Just Breathe
I was running as fast as I could, making my way through the crowd from the bookshop of the university to the professor's room to hand the printouts and get rid of the burden I've been carrying for a while, when my colleague took the invitations from me and said "Just Breathe".
She was right. I need to take a deep breath and slowdown for a while.
My classmate and I were busy during the last month preparing for a training program as a project for Management of Training class. We were supposed to apply what we’ve learned and give a seminar. The assignment was given to us since the very first class. We had to come up with a topic for the seminar. We would meet or group-email for brainstorming sessions. We were divided into several committees and I was a member of most of them because of the interrelated part, and let me brag and say effective and important roles I was given or volunteered to do.
I was assigned to design the training kit, posters, invitations, certificates and the PowerPoint presentation. Up to the last moment there were printing problems and even silly spelling mistakes. But now as I look back at everything I would say that everything went great.
I was also assigned to be the voice. During surfing the net for icebreakers, I found something interesting, that the instructor of a lecture would stand at the back of the classroom and would address the student, who would be facing the blackboard, and s/he would say I’m going to help you and push you to the next level… or something like that.
I presented the idea to the team and said that we should make it a surprise for the audience. My team-members liked the idea and thought it would be more interesting if the sound was a female voice. And that’s how I became The Voice!
The other part I played was the icebreaker presenter. The plan was I would give the icebreaker without being present on the stage. The voice would instruct the audience to watch the presentation and such. But I felt there was a problem with the one pressing “next slide” so I had to come up among the crowd with the wireless microphone and improvise and work on the icebreaker activity.
Our seminar title was “B” the CIRCUMSTANCES. A colleague drew our attention to Napoleon’s quote “To hell with circumstances. I create circumstances”. Another colleague, the one who told me to take a breath :) she came up with the title so it would attractive for students. We simply focused on how to think out of the box, therefore, the first icebreaker was the nine-dots drill.
During solving other assignment, the teacher figured out that I was quoting from “the 7 habits of highly effective people” which I was unintentionally doing. But I guess I like the book so much and started on internalize the concepts. I started reading 2005 and but I left to Jordan this summer and came and hurried to join classes. I’m left with the closing remarks and I feel I like the book so much that don’t want to finish reading it.
During deciding on the topic the teacher suggested that we should give a lecture on the 7 habits. Since I’m the only one who read the book it was all on my shoulder. Later when we diced to on the topic I was still supposed to give something related to the book. Therefore I gave the woman sketch exercise (no, I’m not going to tell you what is it all about. Go read the book).
Then the core lecture was there and we had a lot of fun activities during that with lessons to be learned. And closed the night with dinner.
The president of the university, many faculty members, and the VP wife attended the seminar.
Being on the stage with the mic, giving inspirational speech and encouraging audience to participate and motivating them to interact… it felt like home! I thought it was just me being under the spotlight. But after the lecture when students and team-members came to me, thanked me and said nice words about how the drills I gave were interesting and that I did a good job… I felt I want to do that more often. I wish if I can make it as a career, a career that does make a difference.
I've been participating in many since high school, but this one was different activities but this one was different. I was for the first time proactive. I believe that was another step on the road I’m taking… but still… there’s much for me to learn.
That’s all for now
She was right. I need to take a deep breath and slowdown for a while.
My classmate and I were busy during the last month preparing for a training program as a project for Management of Training class. We were supposed to apply what we’ve learned and give a seminar. The assignment was given to us since the very first class. We had to come up with a topic for the seminar. We would meet or group-email for brainstorming sessions. We were divided into several committees and I was a member of most of them because of the interrelated part, and let me brag and say effective and important roles I was given or volunteered to do.
I was assigned to design the training kit, posters, invitations, certificates and the PowerPoint presentation. Up to the last moment there were printing problems and even silly spelling mistakes. But now as I look back at everything I would say that everything went great.
I was also assigned to be the voice. During surfing the net for icebreakers, I found something interesting, that the instructor of a lecture would stand at the back of the classroom and would address the student, who would be facing the blackboard, and s/he would say I’m going to help you and push you to the next level… or something like that.
