Mentor Diary Ghalib Sheikh
After spending almost a week at the camp, I, as well as many other mentors have now been able to adapt to the routine and the role of a mentor. It has obviously been nervous and stressful and the training from MTW1 and MTW2 are really being put to the test. After an extended meeting, I found that I was exhausted and had little time to sleep. This meant staying awake until fajr where I began waking up the campers.
After fajr, I put the campers back to bed and managed to get away for a few hours of needed rest. A few hours later, it was time that the campers had their breakfast so I had to continue my duties and take the campers to breakfast. I was very tired and restless as the change in sleeping patterns was something I had to adapt to. No matter how difficult the job has been, I have found that the support from both the admin and my co-mentor really helps me to become motivated at times when I feel sleep decides to takeover,
After breakfast, many campers have classes and it is here I have the job of cleaning up and some needed free time. The tight schedule has meant that it is difficult for us as mentors to have enough time to be able to do what we enjoy, sleep!
However, during the sports, I have found that mentors can encourage campers to do sports which they feel they are unable to do. Many have a lifetime experience and once they begin, they find it difficult to stop playing something they didn’t know they were good at. I feel that this has allowed them to develop and identify their skills and confidence which is something I personally lacked. With encouragement from the campers, I was also encouraged to participate in tube skiing, a sport many have not done before. I found this to be fun and exciting as campers are trying new things and I personally have been able to find out everyone’s different skills and been able to use this to allow me to encourage those not so able.
|
