they were developing as expected.

One of these days, the fogging machine finally arrived, but we couldn't use it immediately because we needed to hire people to program the machine and install the pipes for the water mist to flow out. Even though it wasn’t my job to find buyers for these two products, I managed to convince my family members and friends to buy them to support us.

3. Points to Remember

Every hard work pays off, and we must put in effort to achieve our goals.

4. I felt very happy as the project came to an end, though slightly sad because I know I won't have time to do this kind of work again soon.

5. There were no difficulties this week because everything went smoothly. My only concern was whether our production would be enough to meet the high demand, as people were buying the mushrooms very quickly.

6. It was a very interesting experience, and I hope I’ll have time later to visit the mushroom warehouse again.

1. Were the objectives of the project fulfilled?

I have completed all my objective perfectly. My basketball skills definitely improved, and I’ve gotten much fitter—my strength, endurance, agility, and flexibility are all better than before. I also developed a better understanding of the game, which really helped during our matches. My confidence and mental toughness increased, which was crucial for staying focused, especially in tight situations. Overall, I feel like my physical and mental health has benefited a lot from this season. It’s a bummer we missed the playoffs by just 3 points, but finishing in the top 5 out of 11 teams is still something to be proud of.

2. What have you enjoyed or liked the most about the project?

I really enjoyed seeing how much I’ve grown—both in terms of skills and fitness. Winning that last game 93-47 was awesome and showed how much we’ve improved as a team. I’ve also liked the way I’ve gained a better understanding of the game and how my confidence has grown throughout the season. Plus, promoting a healthy lifestyle through social media and feeling positive about my physical and mental health has been really rewarding.

3. What have you found challenging about this project?

The biggest challenge has been dealing with my injury, especially as it’s gotten worse. Missing the playoffs by such a small margin was tough, particularly knowing we could’ve done better if we hadn’t made mistakes early on. Balancing the mental side of things, like staying confident and mentally tough while managing the physical demands, was also challenging.

4. What has really worked?

My improvement in basketball skills and increased physical fitness were definitely noticeable in our games. My understanding of the game and ability to stay mentally tough in tough situations made a big difference. I also think I did well in promoting a healthy lifestyle and maintaining positive physical and mental health throughout the season. Our teamwork and communication improved a lot as well, which helped us secure some big wins.

5. What can be improved in this project?

Going forward, we need to focus on minimizing mistakes early in the season and staying consistent with our teamwork and communication. I’m also going to make sure I address my injury with a physician. Continuing to work on my game understanding, confidence, and mental toughness will be important, and I’d like to keep promoting a healthy lifestyle while finding new ways to engage with the community.

2. Were the objectives of the project fulfilled?

The objectives of my taekwondo elective posting has been achieved. I am able to become a taekwondo student and an instructor as well which I am very proud of. After leaving taekwondo for about 4 years, I am very happy that I am able to come back to taekwondo again and learn it under my Master’s guidance. Besides that, I was also able to learn and I managed to also teach the younger junior belts which was one of my main objectives in this posting. I also managed to memorize and learn the correct moves, stances and punches in taekwondo as well as doing all the taegeuks from taegeuk 1-8. With this taekwondo elective posting, I have also been able to embrace a mental and physically healthier lifestyle. All in all, I'm quite pleased with my progress and grateful that I can again resume my taekwondo practice.

3. What have u enjoyed or liked the most about the project?

The ability to learn and teach taekwondo once more, as well as witnessing my own and my junior belts' progress during the elective posting, is what I think I loved most about this taekwondo posting. It makes me really delighted to see how well I can do the stances, strikes, and kicks, and it has been a wonderful pleasure to be able to pass that knowledge on to my junior belts. Taekwondo has always been a part of my life, and I saw it as a chance for me and the other taekwondo practitioners to form a close connection. I'm glad I got to know so many nice and wonderful people, including Master Farizul, who really helped me out with this posting.

4. What have you found challenging about this project?

The most challenging thing about this project would be teaching the younger generations. It can be challenging at first because the younger generations are still immature and very playful at times. Therefore, it can be a little chaotic to teach them the necessary stances, punches, and kicks. Nevertheless, I believe I have learnt how to teach them every week and have gotten better at it during the optional posting, which has made me extremely happy.

5. What has really worked?

My confidence has increased over the past few weeks, and I can clearly see significant improvements in my taekwondo abilities throughout the year. With my Master's help, I was able to pick up the stances, punches, and kicks once more. I'm glad I was able to perform them correctly. I believe taekwondo is more than just a martial art, and witnessing changes in my both mental and physical health has made me appreciate the art form's beauty.

