EIP 2018 REFLECTIONS: ABANG IZZAT
"But I genuinely think we were able to affect the participants in a positive way; and for that, I'm proud of my teammates and the work we put forward."
I find myself apart of the Multimedia & Technical bureau in the company of three others, two of whom I thankfully was already somewhat familiar with, Zaim and Auzan. Much of our workload come weeks before the event itself. With no apparent head of bureau, we had to divide the workload equally among ourselves. I was tasked with designing and creating our project t-shirt, the blog, and the nametag for each facilitators. Design work is often loaded with rejection, re-dos upon re-dos— and this was no different. It requires a different kind of dedication, which I'm proud to say my teammates and I have in great deal. With multiple designs and ideas being turned down over the course of weeks, I managed to pull through with contributions from not only those from my bureau, but also those involved with the project directly.
During the event itself, I was tasked with being the main photographer as I have prior experience of doing so. I also took part in managing the stereo system as well, something which I have never done before. Unfortunately, due to this I find myself interacting less with our participants as I was not directly involved in the group activities— even though ironically I would be the one who would be moving around the most. With most of my work being behind the scenes, I found it difficult to easily socialise with the participants which remains my biggest regrets to this day. I'm sorry, SMTKL!
As a photographer, I wanted to portray what our participants was feeling during the event accurately. Staged photos would be a disservice to any memory; good or bad. This was truly the moment when I realised how much everyone was truly enjoying themselves! The committee members were constantly in a state of tiredness, taking naps in secluded corners whenever there was any gaps in the schedule (with photos to prove it). But, when our participants would return, there would be genuine smiles on our faces, energised by their excitedness for the next activity.
After the event has concluded, I felt a stronger bond forming amongst us facilitators. Though most of us were not close friends, we now see each other often, with inside jokes hidden in fits of giggles. We always joke around within our circles to organise a second EIP next year under the Physics Club banner though we all knew we were dead serious.
There is no clear cut way of instilling interest within an individual— especially for one which finds itself so rooted within anxiety. To be fair, I myself was not particularly fond of Physics when I was younger. But I genuinely think we were able to affect the participants in a positive way; and for that, I'm proud of my teammates and the work we put forward.
