Diploma student in Outdoor Adventure Learning
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks .”
​
John Muir
About Tatiana Bella
Hi! I am Tatiana Bella currently taking my diploma in Outdoor Adventure Learning. I am a cheerful and bubbly person who you can rely on.
Ever since I could remember I have always enjoyed being outdoors, be it playing football or hiking at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. I especially liked going on camping trips with my peers. As I enjoyed being surrounded by my peers and deepening our bonds as we learned more about each other in a environment outside of the classroom.
​
I also admired how all the facilitators at the camps I have attended have managed to bring a bunch of, awkward, unenthusiastic and seemingly unfriendly, students together and united as one in a mere span of 2 days. With every camp I attended, my passion grows deeper to inspire other people like how these facilitators have impacted mine. Additionally, I have observed that every one of these facilitators enjoyed every second that they were working. I have learned that it is because the original reason they decided to work as someone in the outdoor industry is because it is their passion.
Thus, I have decided to deepen my passion for the outdoors by going into the outdoor industry.
Outside Perspectives of HER
As described by her many teachers, who has had the wonderful opportunity to have her as a student, and
even her mother would say,
​
"She is an expressive, spirited and zealous individual. Having a cheerful and easy-going nature enabled her to make friends with ease and comfort. However, maintaining the respect towards her teachers and peers. She has this dynamic capacity to be self-disciplined and focused, the values to drive her to be better academically and personally. Possessing positive competitive spirit, always maintaining good ethics in her participation and putting in her level-best. When it comes to teamwork, she's a team-player. Cooperative, attentive to give sound advice and gives only constructive feedback to ensure her team would produce quality products. She is earnest and only wants the best for others."
​
These are the most repetitive and common descriptions
one would have used to accurately describe Bella.
Especially, if one were to observe her for a long time, being doted and adored by her peers.
Her Hustle
Since my first camp I somewhat knew what I wanted to do. As the years go by and I graduated primary school, moving on to the next step in my studies, the vision of what I wanted to do in the future became clearer.
I knew that the next four years
were the most crucial time of my life as if I wanted to realize my dream faster I had to work harder. To be honest, primary school went by in a flash and luckily my parents pushed me to be more self-aware of my situation so I could enter the Express stream in my secondary school.
After that, I had to think of how to enter into the outdoor industry and, what poly and course it was. Once I found out, I was encouraged to apply for the course through EAE. I applied and I was overjoyed to having my application approved.
Then, from that point onwards I only had one goal and it was to meet the minimum criteria which was actually quite a feat as my grades were quite terrible. However, in the end I managed to jump 10 whole points and get into the course, just one step towards realizing my dreams.
Experiential Land Based
S
K
I
L
L
S
Knots & Lashing
I actually enjoy tying knots and lashing ropes. However, somehow I always manage to forget the steps for knots but I could do it correctly out of pure muscle memory. This especially includes the Bowline Knot. For some reason if I were to follow a tutorial I cannot figure it out. If I tried to follow a step-by-step pictorial I can do it but with 50% success rates. However, with a guided tutorial I can do it. Despite memorizing the steps, I keep getting confused on how to tie the Bowline Knot.
The Bowline is seemingly easy but to me it is on the top of my difficulty list. Learning the process of tying it was easy but the memorization and applying the techniques to tie the knot is extremely frustrating.
This is a meaningful learning process because, 'if one door closes, God opens another door.' which means that with this frustrating it made me much better at tying other knots and helped me handle the weight of my frustrations.
Basha pitching was actually quite difficult. This is because this skill requires me to memorize and apply the different Knots that I had learned into a real like situation.
Firstly, I had to ensure the area I had decided to settle on had a sturdy tree and the ground was not too hard or soft so I could leave and put my picks into the ground. Besides that, I also had to ensure that the ground would not let water into the Basha as this type of shelter was just sort of a roof over my head with some wind protection at the sides but besides that there are no zippers to keep the water out.
The part that I found difficult in pitching the Basha is that I had to choose and figure out the type of knot I had to use to set it up. Then, I had to ensure that I had it all set up under 10 minutes. The time limit was constantly nagging at me at the back of my head.
To solve this problem, I had consoled the facilitator on what type of knot should I use and constantly being inspected by my facilitators so they could point out my mistakes and give me constructive criticism so I can improve myself.
Basha Pitching
This module has shaped me professionally by letting me experiencing the outdoors. It has thought me how to navigate if I were to be stranded in the middle of nowhere. It has thought me how to correctly pack my bag. Thought me how to tie knots and lash together sticks for other purposes. It has thought me how to plan accurately and safely for camping trips. It has also even thought me how to tell the weather forecast just by looking at the clouds and observing my environment.
​
This skills has equipped me with the qualifications of an outdoor educator. So, professionally, I am able to educate others on how to safely explore the outdoors, tell the weather forecast, navigate and etc.
How has this module shaped me professionally?
EXPERIENTIAL WATER BASED
S233
S K I L L S
CLASSIC DRAW STROKE
When I was learning this skill, I had a hard time manoeuvring the paddle and I always felt strong resistance against the paddle. When I did the other draw stroke methods, I did not have as difficult as a time as when I tried to do this specific skill.
​
However, after learning how to position my hands properly and utilising every part of my body. I was able to execute the skill. Then I realised that the skill was actually quite simple.
cutely does her classic draw stroke on both sides
cutely does her sweep stroke in both directions
SWEEP STROKES
Sweep strokes were rather quite easy to do. I had managed to get the hang of it. However, there were still mistakes in my methods.
​
With how I would hold my paddle too far apart and injure my fingers. I would also get tired and not turn my torso but just my arms which was wrong.
​
After getting the hang of the skill and ensuring I do not repeat my mistakes, this skill is one of my favourite skills.
Since the start, I had always enjoyed this module. This is because as a child I had always enjoyed being in the water playing mermaids, jumping off from high towers into the sea and building rafts. This module has taught me how to ensure that everyone can enjoy water activities safely. It has shaped me professionally by helping me learn the proper methods and procedures to carry out these water activities. As an outdoor educator these skills and knowledge is crucial.