6. What can be improved in this project?

I believe that the project might use some improvement, namely in the area of participation and education regarding "sparring," a significant aspect of taekwondo. I have been learning the fundamentals of taekwondo, including stances, kicks, punches, and taegeuk, throughout this posting. However, I was unable to participate in sparring, which I believe would have added excitement to this taekwondo elective posting. In the end, I'm rather proud with the progress I've made in my taekwondo elective posting, and I aim to keep up this progress even after the posting time has concluded.

GORDON NUIL ANAK GRIPPIN, A189445, 30th of August 2024

2. Were the objectives of the project fulfilled?

The objectives were to learn the fundamentals such as canter, trot, and basic walking. 

In conclusion, the objectives were complete as I have learnt to perform the skills all on my own without the assistance of my coach. This is due to the fact I have to be confident and know the certain techniques to perform to maneuver the horse. I was satisfied as during the first 3 sessions, the horse was very stubborn and I had a tough time giving orders to the horse through my horse rein.

3. What have you enjoyed or liked the most about the project?

I really enjoyed the journey as it was challenging physically and mentally. Although it was very tiring, I was very satisfied as I was finally able to control the horse on my final session. 

4. What have you found challenging about this project?

The horse is a living being. It has emotions such as reluctance. And it also may be stubborn from time to time. Its hard to instruct and maneuver the horse during my first few sessions as I perceived the horse as a machine where I assumed I could just pull the horses rein left and right to go left and right. But I was very wrong. I had to know the certain times when the horse was reluctant, and I had to identify the technique to persuade the horse to move and perform certain skills such as canter, trot and even gallop/.

5. What has really worked?

I've gained a new skill which is horse riding. I have also gained the confidence to maneuver the horse without any provision and assistance. 

I also managed to gain greater physical strength as it requires alot of leg muscle grip to stay balanced on the horse. 

6.What can be improved on this project?

Interesting skill to learn and I should have not underestimated horse riding and perceive as it “looks easy” initially during the start of my sessions.

Your name: Krshya A/P Selva Kumar

Matric number: A187717

Date: 28th August 2024

1. Were the objectives of the project fulfilled?

I am delighted to share that the objectives of this project have been successfully achieved. I have developed a strong grasp of the fundamental techniques and principles of Silambam, including staff handling, fluid combat movements, critical thinking, and adaptability. This has enabled me to fulfill my first objective of attaining technical and strategic proficiency.

Regarding my second objective of physical conditioning, I have significantly improved my stamina, muscular endurance, strength, flexibility and motor skills—particularly coordination and agility—through targeted exercises and two months of dedicated Silambam practice.

Additionally, I have explored the rich history, philosophy, and cultural significance of Silambam as an Indian martial art, deepening my appreciation for the art form. This accomplishment aligns with the third objective of the project, which is to foster cultural understanding.

The objective I feel I have most strongly achieved is personal development. This project has greatly enhanced my mental focus, discipline, and resilience through consistent practice. As a result, I have nurtured greater self-confidence both on and off the training ground.

I am overjoyed to have met these objectives after a total of two months of dedicated effort, and I am deeply grateful to be able to celebrate the rewarding outcomes of this journey.

2. What have you enjoyed or liked the most about the project?

I thoroughly enjoyed how I felt during this posting. It's widely known that exercise releases endorphins and dopamine—hormones that positively affect your mood. However, the science alone doesn't capture the full sense of rejuvenation you experience after a workout. While concurrently working a full-time job, I would either train or exercise before my afternoon shift or after my morning shift. Although I often felt initial resistance to start working out due to the fatigue from work, I found myself chasing the post-workout high. I can confidently say that this feeling dissolved all my weariness and stress from the day, and I felt better than I ever have during these 2 months. I wake up every day feeling less groggy and more energy-pumped, and my energy levels do not deplete mid-day. This alone has encouraged me to continue exercising even after my posting ends!

I also loved having something to look forward to every day. My life often follows a monotonous routine—clinical shifts, studying on class days, or working the same schedule during holidays. This predictability can become tiring, and over time, it gets progressively more depressing when there's no change in momentum. Incorporating my elective posting into my daily life during the holidays was a savior. It added variety to my routine, offering a much-needed break from the mundane. I alternated strength training, focusing on different muscle groups, and varied my cardio, strength exercises, and Silambam practice. I found myself looking forward to these sessions even during work, as they gave me a breath of fresh air amidst the monotony. Looking back, I'm incredibly grateful I chose this posting, as without it, I would have been in a low mood throughout the holidays.

