NHJS Y10 Milestone Programme (Shared by Ms Ong)
POBB rekindles optimism and sparks personal growth among Year 10 NHJS students
Sukabumi, Jawa Barat—Year 10 students of NationalHigh Jakarta School (NHJS) recently embarked on a milestone journey to Lido Adventure Park for three days for a programme called ‘Power of Bouncing Back’ (POBB) from the 2nd to the 4th of November 2023. We discovered a profound sense of returning to our authentic selves and underwent personal growth.
The first day was quite calming as we were still settling. We were settled into groups and we were able to draw which roommates we would be with for the duration of our trip. We went on a skybike and it was quite exhilarating. It was also a struggle because if you do not keep pedaling, you will lose balance and struggle to go on with no momentum boost. However, the weather started to turn harsh so we were unable to continue. Our batchmates who were unable to do it on day one were told to do it the next day. The day progressed with a myriad of teamwork games prepared by the Lido PICs and to say it was a huge struggle for some groups is an understatement.
Two ways to describe day two was slightly exhausting but astonishingly enjoyable for everyone during the milestone. We were given sufficient rest time and prepared to brace ourselves for what was in store for us. We started the day with outbound activities, which half of us found amusing and the other half tiring and difficult. But in the end, despite all the challenges and the numbing feeling we felt trying to hold on to the rope, we all gave it our all to do what we could. It was a deep sense of friendship, support, and camaraderie that brought us closer to each other.
Just when we believed the challenge had concluded, a remarkably entertaining twist awaited us in the form of a raft building and race. Collaborating within our groups, we endeavoured to construct a raft from the ground up, employing a traditional method unfamiliar to many of us. Then, as a team, we competed with the other teams to paddle the raft. As much as we were determined to win first place, we still had our share of fun as the water from the lake splashed on every one of us. We came back to the hotel, drenched in sweat and water, but one thing was certain—we had a myriad of stories to share and memories to cherish at the dining table.
Milestones are not always about fun, surely. We reflected and grew unknowingly with the different activities provided for us and bonded with friends we know we do not talk often with. During the night of day two, with an emotional, moving discussion with the mentors — Ms. Ong, Dr. Visu, Ms. Kunthi, and Mr. Ryan Riconalla — many of us heavily contemplated our actions and our relationships with the people in our lives. Even through a simple conversation, we found it sufficient to foster maturity, growth and personal evolution among us. We came to realise that the milestone was something so enjoyable and so meaningful, and that the time flew much faster than we thought. Amusingly and surprisingly, not many of us missed our phones. It was a great way to escape stress and burden and have a little break with the comforting embrace of the open air.
We returned home with stories to tell and memories to treasure and went back to regular school with a renewed sense of optimism and hope.
“The milestone programme was an enjoyable event for both me and my friends as it provided us with the opportunity to explore new things, get to know each other better, and, of course, have fun. From this meaningful experience, I learned the importance of fostering collaboration, persistence, and resilience, especially during challenging times.”
– Clarisse Elaine Huang, Y10E
“Personally, I feel like the milestone programme has been a new experience for me. It allowed me to face different challenges over the course of the three days. Overall, the programme successfully created the skill of power of bouncing back in me.”
– Warren David Lau Karyautomo, Y10G
“This year’s milestone represented a fresh new learning opportunity for me and my friends. The activities we engaged in were not only enjoyable but also allowed us to bounce back whenever things got challenging, as reflected in the theme POBB. It helped nurture and grow our abilities while teaching us the importance and value of perseverance and never giving up in tough times. Especially during the IGCSE period, it really helped me release stress and create memories while boosting my motivation.”
– Sienna Gunawan, Y10E
“I feel that the milestone programme was a very meaningful one. We were able to engage in activities we might have been too frightened to take part in beforehand. In addition to this, we could learn how to live together with different types of people for a few days and to be more independent.”
