Community Experience: Flowers, farms and fight against cancer

Volunteering at the The Annual Sunflower Festival in Kalbar in the beautiful Scenic Rim region, was an incredibly humbling experience for me. As an engineering student, I was fortunate enough to learn several valuable lessons that will undoubtedly help me in my future engineering career.

Firstly, the importance of teamwork was evident throughout the day. The festival required a collective effort from all volunteers, including selling sunflowers, managing tool inventory, and handling customer inquiries. It was inspiring to see how every member of the team worked towards a common goal of raising funds for cancer research. This experience taught me the importance of collaboration and how different individuals can come together to achieve a shared objective. As an engineer, I realize that most projects require teamwork, and this lesson will help me work better in teams in my future career.

Secondly, planning and risk management were crucial to the success of the festival. The team had to plan for various scenarios, such as changes in weather, influx of customers, and unexpected incidents. Through proper planning, we were able to mitigate risks and respond effectively to unforeseen circumstances. As an engineer, I believe that proper planning and risk management are essential in any project. This experience has taught me the importance of contingency planning and the value of being prepared for any scenario.

Thirdly, the importance of community feedback was evident during the festival. Volunteers and customers alike provided feedback on various aspects of the festival, such as the layout, pricing, and customer service. The organizers used this feedback to improve the festival experience for everyone involved. As an engineer, I understand that feedback from stakeholders is vital in ensuring project success. This experience taught me the importance of gathering and analyzing feedback to improve project outcomes and customer satisfaction.

Lastly, the resilience displayed by the team in adverse weather conditions was inspiring. Despite heavy rainfall, the team continued to work tirelessly to raise funds for cancer research. This experience taught me the importance of staying focused and committed to achieving project objectives, even in the face of challenges. As an engineer, I realize that projects may face several challenges and obstacles, and it is crucial to remain resilient and determined to overcome them.

The importance of teamwork, planning, risk management, community feedback, and resilience were evident throughout the festival, and I will undoubtedly apply these lessons in my future engineering projects. I am grateful for this experience and look forward to contributing my learning to future projects. This experience was nothing short of an engineering project, although with a softer aim.