Another aspect I appreciated about this posting was the opportunity for self-reflection and personal growth. I had never prioritised my fitness as much as I have now, and as a result, I’m in one of my strongest physical forms. This experience has made me realize that although I study medicine and advocate for health, it’s pointless if I don’t prioritise my own body and health. Now, I’ve made it non-negotiable to skip exercise, building discipline and resilience that will certainly serve me well in the upcoming year. My self-confidence has also grown exponentially. When I initially struggled with certain exercises or routines, I doubted whether I could continue, and this instilled a level of insecurity in me. Fortunately, with consistent effort and determination, I pushed through—and succeeded. Completing this posting has given me the confidence that whatever challenges life throws at me, I can handle them with grace. Knowing that I’ve done it before and can do it again is incredibly comforting, especially for my anxious self.

If you had told me before starting this posting how much I would enjoy it, I would have thought you were joking. But I’m truly grateful that this is my reality.

3. What have you found challenging about this project? (any part of the project you found hard to do)

The main challenge I faced throughout this project was managing time constraints. As I’ve mentioned several times in previous reflections, this was a persistent issue that echoed in my mind. I struggled quite a bit with adjusting and organizing my schedule to balance my full-time job, daily training routines or classes for my elective posting, and sufficient rest. Although I managed to meticulously plan and fit everything in, I realized that with a longer free period, I could have achieved more. For instance, I could have explored direct combat techniques, which weren’t feasible within the one-month timeframe of the project. That said, I’m proud to have learned all the basic steps of Silambam in a single stretch, which was no easy feat. Remembering all the step executions was challenging, but I passed my final examination by the fourth week. Even my supervisor noted that this was difficult to accomplish, as students usually take up to three months to perfect everything.

I also found this project to be incredibly physically demanding. Commuting back and forth from my full-time job, walking, taking the bus, using the MRT, and standing for almost 8 hours as a retail assistant left me exhausted. All I wanted to do afterward was sleep. It took immense dedication to stick to my training regime, but I managed, no matter how hard it was. Interestingly, my workouts helped alleviate the chronic backache I developed from my job, which I’m really happy about.

However, during my fourth week, I started feeling more lethargic than usual. I went to the hospital, where my blood pressure was recorded at 90/54, and I felt extremely weak and fragile. After explaining my schedule to the doctor, including the fact that I often reduced my sleep to accommodate my routine, she advised me to take a few days off to prioritize rest and recovery, which is an essential phase in physical conditioning that allows muscles to heal and grow. I took her advice, giving myself the needed time off after my posting, and I’m happy to say I feel better than ever now!

Name: Krshya A/P Selva Kumar

Matric number: A187717

Date: 28th August 2024

4. What has really worked? (any part in the project that you thought worked well)

One of the standout successes was my ability to learn and master all the basic steps of Silambam in just one month, a feat my supervisor acknowledged as difficult, considering that most students take up to three months to perfect these skills. Passing my final examination within such a short time frame was a key achievement, reflecting the effectiveness of my structured approach and commitment.

Apart from that, what really worked in this project was my ability to navigate and balance the demands of a full-time job alongside my training regimen and Silambam practice, despite significant time constraints. As I mentioned earlier, adjusting my schedule to accommodate an 8-hour workday, daily training, and ensuring enough rest was a challenge. However, through meticulous planning and dedication, I managed to make it all work.

Another aspect that worked well was the impact of my physical training on my overall health. Despite the exhaustion from my job and commute, my workouts actually helped alleviate the fatigue and body aches I developed from standing long hours as a retail assistant. This was a pleasant and unexpected benefit, demonstrating that the physical demands of Silambam contributed to my well-being in more ways than I initially anticipated.

Moreover, the mental benefits were just as significant. The post-workout high I experienced helped dissolve the stress and weariness from my job, while also adding variety and excitement to my daily routine, which had become monotonous. Incorporating this project into my holidays gave me something to look forward to every day, providing a much-needed break from the repetitive nature of my life.

Overall, the combination of strategic planning, dedication, and the physical and mental benefits of Silambam training worked exceptionally well for me throughout this project.

5. What can be improved in this project?

One key area that could be improved in this project is time management. Although I managed to balance my full-time job, training, and rest, I often found myself sacrificing sleep to accommodate everything. This led to increased fatigue and eventually a dip in my health during the fourth week, when I experienced low blood pressure and extreme lethargy. Moving forward, it would be beneficial to build a more flexible and less rigid schedule that allows for better rest and recovery, ensuring that my body has the necessary time to heal and recharge.

Other than that, with a longer timeframe for the project, I could have explored more advanced aspects of Silambam, such as direct combat techniques. While I successfully mastered the basic steps, expanding the duration of the project would have allowed me to dive deeper into the practice and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the art. This would have enriched my learning experience and helped me achieve more than just the foundational skills.

In addition to improving time management and expanding the project duration, another area for enhancement would be stress management and self-care practices. While I was dedicated to following my training regimen despite the demands of my full-time job, I realized that pushing myself too hard without prioritizing recovery led to burnout. Incorporating mindfulness practices like meditation or yoga, and scheduling dedicated rest days could help balance the physical demands and mental strain of such a rigorous routine.

