Challenge

During the course of my final year at college, I had to participate in a group project

which would make up a significant portion of my final grade. The group consisted of 10  individuals including myself and our project was to create awareness on depression among  the college populace. When I initially saw the project we were given, I was relieved because  it seemed easy enough but upon the first meeting the group had, I realised it wasn’t going to  be as easy as I expected.

Picture 10 people coming together and sharing their ideas and opinions on such an

abstract project, it was a mess. I initially was in the background during the first meeting  which didn't have a conclusion, my frustration began to build up after the second meeting  happened and we still didn't have a clear direction, that's when I realised I had to do  something about it.

Selection

I’m someone who talks a lot, I also have an overactive imagination so I tend to

visualise a lot and express myself in detail so it was surprising that I kept mute throughout  the two meetings. During the third meeting, I realised I had to speak up and so I raised my  hand. Throughout the course of the two meetings, no one had at any point indicated to  speak up, it had been everyone speaking over each other so till today I do not know if it was  the fact that I was the first person to actually indicate to speak or the fact that no one had  heard me say a single word since we had started meeting or maybe even both, but for the  first time since we had all met each other, everyone kept quiet so one person could speak,  and so I decided to do what I do best, tell a story.

Application

The main issue at the time was how to actually go about successfully enlightening

people on depression and among all the suggestions people had given, I especially agreed  with the person who suggested we create banners, leaflets, and wear branded t-shirts on a  dedicated day where we would go round the college creating awareness. It seemed like the  most effective method to truly spread information but the problem was how to convince the  rest of the group and so I told them a story.

“I once volunteered to work in a foundation and we decided to go round some

orphanages and homes for the less privileged to make some donations and perform some  community service. The problem was that we were lacking in people and resources for such  a large scale project, so we decided to make ads in the papers and try to create awareness  on social media as a call for aid. A few days to the date, we had to cancel our plans because  we got almost no responses, some of us even had to double check on the ads to be sure  they were actually posted, that's how bad it was. We eventually had to go back to the  drawing board to think of a more effective way to create awareness and someone came up  with the idea that saved us all, he suggested going round the area on a weekend sharing  flyers and directly relating and speaking to people on our cause and how they could impact

and aid the society. The impact was incredible, we found that directly relating with people  and speaking to them had a profound effect, our project was more successful than we  anticipated and we ended up getting recognised for it, that’s how big it was.”      Insight

After I told my story, I braced myself for another round of arguments, but to my

surprise no one spoke up for about the first 5 seconds, there was silent reflection going on. I  looked around and laughed before asking why everyone was so silent. Someone finally  spoke and asked why no one had suggested my very brilliant idea earlier, I burst into  laughter because I was stunned, for some reason everyone seemed to have forgotten that  someone actually had suggested it earlier, all except the guy who did the suggestion. My  approach was unanimously accepted by everyone and I was voted in as the group leader to  organise and coordinate the drive. That was how impactful something as simple as telling a  story could be.      Approach

Studying this course has made me think of what I used to see as me just being

imaginative and talkative as a great asset, my experiences with storytelling have always  been freehand and I've never really thought about it as a tool. After studying this course and  reflecting on my past experiences, I see how powerfully useful it can be in making people  visualise and see what I want them to see and now I understand how it can be further  applied in situations to help me convincingly bring people to my side.


Challenge During the course of my final year at college , I had to participate in a group project which would make up a significant portion of my final grade . The group consisted of 10 individuals including myself and our project was to create awareness on depression among the college populace . When I initially saw the project we were given , I was relieved because it seemed easy enough but upon the first meeting the group had , I realised it was n’t going to be as easy as I expected . Picture 10 people coming together and sharing their ideas and opinions on such an abstract project , it was a mess . I initially was in the background during the first meeting which did n't have a conclusion , my frustration began to build up after the second meeting happened and we still did n't have a clear direction , that 's when I realised I had to do something about it . Selection I ’m someone who talks a lot , I also have an overactive imagination so I tend to visualise a lot and express myself in detail so it was surprising that I kept mute throughout the two meetings . During the third meeting , I realised I had to speak up and so I raised my hand . Throughout the course of the two meetings , no one had at any point indicated to speak up , it had been everyone speaking over each other so till today I do not know if it was the fact that I was the first person to actually indicate to speak or the fact that no one had heard me say a single word since we had started meeting or maybe even both , but for the first time since we had all met each other , everyone kept quiet so one person could speak , and so I decided to do what I do best , tell a story . Application The main issue at the time was how to actually go about successfully enlightening people on depression and among all the suggestions people had given , I especially agreed with the person who suggested we create banners , leaflets , and wear branded t - shirts on a dedicated day where we would go round the college creating awareness . It seemed like the most effective method to truly spread information but the problem was how to convince the rest of the group and so I told them a story . “ I once volunteered to work in a foundation and we decided to go round some orphanages and homes for the less privileged to make some donations and perform some community service . The problem was that we were lacking in people and resources for such a large scale project , so we decided to make ads in the papers and try to create awareness on social media as a call for aid . A few days to the date , we had to cancel our plans because we got almost no responses , some of us even had to double check on the ads to be sure they were actually posted , that 's how bad it was . We eventually had to go back to the drawing board to think of a more effective way to create awareness and someone came up with the idea that saved us all , he suggested going round the area on a weekend sharing flyers and directly relating and speaking to people on our cause and how they could impact and aid the society . The impact was incredible , we found that directly relating with people and speaking to them had a profound effect , our project was more successful than we anticipated and we ended up getting recognised for it , that ’s how big it was . ” Insight After I told my story , I braced myself for another round of arguments , but to my surprise no one spoke up for about the first 5 seconds , there was silent reflection going on . I looked around and laughed before asking why everyone was so silent . Someone finally spoke and asked why no one had suggested my very brilliant idea earlier , I burst into laughter because I was stunned , for some reason everyone seemed to have forgotten that someone actually had suggested it earlier , all except the guy who did the suggestion . My approach was unanimously accepted by everyone and I was voted in as the group leader to organise and coordinate the drive . That was how impactful something as simple as telling a story could be . Approach Studying this course has made me think of what I used to see as me just being imaginative and talkative as a great asset , my experiences with storytelling have always been freehand and I 've never really thought about it as a tool . After studying this course and reflecting on my past experiences , I see how powerfully useful it can be in making people visualise and see what I want them to see and now I understand how it can be further applied in situations to help me convincingly bring people to my side .