Dhanya’s Girl Guide Plastic Tide Turners Badge – a 14-year-old’s Acton Academy Journey

This is a guest post by Dhanya, a 14-year-old Launchpad Eagle who is pursuing her passions by integrating experiences from both Acton Academy and Girl Guides. These experiences are driving her Next Great Adventure (NGA). She shares her story, and also lessons learned.

Coming from a traditional government elementary school background, my education experience was filled with extracurricular activities. From choir to running to public speaking and poetry, the importance of a “well-rounded” education was always emphasized to us.

Then in January 2019, I came to Acton Academy. My whole educational life, up until then, was split into neat little boxes. There was the “academics” side full of textbooks and whiteboards, and then the “co-curriculars” side full of games and fun and real-world experiences.

Throughout my first few weeks here, I watched in wonder (and a bit of confusion) as this school combined the two complete opposite sides of my old education system into this hybrid of “learning to do, learning to be and to learn” through experiences and games.

Back in government school, I was most active in “Pandu Puteri”, or Girl Guides. I worked for the badges and went for camps to Singapore and Johor to meet new people and share new experiences. Coming to Acton, I continued my Guiding journey on my own so I could still stay in touch with my friends.

I am currently working on the Plastic Tide Turners Badge, which was designed by the United Nations to educate youth on plastic pollution and how we can make changes right now to combat it. This badge goes further than just reusing and recycling – it challenges us to contact politicians, organise talks and understand plastic’s economic impacts. 

Little did I know that the many lessons and skills I had picked up in Acton would help me excel in the badge, and even help me find my Next Great Adventure. 

The real world lessons learned:

1. When requesting something, always be kinder and more polite than what is expected.

In the apprenticeships and stars and Steppingstones interviews I’ve had to complete at Acton, I’ve had to request for the help of mentors, often without anything in exchange besides my work ethic and assistance. 

In the Tide Turners Badge, one of my tasks was to organise a talk with an expert on plastic pollution. I reached out to EcoKnights, an environmental NGO, to request they give the talk. I didn’t have any money to offer them, so I had to pitch the idea using a different angle: how the talk would impact its participants. I also tried to express my gratitude and be as polite as possible, because that’s what I could offer to them.

2. Being a critical thinker, and seeing issues as a multi-faceted.

When we have a Socratic discussion, Eagles (students) are placed in difficult situations where there are only a certain number of choices to make. Answers like ‘it depends’ are usually not tolerated, and we are forced to make a choice. I’ve learned that every story has two sides, and what is harming one person could be benefitting the other. 

At this point, I’m sure we all know that plastic pollution is harmful to the environment. For most people, however, their thought process ends there: plastic pollution is bad, and everyone who continues to use plastic is bad too. 

But what about low-income businesses, who can’t afford to switch to non-plastic materials? What about all the shops that sell ‘eco-friendly’ packaging at an unaffordable price? I asked these questions and applied them to my work to make sure that my opinions weren’t one sided. 

3. For most things, age isn’t a limiting factor.

Acton has shown me that age isn’t something that defines our capabilities. At the age of thirteen, I was learning and doing things that most do at eighteen – apprenticeships, speaking to the Manager of BFM and a law internship to name a few. 

In the Tide Turners badge, I wrote to politicians and organised for a story to be written by a “The Star” journalist! In the past I certainly would have been too intimidated to approach these mentors, but Acton provided the confidence and courage for me to do it!

My Next Great Adventure

You might wonder… What is the exit path of Acton Academy’s experience? The answer lies in my Next Great Adventure (NGA), which are life plans in the real-world. Here’s how I have honed it:

I have always been passionate about sustainability, and I’ve realised that the way I want to approach the climate crisis is through science and law. I am interested in policy-level changes and technology that will impact the largest number of people — I want to change the root of the systems. I discovered this through numerous 1-on-1 discussions with my Guide, Mr Jia, who encouraged me to find my “bigger why in life” rather than a career or subject.

Now, I see “well-rounded” education in a new light with these key takeaways:

1. Education isn’t split into boxes. Learning to Be, Learning to Do and Learning to Learn is more important than just learning. 
2. Acton acts as a springboard, but you still need to take initiative! Sign up for scouts or Girl Guides and join clubs.
3. I believe a well-rounded education means a diverse set of experiences and meeting inspiring people.
4. Don’t be scared to do things that no one else is doing (e.g. no one else in Acton does Girl Guides)
5. Never let go of the “why” behind what you are doing. Focusing on the “why” will set you on the path to the “how” and the “what”.