Nutritional support is another area that could be improved. Given the physically demanding nature of Silambam training and my full-time job, paying more attention to my diet and hydration would likely have improved my energy levels and overall performance. Consulting with a nutritionist or developing a more targeted meal plan could have helped me stay fueled and recover faster.

Lastly, better access to resources and training environments could have improved my experience. If I had more flexible access to training facilities or a designated space to practice, it might have helped streamline my routine.

Additionally, having more opportunities to train with others or participate in group sessions could have made the learning process more interactive and engaging, while also fostering a sense of community and support.

Haziq Aiman bin Mohd Faizal

(A188712)

29/08/2024

2. Were the objectives of the project fulfilled?

Definitely yes, training in archery has helped me fulfilled my objectives to learn and develop technical skills, build physical fitness and strength, and enhance mental toughness. The taxing nature of archery training requires constant practice and fine tuning of technique, from grip to release, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to archery. Each practice session also requires immense physical ability such as a rigorous workout, these are evident when i was tasked to strengthen my core and upper body while improving my posture and flexibility. Moreover, the focus and discipline that was needed to maintain focus during long sessions helped me develop my mental toughness, teaching me how to handle pressure and stay calm in challenging situations. After the month of elective posting i have became a more resilient and focused individual, qualities that are essential in my journey as a medical student. I am thankful that this elective posting gave me the opportunity to experience this as a medical student.

3. What have you enjoyed or liked most about the project?

What I enjoyed most about archery training is the combination of focus, challenge, and exercise that it requires. Each session allows me to completly lose myself in the moment, where it is as if the world turns silent as I concentrate on the target and focus on my shot, in the world where there is always constant noise around me, that one moment of silence is addictive, it was like i was in a state of flow. The satisfaction that comes from mastering a skill fuels my motivation to improve. I also cherish the connections that were made throughout my elective posting journey with other fellow archers, as they share tips and support each other through training. This expereince creates an unforgetable experience that not only enhances my skills but also lets me develop my skills that are much needed as a medical student.

4. What have you found challenging about this project?

One of the most challenging aspects of archery training has been trying to maintain a top physical condition throughout the entirety of training. Due to the amount of repetitive movement that is being done, one can get injured really easily due to overworking of the muscles, such as i did at the end of my training.I learnt how to recover, eat and train properly so that i can minimize the chances of me getting injured agoin. Other than that, while I can often hit the target, replicating that shot after shot requires intense focus and discipline. There are also environmental factors, such as wind that can affect my aim, making it impotant to adapt quickly and fix my technique. Additionally, overcoming barriers, such as dealing with performance anxiety or the frustration of missed shots, has tested and built up my resilience. These challenges have pushed me to develop not only my physical skills but also my mental strength, as I learn to remain calm and composed under pressure. Rather than shying away due to  these difficulties, facing them made me a more determined person and has made me have a deeper appreciation for the sport.

5. What has really worked?

In the past month since I started archery training, what has truly worked for me is the importance of calmness, concentration and precision. Each shot requires me to be fully concentrated, which has markedly improved my focus and attention not only in sprots but also in other areas of my life. This heightened state of awareness impacts my studies by allowing me to absorb information more effectively and stay engaged during classes. In addition to that, the need to follow a routine of regular practice has instilled me with disciplin and helped me to manage my time better and approach my academic responsibilities with the same dedication I bring to archery. The loop of practice and improvement has also boosted my confidence, as I can evidently see the fruits of my training from my efforts. Overall, the lessons learned from going through this elective posting have enhanced my academic journey and personal development in ways i did not expect.

6. What can be improved in this project?

To further better my performance in this elective posting, I should have refined and come up with a structured training regimen that includes both physical conditioning and mental preparation in the earlier stages rather than in the middle. With Incorporating strength training and flexibility exercises will improve my overall physical fitness that will play a crucial part in maintaining  my endurance during longer sessions. Additionally, I can develop a consistent warm-up routine to ensure my body is ready to perform at its best and to minimize the risks of injuries.

On the mental side, I should practice visualization techniques regularly, imagining myself executing shots and overcoming challenges. This ‘rehearsal’ can build confidence and help me stay focused during training. Other than that, keeping a training journal will also be beneficial, by documenting my progress, setbacks, and reflections after each session, I can definitely identify and analyze patterns and adjust my training regiment as needed.

Finally, engaging with the archery community, whether through workshops, competitions, or online forums, can provide valuable insights. I have found that learning from others' experiences is one of the best ways to encourage growth. By combining physical training, mental preparation, and engagement, I can elevate my skills and fully reap the benefits of this elective posting.