I presented the idea to the team and said that we should make it a surprise for the audience. My team-members liked the idea and thought it would be more interesting if the sound was a female voice. And that’s how I became The Voice!
The other part I played was the icebreaker presenter. The plan was I would give the icebreaker without being present on the stage. The voice would instruct the audience to watch the presentation and such. But I felt there was a problem with the one pressing “next slide” so I had to come up among the crowd with the wireless microphone and improvise and work on the icebreaker activity.
Our seminar title was “B” the CIRCUMSTANCES. A colleague drew our attention to Napoleon’s quote “To hell with circumstances. I create circumstances”. Another colleague, the one who told me to take a breath :) she came up with the title so it would attractive for students. We simply focused on how to think out of the box, therefore, the first icebreaker was the nine-dots drill.
During solving other assignment, the teacher figured out that I was quoting from “the 7 habits of highly effective people” which I was unintentionally doing. But I guess I like the book so much and started on internalize the concepts. I started reading 2005 and but I left to Jordan this summer and came and hurried to join classes. I’m left with the closing remarks and I feel I like the book so much that don’t want to finish reading it.
During deciding on the topic the teacher suggested that we should give a lecture on the 7 habits. Since I’m the only one who read the book it was all on my shoulder. Later when we diced to on the topic I was still supposed to give something related to the book. Therefore I gave the woman sketch exercise (no, I’m not going to tell you what is it all about. Go read the book).
Then the core lecture was there and we had a lot of fun activities during that with lessons to be learned. And closed the night with dinner.
The president of the university, many faculty members, and the VP wife attended the seminar.
Being on the stage with the mic, giving inspirational speech and encouraging audience to participate and motivating them to interact… it felt like home! I thought it was just me being under the spotlight. But after the lecture when students and team-members came to me, thanked me and said nice words about how the drills I gave were interesting and that I did a good job… I felt I want to do that more often. I wish if I can make it as a career, a career that does make a difference.
I've been participating in many since high school, but this one was different activities but this one was different. I was for the first time proactive. I believe that was another step on the road I’m taking… but still… there’s much for me to learn.
That’s all for now
posted by attawie at Wednesday, October 29, 2008
8 Comments:
Glad to see that you have a voice (or The Voice). You would be a great politician.
Looking at Iraq makes me angry about all the macho (and sexually frustrated hehe) iraqi(/american/iranian/english/european/arab/somalian?) men that have essentially ruined our country with their 'politics'.
Wouldn't it be so much better if our nana's ruled? No fighting, Just a grossly obese nation. :D
Congratulations on your achievements during the training program Attawie! I think you are developing some real leadership skills.
Your title of "B" the CIRCUMSTANCES remindes me of one of my all time favorite movies. It is Caddyshack. The character Ty coaches Danny to "Be the ball" while they are playing golf. :D I think that Gandhi said something like, "You must be the change that you wish to see in the world."
I am interested in "the 7 habits of highly effective people". I will try and look this up when I have a bit more time.
You have some remarkable abilities Attawie! :)
"Wouldn't it be so much better if our nana's ruled? No fighting, Just a grossly obese nation. :D"
Hello Touta, I think you have a great idea here! Nanas could do a much better job ruling the world. :)
I'm trying to lose some weight though. ;)
hello david :)
What's a little wait gain when compared to world peace?
The other option is of course, for mothers to rule,and I think I can safely say, that would just lead to a big brother like state, where the world mothers/leaders all meet to discuss their childrens/nations love life. :D
@ touta
Yep, nana's are sweet and can make everyone happy with their food.. and don't worry, we'll just have an ongoing weight watch.
@ David,
"be the change" that's the key. I'm doing my best to work on my leadership skills.
sorry, i'm in a hurry.
tc
This comment has been removed by the author.
oops. I wanted to add to the comment and ended up deleting it. Aah, too lazy to rewrite it, so went something like this ermm..."iraq" "university" and "ha, weight watchers, like grandmothers don't bully people into gaining weight, because its apparently better". :D
Oh touta,
never mind :)
Actually unlike any grandma, mine is the best. She cook healthy food and always in favour of staying in good shape :)
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