Lost in Paradise

Mandy Lim

The group of seniors poured out of the vehicle and rushed through Park Royal on a Friday morning, excited for the day that lay ahead of them. To kick off the year, high school student leaders had the opportunity to bond with one another and learn about admirable leadership qualities at Leadership Retreat. The senior executive committee agreed to spend their Friday morning getting to know each other at a hotel in Batu Ferringhi, while other teams drove around different places in Georgetown.

Upon arrival, the senior group—along with class sponsors Mr. Steinkamp, Mrs. Steinkamp, and Miss Weidemann—retrieved their armbands and headed toward a relaxed sitting area by the beach. An arrangement of hammocks caught Ruben Nyul’s (activities coordinator) eye as he dived clumsily into the brightly-colored stretch of fabric. Bursts of laughter exploded into the air at the scene of Ruben tumbling off his hammock. The next few hours were filled with more moments like these as the group slipped through slides, captured more photographs, and filled their bellies together.

Left: Alice Chang, Vivien Chang. Middle: Nicholas Khor, Mandy Lim, Mikaela Steinkamp. Right: Trevor Ronning, En Min Saw, Ruben Nyul

The senior class president, Nicholas Khor (12), reflected on this time together and said, “From zipping down slides, chasing each other in games of tag, to gently swinging in hammocks, our Leadership Retreat at Park Royal not only gave us ample playtime, but it also brought our team closer together.”

Apart from the treasured time the seniors had with each other, other activities took place at Lost Paradise Resort with the other teams. At the resort, students listened to Mrs. Kearney and Mrs. Roylance provide perspective on being humble, understanding, and professional leaders. Each team also took several hours preparing and planning for what they would encounter this year—whether it was for StuCo events, Senior Sneak, or the junior class store. StuCo’s Vice President, Grace Moon (11), said, “I got to really bond with my fellow StuCo members. Other than discussions in meetings, we had quality time at the resort and Georgetown to really get to know each other!”

Before heading back to campus, everyone huddled together for a final group photograph, followed by a quick selfie by Grace Moon. (See picture below). This unforgettable experience not only brought students of different ages closer together, but also taught them how to use their leadership qualities to the best of their ability.