Bringing Everyone Forward: Lessons from Aphelion Leadership Camp

Written by: Noah Goh Xi Ming (1A1, 2026)

The Aphelion Leadership Camp on 2 June was an experience that I did not expect to be so meaningful. At the beginning of the camp, I felt slightly awkward because I was not very close to everyone in my group. However, as we started the icebreaker activities, things quickly changed. We began laughing, joking around and learning more about one another. By the end of the camp, I realised that leadership was not just about taking charge—it was also about building connections and bringing people together.

One activity that stood out to me was “Charades”. Our group became very energetic as we tried to act out and guess the words. We were actually quite good at it! The station-in-charge councillor even told us that we were the best group he had seen. Hearing this made me feel really proud of our group. More importantly, it showed me that our success did not come from one person alone. Everyone contributed in their own way. Some people were better at acting, while others were faster at guessing. We encouraged one another and celebrated whenever we got an answer right.

After the activities, we went to McDonald’s for lunch. What surprised me was how quickly everyone had become comfortable with one another. We were talking, laughing and sharing stories as if we had been friends for much longer than just one day. I remember thinking about how different it felt from the awkwardness at the start of the camp. I realised that a team does not need to know one another beforehand to work well together. When everyone is willing to open up, participate and include others, friendships and trust can grow surprisingly quickly.

The most significant part of the camp, however, was the cheers practice. The Chairman reminded us that, as councillors, we must set an example by cheering the loudest, and I totally agree with that. At NSG, when we cheer for our school teams, we must set the tone and volume of our chants to encourage our fellow schoolmates to cheer their loudest as well. Cheering also strengthens our school spirit, as we come together as one and cheer proudly for our school. This made me realise that leadership is not only about guiding the people around us. It is also about inspiring others and creating an environment where everyone feels encouraged to contribute.

Looking back at the camp, I realised that my understanding of leadership has changed. Before the camp, I thought that being a leader mainly meant taking charge and telling others what to do. Now, I understand that a leader should also listen, encourage others and help everyone work towards a common goal. A leader does not always have to be the loudest person or the one giving instructions. Sometimes, leadership means noticing who needs encouragement, bringing people together and making sure that everyone has a chance to contribute.

Most importantly, I learnt that true leadership is not about leading from the front, but about bringing everyone forward together.