That's the reward of completing the prestigious National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) Gold. Is this the biggest reward for me? NO. My biggest reward is to be able to see the smile of the people I have come across throughout this journey. Needless to say, NYAA Gold Award Presentation Ceremony is one of my biggest event in life.
“The joy and satisfaction of being able to
help someone and seeing them smile and laugh because of you, the feeling is
indescribable”.
We
feel the happiness within when we were able to help people and being appreciated
by them. That was the irreplaceable happiness I experienced along the NYAA
journey by serving people and reaching my hand to those in need.
Completing
the National Youth Achievement Award with strenuous efforts has been a
milestone of my life albeit the journey was no bed of roses.
There
were countless tribulations faced along the way. To be honest, I feel like dropping out of course after many events along the journey. Time management, stress, work, project, most importantly have to learn how to tolerate and handle difficult people who posed a serious challenge. However, the passion for
learning, thirst for more knowledge, supports and encouragements of my peers,
lecturers and student development officers motivated me to move on.
Through
this journey, I have formed invaluable friendships with friends, getting to
know people, shaped me into a person of fine character. I get to form many close friendship in fact, my bros sis and my closest friends are the awesome people I met along this journey. I have learned to step out of comfort zone and looked at the
world in different perspectives, and learnt not to take all I have for granted.
I
was able to go beyond miles, discovered my passion for putting a smile on
everybody and transformed lives when I underwent residential project in
Shangri-la (Tibet). I had a life changing moment while serving the villagers of
Ringha Valley in Tibet. The little kid from the nursery gave me a hug and a
kiss at the cheek. Even though it might be normal for others, I was deeply
touched and could not hold my tears to stop rolling down. I felt appreciated;
it was worth every effort I had put in. This moment has made me want to help to
the less fortunate more than before. Gerald Jampolsky once said, “Through our willingness to help others we
can learn to be happy rather than depressed”. It is undeniably true, don't you think so?
The biggest reward for completing this
journey was not shaking hand with Mr. President, nor getting recognition from
the nation but the seeing the smiles on the people I have met. It worth more than anything to me :)
To the rest of the Gold award winners, a very hearty congratulations to you too.
NYAA gold,
mission accomplished. GAHA (Gold Award Holders' Alumni) here I come. Next Mission, OITP Suzhou, China!
