Here to ‘Sapot’ you! | By Naomi Khoo
“Growth” - it’s something that we’re constantly going through. It is also the last session in Part 1 of Taylor’s Rotaract Club’s Project Sapot, in collaboration with Taylor’s Connect.
Let’s face it—we’ve been brought up in a community where more emphasis is placed on the product instead of the process. This pandemic may have just heightened our awareness of this process, allowing for more vulnerability and unreserved discussions on this seemingly taboo-ish topic. Hence, Project Sapot, a cozy zoom session on 7th April, 2021, was organised.
The session began with a Malaysian version of Cast Away by the moderator of the night, Kathleeya from Taylor’s Connect. Participants were given a situation of being stranded on an island with six items out of which only four could be chosen. To stay or leave said island was left to the participants’ discretion. Split into smaller groups, friendly discussions then ensued. Back in the main room, creative reasons complemented the different decisions of each group.
With Lo-Fi beats in the background, Kathleeya pulled out ‘E-sugar cube’—a padlet link for participants to leave some cute and encouraging messages for each other. This activity really highlighted the ‘sapot’ in this project where meaningful messages were left to encourage everyone present in the ever ongoing process of growth. One poem in particular beautifully encapsulated growth despite the occasional storms along the way:
just flow, flow with the sea.
just grow, grow with the leaves.
just be, be who you are.
just do, do what feels right.
just. you are just. just right.
- Anonymous
The night continued with an envisioning activity which was said to be inspired by a few Taylor’s lecturers. Participants were invited to imagine a safe space—not necessarily a physical space—where each could be themselves without any judgement. “You can choose to return to this safe space if at any point this activity feels too overwhelming”, Kathleeya reassured. Eyes closed, our envisioned-selves went through scenarios guided by Kathleeya’s voice and our own thoughts. As we were gently steered back to reality, we were told that our imagination was a portrayal of our future hopes and wants. Humans, often indecisive, can actually learn a thing of two about their deepest yearnings through this simple envisioning activity that prompts humans to be true to themselves.
With such honesty in mind, participants penned down answers to fill in the blanks of the sentence: ‘My name is ____ and I/I am ____’, using personal values to fill in the second blank. Soothing music tinkled away while vulnerability settled in as we exposed our true selves, letter by letter. During the sharing session afterwards, much rawness and depth surfaced as participants put forth their views of themselves. One participant described herself as ‘Princess’. “I know I’m blessed—being the only child, I always get what I want”, she laughingly said. Other words she used included ‘attention’ which she explained to be her desire to inspire others around her.
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| Source: We Heart It. |
Another participant shared his envisioning and proceeded to interpret it. “People see this external projection of myself and that’s what they perceive and are interested in. But maybe not so the stripped-down, raw, human I am.” Kathleeya then asked whether this meant he would like others to see him for who he really is. He replied, “I’m not sure, but it’s okay to not have everything figured out.”
This struck a chord with participants who nodded their heads in agreement. In growth, it’s the process that matters and not so the outcome. The journey is full of uncertainties but everyone will make it—someday, somehow, one step at a time.
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| Source: Pinterest. |
Before wrapping up the session, Kathleeya suggested that participants keep the piece of paper on which that sentence describing ourselves was written in clear view on our work desk. “Read it and manifest it before starting a day’s work”, she encouraged. Everyone checked out of the night’s session with a word, most of which were positive such as ‘warm’, ‘grateful’ whereas some were adventurous like ‘curious’ and ‘chaos-contained’.
In short, it was a wholesome session where participants were encouraged to practice self-expression and be at peace with oneself. Indeed, we have much to look forward to in Project Sapot’s subsequent sessions. You can check out the website created for Part 2, which begins on 12th April. The website will serve as a platform where expression of feelings may be anonymously made to support or be supported. Also, don’t miss out on Part 3’s forum about how rejection in the community increases the risk of developing mental health issues, happening 21st May!
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| Group photo with the participants. |
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