DSA 2022

[floppy]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2068450\" time=\"1653354421\" user_id=\"175278:

There was another school. Those were turbulent times during the colonial era

There are at least 2 other schools, apart from HCI (then TCHS), that participated in those \"“vehement & outspoken protests” still in existence today.

I believe you are thinking of CCHS. The other, less well known compared to the other schools, is Yuying Secondary School (then Yoke Eng School). That said, if we were to include all the other members of the union, we would have to include NYGH and NCHS (then Nan Chiau Girls' High School) as well :evil:

People usually only remember CCHS and TCHS as the sit-in protests were held in their campuses. However, I was told (can't be verified though) that many leaders came from TCHS.

[bbbay]

Say a 10 years noticed his family newspapers will be tossed aside after finish reading in the morning. An idea came to his mind, that newspaper can be passed to neighbours after reading. He started going around his block to ask his neighbours who want to share newspaper and who want to read these shared newspaper. And he will spend 1 hour to collect and distributes newspaper every Saturday and Sunday afternoon at his block, for free. Seeing his block’s neighbours are happy with it, he tell his primary schoolmates and ask them also do the same thing at their own blocks. He continue doing it for 2 years. And the MP commended this work of his with a certificate.


Now a 12 years old, how good is his chance if he put down this as achievement for DSA application under leadership?

[zac's mum]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2068501\" time=\"1653370369\" user_id=\"175278:

Say a 10 years noticed his family newspapers will be tossed aside after finish reading in the morning. An idea came to his mind, that newspaper can be passed to neighbours after reading. He started going around his block to ask his neighbours who want to share newspaper and who want to read these shared newspaper. And he will spend 1 hour to collect and distributes newspaper every Saturday and Sunday afternoon at his block, for free. Seeing his block’s neighbours are happy with it, he tell his primary schoolmates and ask them also do the same thing at their own blocks. He continue doing it for 2 years. And the MP commended this work of his with a certificate.

Now a 12 years old, how good is his chance if he put down this as achievement for DSA application under leadership?

Is this a hypothetical story? Becos the past 2 years we had a highly-transmissible pandemic here in SG.

What I heard was on top of prefectorial/CCA leadership duties, child needs to have initiated such community projects on his/her own, in order to be considered.

[floppy]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2068501\" time=\"1653370369\" user_id=\"175278:

Say a 10 years noticed his family newspapers will be tossed aside after finish reading in the morning. An idea came to his mind, that newspaper can be passed to neighbours after reading. He started going around his block to ask his neighbours who want to share newspaper and who want to read these shared newspaper. And he will spend 1 hour to collect and distributes newspaper every Saturday and Sunday afternoon at his block, for free. Seeing his block’s neighbours are happy with it, he tell his primary schoolmates and ask them also do the same thing at their own blocks. He continue doing it for 2 years. And the MP commended this work of his with a certificate.

Now a 12 years old, how good is his chance if he put down this as achievement for DSA application under leadership?

Firstly, the kid can definitely applied under the DSA framework for Leadership. He (or she) has fulfilled the basic requirements for this talent area:

example 1. http://www.ri.edu.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/admissions/2022-year-1-dsa-l-and-c---amended-ic.pdf:
Students with exemplary character and outstanding personal qualities through their behaviour and actions as evidenced in any or all of the following:
...
► Commitment to service to the community (e.g. a student with a strong understanding/appreciation of and sustained service to a specific community).

example 2. https://www.rgs.edu.sg/qql/slot/u551/Admissions/RGS-DSA_TalentInformation_2022.pdf:
Students who have
...
AND/OR
• served the community in school and/or beyond school-based programmes; AND/OR
• received awards for leadership, service, character.

However, it's hard to tell how good is his chance since you can't tell how good is the other applicants. If the kid is unlucky that year cos have to run against Greta Thunberg, I think the chance will probably be very low. On the other hand, if the story was picked up by PM and got talked about during National Day Rally as an example of community spirit / youth leadership, I think very few schools will not consider the kid. It's all relative.

[phtthp]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2068501\" time=\"1653370369\" user_id=\"175278:

Say a 10 years noticed his family newspapers will be tossed aside after finish reading in the morning. An idea came to his mind, that newspaper can be passed to neighbours after reading. He started going around his block to ask his neighbours who want to share newspaper and who want to read these shared newspaper. And he will spend 1 hour to collect and distributes newspaper every Saturday and Sunday afternoon at his block, for free. Seeing his block’s neighbours are happy with it, he tell his primary schoolmates and ask them also do the same thing at their own blocks. He continue doing it for 2 years. And the MP commended this work of his with a certificate.

Now a 12 years old, how good is his chance if he put down this as achievement for DSA application under leadership?

