500+ Guests
IT FEST 2025 Scale
Over 500 national participants competing across IT and English categories
01THE LEADERSHIP SPRINT & NARRATIVE
From Stage Hand to Head of Division: Leading 500+ Competitors Through the IT FEST Chaos.
How rising to Head of the Student Council's Event Division and steering IT FEST 2025 through digital crashes, out-of-town guest arrivals, and high-pressure backroom certificate sprints proved that true leadership is about keeping a clear head when everything goes wrong.
"Surviving that chaos taught me that true leadership isn't about running a flawless event; it's about keeping a clear head and fixing things together when everything goes wrong."
Chapter 01
Rising from the Ranks to Head of Division
My interest in running school events started back in junior high, so applying for the Student Council’s Event Division in vocational high school (SMK) was a natural step. It was the most competitive division to get into because our school constantly hosted exhibitions, competitions, and comparative studies. I managed to get in and spent my 10th-grade year learning the ropes from the ground up. By 11th grade, my dedication was recognized, and I was promoted to Head of the Event Division. Suddenly, I wasn't just helping out anymore; I was directing teams and carrying the full weight of the school's operational events on my shoulders.
Chapter 02
The IT FEST 2025 Reality Check & The Submission Form Crisis
The biggest reality check of my leadership journey happened when I was appointed head of the organizing committee for IT FEST 2025, a national-level competition with over 500 participants across IT and English categories. Behind the scenes, it was incredibly chaotic. During the preliminary rounds, our team was completely overwhelmed by a flood of participant inquiries. The worst moment hit on submission day: due to a team miscommunication, the submission form was accidentally closed right before the deadline. We had to fix the digital infrastructure in a panic while apologizing to confused participants, learning a very hard lesson about detail-oriented communication.
Chapter 03
Grand Final Sprints & The Backroom Certificate Race
The grand final brought a whole different level of stress. We were rushing to finish the stage decorations while simultaneously managing the arrival of out-of-town guests. The most nerve-wracking part was the tiny gap between the judges' final scoring and the winner announcement. The time window was painfully short, and our team was sweating in the back room, frantically typing and printing out the winners' certificates so the closing ceremony wouldn't be delayed. We pulled it off, and seeing the winners smiling on stage made every sleepless night worth it. Surviving that chaos taught me that true leadership isn't about running a flawless event; it's about keeping a clear head and fixing things together when everything goes wrong.
02CORE INITIATIVES & STRATEGIC PILLARS
Event Leadership & Crisis Management Frameworks
Core operational frameworks and communication disciplines deployed to lead high-stakes campus and national events.
Pillar 01Digital Operations
Detail-Oriented Digital Infrastructure
Managing multi-track submission pipelines, automated validation forms, and real-time support helpdesks to handle high participant inquiry volumes.
Pillar 02Time Discipline
Rapid Backroom Score & Certificate Triage
Establishing high-speed backroom protocols to verify judge scorecards, type winner names, and print formal certificates within tight minute-level windows.
Pillar 03Hospitality & Logistics
Out-of-Town Guest & VIP Protocol
Coordinating seamless check-ins, transit logistics, and stage hospitality for arriving regional participants, guest judges, and faculty.
Pillar 04Team Leadership
Cross-Functional Committee Mentorship
Directing crews across audio-visual, set decoration, rundown timekeeping, and security with calm, respectful, and transparent communication.
03LEADERSHIP RETROSPECTIVE
Reflections on Leading Under Fire
Key leadership principles forged through live event chaos and high-stakes problem solving.
A Clear Head Defuses Chaos
Panic only multiplies errors. When digital forms fail or deadlines compress to minutes, a calm leader enables the entire team to focus on solutions rather than blame.
Detail-Oriented Communication Is Non-Negotiable
A slight ambiguity in deadline communication creates instant panic among hundreds of contestants. Clarity, redundancy, and proactive updates are essential.
The Backroom Crew Makes the Stage Shine
True leadership happens behind the scenes—typing certificates in a sweltering back room and making sure your exhausted team crosses the finish line together.
04ON-SITE DOCUMENTATION & ARCHIVES
Student Council Archival Records
Event organization photos, committee coordination meetings, and stage productions at IDN Boarding School.
Stage Operations
Campus Festival Main Stage Production
Overseeing main stage audio, lighting, and timeline execution during an annual IDN Boarding School flagship event.
Team Leadership
Event Division Committee Briefing & Coordination
Conducting pre-event run-of-show synchronization with the 30+ committee members prior to guest arrival.
Executive Tenure
Council Closing Ceremony & Milestone Celebration
Commemorating successful completion of annual event calendar deliverables with the executive council board.