A173351

07/08/2023-11/08/2023

Your progress so far

For week 3, me and my group mates were given a different task from the previous weeks which was surplus collection and delivery. As usual we went to the HQ in Setapak for a short briefing about the activity for that day. The activity for this week required us to pick up donations from a few companies/donors such as AEON, Lotus, KFC and others. The donation will then be delivered directly to the recipients (Eg: children home, schools, old folks home, etc). It was such a tiring yet fun experience.

Being part of the volunteering team gives me a sense of fulfilment since all the work that we did solely with the intention of helping others. Knowing that other people are receiving the help that they need makes me feel happy. Despite a few hiccups that we faced, I can say that I truly enjoy doing volunteering work. 

Starting from the process of finding a NGO to work with up until now, my friends and I are able to practise and enhance our decision making skills. We will discuss with each other about our preferences, schedule, and many other things so that everything goes smoothly. I am blessed to have such great group mates. 

Apart from that, if there is any problem that we encountered during the volunteering activity, we will try to discuss among ourselves what should be done and convey our enquiries to the Kechara staff.

As someone who loves to plan, I always plan my week. I will jot down any important events so that I am not going to miss any of them. 

My plan for next week is to try a new activity organised by Kechara which is food packing and distribution. 

A181072

7/8/2023

During my third week of volunteering, the experience was quite tiring but incredibly fulfilling. Unlike before, I took on a more challenging schedule, managing two sections in a single day - the aquarium and mammal sections. In the morning, I assisted in the aquarium section, cleaning the glass and feeding the penguins. They were really cute, but during feeding, they got a bit aggressive. So, I had to be careful not to get pecked. After lunch, I transitioned to the mammal section, where I took charge of cleaning, food preparation, and feeding the African porcupines. Surprisingly, their scary look turned out to be quite cute, even more so than the penguins. Also, i shouldn't leave out mentioning the most memorable moment of my time volunteering in the mammal section, which was meeting 'Boy,' the oldest and biggest camel under Zoo Negara's care. In conclusion, the increased workload added a layer of excitement to the experience. While the tasks remained mostly consistent, the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of animals consistently brought enjoyment and enlightenment throughout.

For me, my 3rd week of volunteering was a blend of exhaustion and fulfillment. The decision to tackle two sections in a single day turned out to be quite demanding, leaving me physically tired but emotionally satisfied. Why ? Because, despite the weariness, the prospect of interacting with new animals added an element of eagerness that kept me motivated. Not just that, feeding the penguins in aquarium section was an eye-opener. Despite their charming appearance, they displayed an unexpected aggressiveness when they were being fed that got me thinking about the complexity of wildlife behaviour. Therefore, i believe that this experience had reinforced me with the importance of careful interaction and deepened my appreciation for the uniqueness of each animal.

Decision-making has been an ongoing skill I've applied throughout my three weeks of volunteering. From the start, I've used this skill by thoughtfully assessing choices and outcomes, particularly when selecting which sections to contribute in. Each time I chose sections, I weighed the benefits and challenges. For me, this skill was especially crucial during this 3rd week when I decided to tackle two sections in a day, considering my energy levels and enthusiasm. Even in tasks involving animals, decision-making played a role. For instance, when I fed penguins, I decided how to handle their aggression while keeping them safe. The same process applied when tending to porcupines and other animals previously. This whole experience taught me that making smart choices, especially in a changing place like a zoo, is a big part of successful volunteering.

Throughout my elective posting journey, I employed various tactics to manage my time effectively. These strategies encompassed planning, adaptability, and self-assessment. At the beginning of each week, I outlined a schedule to finish all tasks given in 8 hours time. While having a schedule was important, I remained flexible to adapt to unexpected changes or tasks that required more time than anticipated. In addition to that, i also incorporate some short breaks between tasks to recharge and stay focused throughout the day. At the end of each day, I reflected on what went well and what could be improved. This helped me refine my time management approach as the weeks progressed.

I want something more bold more aggresive more frigthful, so I’m thinking of engaging with the wildest of wild animals -the carnivore section (tigers, lions, cheetah, elephant, etc)

Siti Nur Khadijah Binti Sha’ari

A174511

13^TH August 2023 

 

In week 3, I have a gym partner who trains under the same personal trainer. His name is Ajmal called AJ and he is 27 years old. On the first day of his training, I was 2 weeks advance, hence I know more than he did in terms of techniques. I thought him few techniques in using smith machines and even lifting dumbbell position for certain targeted muscle. I also brief him how my coach arranges my day according to the muscles that we are targeting, and he is joining me. 

This week, I have to do different repetition with extra load (20 reps for 5 sets). However, I felt competitive due to a new gym partner because he is able to do my 2-week-training weigh. Maybe because he is a guy and has extra bundle of muscle than I do. 

Monday – Cardio, I manage to do 24 minutes run at pace 7 on treadmill at 3km distance.

Tuesday – Back training had been level up to 20kg this week and the back sores of the trapezius muscle had been burning all week.

Wednesday- For abdominal training, I can finally do 2 minutes plank with correct technique.

Thursday- Shoulder training is still challenging for me since I have to lift 10kg weigh this week but the satisfaction there.

Friday- Legs training had been increase to 20kg on leg press and 25kg for sumo squad.

My weight is currently 77kg at BMI of 30.1 (Obese Class 1). I found it easy for me to take care of my portion control with less craving of sweet drinks and unhealthy food.

I am a bit intimidated by the presence of my gym partner, AJ, because he seems to be able to lift weight that I felt heavy for me. However, I do realize that I am advance at the technique and skill of certain game. I’m happy to teach AJ to improve the posture and position in certain games.

The decision making skill here are applied when I decided to continue doing what is tiring at that moment because I have so many advantages benefited from the activities that I choose for my physical health and mental strength. I used to say to my coach “I can lift that heavy” he said, “YOU CAN!” and he make me believe in myself that I can always do it until proven otherwise.

The gym subscription is 5 days a week and it had been held for 2 hours per session. Most of the time, I attend the session from 2pm to 4pm. If I’m busy in the afternoon, I’ll go early to the gym and attend for 8am to 10am session. I found it better to attend in the evening, so that we are not training alone because the more the marrier.  

If I am free in the morning, I go for cycling and attending gym session in the evening. I felt very satisfied with what I do throughout the day when I ride in the morning, training in the afternoon and jogging in the evening. Physically, I felt healthier and mentally I think I’m getting better. Even my sleeps at night is good with 8 hour sleep.

For next week, I want to do it all out to reduces my weight as many as possible. It is all about becoming discipline with food intake and portion, the consistency of exercise I invested on and my desire of having better strength and ideal weight.