Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge & Selection

I haven’t been a great storyteller before. Before this course, I used to try convincing others using  statistics and arguments. I tend to work it in the hard way, instead of touching others by hearts.  Thus, I didn’t have a good result in convincing others. From this course, I have come to realize that  storytelling is indeed a powerful tool to make people understand the idea to be delivered. By sharing  stories or own experience, we can motivate others by emotions and convince to their actions.  Recently, I was invited to share my experience in a service-learning trip to Cambodia. The seminar  was trying to promote the service trip to the students, encouraging them to join the trip, while also  donate money or old stuff to them if possible. Before my sharing, I notice that most students were  not particularly interested to the trip. The reason may seem obvious – they do not really know what  the Cambodian children are facing, and thus not realizing the importance or feel empathic to them.

Application

When it was my turn to share, I have changed my tactics. Originally, I was planning to use my old  ways – trying to convince them by giving valid statistics, like the poverty issues they faced. However,  I adopted the storytelling techniques. I shared my own experience from the previous trip to  Cambodia. I have shared with the audience about my experiences when spending time with those  children, how friendly and innocent they were. I have also shared a story I heard from the local  students. As they are facing problems like poverty, they do not have the enough money or resource  to support themselves for learning and, not to mention, overseas learning experience. Therefore,  they had to pay extra efforts in doing community services. Beyond school times, they also engage in  community activities to help improve the poor community they live in. By contributing sufficient  time, the school will sponsor their learning and daily necessities. Excellent students can also get the  opportunity of learning overseas – all based on the devotion to community service and hard work.

Insight & Approach

After the sharing, several audiences approach me to chat. They told me that they had a much better  understanding to the problems those children faced after my sharing and was more motivated to  join the trip. They thought that the stories I shared were much impactful than the statistics  mentioned before my sharing. Some of them even actively go for donation after the seminar.

This is probably the first time I have used storytelling. Despite I was not very skilful in it, the result  was unexpected. Turns out it was more impactful than I thought. I believe that I can use this  technique to make better sharings and convince for actions by coming up an impact story for every  sharings. I believe that this techniques will indeed be very useful for my future career.p


Reflection – Storytelling Challenge & Selection I have n’t been a great storyteller before . Before this course , I used to try convincing others using statistics and arguments . I tend to work it in the hard way , instead of touching others by hearts . Thus , I did n’t have a good result in convincing others . From this course , I have come to realize that storytelling is indeed a powerful tool to make people understand the idea to be delivered . By sharing stories or own experience , we can motivate others by emotions and convince to their actions . Recently , I was invited to share my experience in a service - learning trip to Cambodia . The seminar was trying to promote the service trip to the students , encouraging them to join the trip , while also donate money or old stuff to them if possible . Before my sharing , I notice that most students were not particularly interested to the trip . The reason may seem obvious – they do not really know what the Cambodian children are facing , and thus not realizing the importance or feel empathic to them . Application When it was my turn to share , I have changed my tactics . Originally , I was planning to use my old ways – trying to convince them by giving valid statistics , like the poverty issues they faced . However , I adopted the storytelling techniques . I shared my own experience from the previous trip to Cambodia . I have shared with the audience about my experiences when spending time with those children , how friendly and innocent they were . I have also shared a story I heard from the local students . As they are facing problems like poverty , they do not have the enough money or resource to support themselves for learning and , not to mention , overseas learning experience . Therefore , they had to pay extra efforts in doing community services . Beyond school times , they also engage in community activities to help improve the poor community they live in . By contributing sufficient time , the school will sponsor their learning and daily necessities . Excellent students can also get the opportunity of learning overseas – all based on the devotion to community service and hard work . Insight & Approach After the sharing , several audiences approach me to chat . They told me that they had a much better understanding to the problems those children faced after my sharing and was more motivated to join the trip . They thought that the stories I shared were much impactful than the statistics mentioned before my sharing . Some of them even actively go for donation after the seminar . This is probably the first time I have used storytelling . Despite I was not very skilful in it , the result was unexpected . Turns out it was more impactful than I thought . I believe that I can use this technique to make better sharings and convince for actions by coming up an impact story for every sharings . I believe that this techniques will indeed be very useful for my future career.p