If is just this example alone to re-cycle and to re-distribute newspapers to neighbours to read, and nothing else apart from this illustration, answer is .... weak, not strong enough

Unless

supported by other Ccas or some other activities in school that also fall in line under \"Leadership\" domain too.

[phtthp]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2068510\" time=\"1653375004\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2068510 time=1653375004 user_id=53606]
Is this a hypothetical story? Becos the past 2 years we had a highly-transmissible pandemic here in SG.

What I heard was on top of prefectorial/CCA leadership duties, child needs to have initiated such community projects on his/her own, in order to be considered.[/quote]

yup, highly hypothetical because with all the lockdown going on for past 2 years, unlikely to take place unless this occurred during pre-covid years.

See, this is talking about re-pack \"newspapers\".

But if u talk about packing food packet(s), distribute to one room family hdb flat occupiers, whether covid or no covid, people still have to eat. You no job, no $, still got to makan. That is more believable. Do u still recall that incident In Malaysia during the painful covid, where people no food to eat, loss of job, no income, business bankrupt, shut down, hang out white flags outside their door to surrender, to ask (beg) for food just to survive ?

If u no food, no water, can die from hunger & thirst, as your body weight keep going down, become malnourished, lack of nutrition. But you won't die, if dont read newspapers. News is everywhere, readily available on your own handphone, isn't it ? Just \"google\", the news will pop up

[bbbay]

The case is not real, for illustration of community/ inspirational leadership.


Isn’t such a) community/inspirational leadership (likely no precedence/minimum guidance/unpredictable environment ) a better yardstick of the leadership quality than b) CCA/prefectorial (which are well structured and more predictable environments)?

A leadership applicant with both a and b will have better chance than another with just a or b. But will an applicant with only a) , stand better chance than another with only b)?

[zac's mum]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2068519\" time=\"1653381049\" user_id=\"175278:

The case is not real, for illustration of community leadership.

Isn’t such a) community leadership (likely no precedence/minimum guidance/unpredictable environment ) a better yardstick of the leadership quality than b) CCA/prefectorial (which are well structured and more predictable environments)?

A leadership applicant with both a and b will have better chance than another with just a or b. But will an applicant with only a) , stand better chance than another with only b)?

I’d like to raise some points in this discussion:

- first, different schools phrase this domain differently. It was only in recent years that RGS, Cedar changed the name to “community youth leadership” rather than plain “leadership”.

- i agree that in primary schools, prefects are largely nominated by form teachers, and such kids are usually super obedient, studious type. They will help teacher to maintain order in the classroom, “book” latecomers & rule breakers. Not much else.

- CCA heads, possibly have more experience in peer leadership (sometimes across many levels of juniors), depending on the type & size of the CCA too. It is far more than simply helping teacher mark attendance.

- i am not sure why community service is seen as a reflection of leadership skills. While it is commonly said that political leaders need to have a servant heart, to me if a child can gain the respect of their peers & possess the skills to manage immature juniors, isnt that leadership potential? The willingness to serve the community with such skills is a bonus.

[bbbay]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2068522\" time=\"1653381873\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2068522 time=1653381873 user_id=53606]
I’d like to raise some points in this discussion:

- first, different schools phrase this domain differently. It was only in recent years that RGS, Cedar changed the name to “community youth leadership” rather than plain “leadership”.

- i agree that in primary schools, prefects are largely nominated by form teachers, and such kids are usually super obedient, studious type. They will help teacher to maintain order in the classroom, “book” latecomers & rule breakers. Not much else.

- CCA heads, possibly have more experience in peer leadership (sometimes across many levels of juniors), depending on the type & size of the CCA too. It is far more than simply helping teacher mark attendance.

- i am not sure why community service is seen as a reflection of leadership skills. While it is commonly said that political leaders need to have a servant heart, to me if a child can gain the respect of their peers & possess the skills to manage immature juniors, isnt that leadership potential? The willingness to serve the community with such skills is a bonus.[/quote]

I will frame my view on the difference between 1) community and 2) managing leadership this way:

The popular Chinese classic “Romance of the 3 kingdom”, there were 3 sworn brothers 劉備, 关羽 and 张飞.

关羽 was the well respected/feared general- bold, strong and well disciplined. Even the enemy state wanted to recruit him.

劉備 was wise, big hearted, and cared a lot for the common folks.

There was an episode when the brothers and their small army, together with many villagers, were forced to retreat from large enemy army. 关羽 advices 劉備 to leave the villagers behind so they and their small army can retreat faster. 劉備 replied that they were going to war, for the sole purpose of the villagers’ well-being. The war will be meaningless if they abandon them.

To me 劉備 is the 1) and 关羽 the 2).

[Imp75]

Regarding the hypothetical example, I would rate the boy very highly in that he’s original in his ideas and willing to serve his community without any costs. Is this better than participating in ‘hair for hope’ with online donations where your parents fund you almost entirely to reach your target hahaha…