COME...LETS RUN THROUGH THE MEMORIES

This is the end of the year 2017.  Our very first year in the university. When I look back the first thing which gets in to my mind is the day that I came here. All the things were new. After starting the academic semester I met the software engineering friends. We talked with some friends but not with all. I was very shy to talk.

We started PPD sessions also in the first semester. At the first day we had to come in front of the class and introduce ourselves for about 4 minutes. On that day we got to know about every body. From that day onward we did various activities. You can get to know about most of those activities when you go through my blog FLY OVER THE HORIZON.

As software engineers we do coding sitting with a laptop. We have lots of subjects to handle in the university. Apart to that we have to find extra things like new technologies , new computer languages etc. We do not have time to have a fun or to relax our minds.

PPD session gave us lots of things that we cannot learn from books. Most of the students were shy to speak in front of people. Some had weak English. From the first day Miss Sarasi asked us to speak in English. So that we all were able to improve our language as well as talking ability. We had to explain some activities in the class.

We did lots of team activities. There we had to achieve goals in a limited time time. Through those we learnt lots of things. We had to work with different kind of people with different ideas. We had to respect their ideas while selecting the best. Sometimes we had to be a team leader and lead the team to a success.As a team leader we had listen to everyone ideas This helped us even to develop our personality as well our thinking ability. We had to think in a creative way to o some activities. Different groups think differently. So we able to get to know new ideas also.

And also we get lots of fun.We laugh together.We walk together. We share things.So unlike other academic sessions at the end of each session we are mentally relaxed.

At the end of the semester we went for a out bound training at Trincomalee naval base. It was really funny and able to find gems within us. We spent unforgettable 2 days there.

PPD session was something very important which helped us to improve our selves. When I looked back I am very happy to being a part of it. But do not think this as the end. You will have more. Hikz. Happy new year. FLY OVER THE HORIZON.

                                   Two days without laptops

Have you ever being to a navy camp? I know when I asked that question you will get a mind picture like soldiers with  rough faces, guns ,unfamiliarity, hostile feeling, smell of gun powder and sound of boats . That is the image outer world has. But it is totally wrong. We went to the naval base at Trincomalee  for a out bound training.

We software engineers always sit in front of a computer and do coding. It is very rare that we do an outdoor activity.  We went to the naval base at about 10 O'clock. We got 1 h time to change.Then we went for lunch. All the works in there are done at sharp time.

After the lunch we ran about 1 km distance to the beach. We were grouped in to 4 groups and did various games.

  1. Go through high tension sqaure
  2.Passing a ball through pipes
  3.Filing a tube with holes with water
  4. Playing volley ball using a coat
  5.tug of war

All these games were team activities. So we were able to improve many qualities. When we do a  team activity we should have a team leader to guide us. We should listen to the team leader and follow his or her orders. But we all can discuss and express ideas. But final decision should be made by team leader. First we did not get that point. So even though navy officers appointed a leader for each group , we did not care and all participated in decision making. Some times we can survive but it is not effective.In the first game 7 out of 8 members went through the high tension wire including me.

Games like 2 and 3 really need a leader to coordinate the work. The leader had to say where to stop where to move where to slow down. The teams which had a good connection with the leader completed the task.

We enjoyed a lot through those works. Then we went to our hostels and changed. At night we had a camp fire and a variety show. We were able to show our talents. It was really fun to do those things  Then we had the dinner and called off the day.

Next day morning we went through a jungle from naval base to elephant pint. We were given th compass and go to the ending point finding the correct path. During that we faced lots of challenges. As a team we had to care about each and every body. We met a  injured soldier. As a team we had to decide what we should do. We have to protect the team ass well as the save that person. Some team members got injured. So we had to discuss and listen to the final decision of the team leader.At last we went to the targeted place. That place was so beautiful.

We rest a bit and walked to see the  naval museum. We saw how the technology used to make their weapons, boats, ships etc. We saw LTTE weapons and equipment. We got a huge knowledge. Then we had lunch.

Officers , Soldiers in the naval base helped  us a lot. They all treated us in a good manner. We enjoyed a lot.They dedicated their time and effort for us even in a  busy schedule. We were very happy to join with them to celebrate their 67th anniversary.

We gain lots of things, we were able to learn good things. We improved lots of qualities. We were very thankful for them and the miss Sarasi for organizing such a marvelous event.

You know what even though soldiers always deals with guns and rules they are humans like us. They are good hearted people who make this world a peaceful place that we can live freely. We must pay our gratitude for them.

  BARTER PUZZLE

We went back to our childhood.Can you remember the time that we used to make puzzles?

Last PPD session was an amazing and funny session. First we were divided in to 3 groups and was given a picture.We have to keep that picture in our mind.Then the team leader had tear it in to 100 pieces. After that Miss Sarasi took 10 pieces from each group and mixed them all and divided them among groups. What we had to do was to make the picture with a given time by using any strategy. We were given the opportunity to get the pieces through negotiations or through trading team members. We wanted to decide it as a group.

First we tried to separate pieces according to the picture and see what we can make.So we divided in to small groups and did it. But we were unable to achieve our target within the given time. None of the groups were able to do it .

To do this kind of a work we need to use our brain very carefully. While making our pictures we have to keep some pieces of other groups also to prevent them from winning. This is what happens in the industry. We have to protect our team while exchanging pieces. We have to be more careful when we work in a competitive environment. We have to think about different sides.

                                 Goals for life….achieve it and fly over the horizon.

We have lots of dreams , but  with the time some dreams become goals. Dreams do not become true just because we dream them , we have to make them as goals and have to work hard for it.

Have you ever think of your life goals and dreams?

In last PPD session we had to do a presentation about our goals. Miss. Sarasi asked to think about our goals and display on a Bristol board. We all displayed our board in-front of the class and talked about it.

We divided our goals in to 3 main parts as professional, academic and personal. We all had almost same academic goals. But different professional and personal goals. Some wanted to start up a company while some wanted to work in a reputed company like virtusa. One girl wanted to start a preschool. This shows us how different people are. We think different, we do different things. This became more varied with the personal goals. People satisfy with different goals.

What I strongly believe is we should lead a happy personal life to be satisfied with other professional and academic goals. We do everything for our happiness.

By doing this we were able to improve our presentation skills. Most students fear to talk in front of an audience. So this was a good opportunity to overcome it and improve our English language. We started to think about our lives in a more meaningful way.

We all should have a target for our lives. If we dream it and work for it we can achieve it. Keep goals and achieve them one by one. Others may be different but focus on your own goals. Because it is you, who will be happy by achieving them.