Goals:
Increased awareness of their own strengths and areas of growth:
This goal was reached in all aspects of CAS. I learned more about myself and my strengths through sports such as swimming and basketball. Especially during swimming since it is an individual sport I was able to experience exactly what my weaknesses were and able to set goals for myself and work toward those goals.
With SGA and being a leader for a service group I learned a lot more about applying myself and contributing to event planning. I was a very weak leader prior but definitely feel like it is a quality that I was able to strengthen about myself throughout being a part of these two things.
Lastly in service, in Gecko Inc. although it took a large amount of time for the group to be able to get started, once we interacted with local kids and visited their school I learned a lot about how different our lives are and how us taking the time to engage in activities with them means a lot to them.
Overall I have learned bits and pieces from everything I was involved in in the past 2 years, some more than others, but gladly at least one thing from each group, team, or event I took part in.
Increased awareness of their own strengths and areas of growth:
This goal was reached in all aspects of CAS. I learned more about myself and my strengths through sports such as swimming and basketball. Especially during swimming since it is an individual sport I was able to experience exactly what my weaknesses were and able to set goals for myself and work toward those goals.
With SGA and being a leader for a service group I learned a lot more about applying myself and contributing to event planning. I was a very weak leader prior but definitely feel like it is a quality that I was able to strengthen about myself throughout being a part of these two things.
Lastly in service, in Gecko Inc. although it took a large amount of time for the group to be able to get started, once we interacted with local kids and visited their school I learned a lot about how different our lives are and how us taking the time to engage in activities with them means a lot to them.
Overall I have learned bits and pieces from everything I was involved in in the past 2 years, some more than others, but gladly at least one thing from each group, team, or event I took part in.
Undertaken new
challenges:
The biggest challenge I undertook was running for SGA Treasurer. With this position I learned a lot about responsibility with financial matters as well as time management and contributing by pure will instead of force. For example, being in charge of the awards for oscars when that normally isn't in the treasurer requirements. These positions in SGA and event crew and service helped me apply myself in situations I usually wouldn't choose and definitely challenged me.
Planned and initiated activities:
This mostly applies to Service. During service whether it was Gecko Inc. or Mother-Tongue Literacy, every week there had to be planning for activities to do with the kids, games to plan, lesson materials for Mother-Tongue. Everyone in the group had to ensure that before meeting with a certain group of kids or students that they had a plan in mind and didn't show up unprepared.
Worked collaboratively with others:
Although swimming may not seem like collaboration is required, as a team there needs to be support throughout all events. Every individual goes through preparation for their race, and during this preparation it is important for the other team members to reassure them and motivate them to do their best. As well as after the event, whether it was a success or less of a success it is still important to show support for each other.
During SAISA event crew it is very important for all members to be able to collaborate and communicate with each other. If the core is not well managed then the event could never have been made possible. We run around and call each other throughout everything to ensure that any changes are handled appropriately. Without constant communication and collaboration, such a team does not work.
In SGA collaboration is also an important factor. When planning events it's crucial to ensure that all members are at their assigned jobs on time and have completed their task.
The biggest challenge I undertook was running for SGA Treasurer. With this position I learned a lot about responsibility with financial matters as well as time management and contributing by pure will instead of force. For example, being in charge of the awards for oscars when that normally isn't in the treasurer requirements. These positions in SGA and event crew and service helped me apply myself in situations I usually wouldn't choose and definitely challenged me.
Planned and initiated activities:
This mostly applies to Service. During service whether it was Gecko Inc. or Mother-Tongue Literacy, every week there had to be planning for activities to do with the kids, games to plan, lesson materials for Mother-Tongue. Everyone in the group had to ensure that before meeting with a certain group of kids or students that they had a plan in mind and didn't show up unprepared.
Worked collaboratively with others:
Although swimming may not seem like collaboration is required, as a team there needs to be support throughout all events. Every individual goes through preparation for their race, and during this preparation it is important for the other team members to reassure them and motivate them to do their best. As well as after the event, whether it was a success or less of a success it is still important to show support for each other.
During SAISA event crew it is very important for all members to be able to collaborate and communicate with each other. If the core is not well managed then the event could never have been made possible. We run around and call each other throughout everything to ensure that any changes are handled appropriately. Without constant communication and collaboration, such a team does not work.
In SGA collaboration is also an important factor. When planning events it's crucial to ensure that all members are at their assigned jobs on time and have completed their task.
Shown perseverance
and commitment in
their activities:
Although I have persevered and committed to multiple teams, groups, and activities, I think that the one team that best demonstrates my commitment is the OSC Swim Team. I first joined the swim team when I was 12 years old and continued to commit to this team throughout the years and my senior year. I have grown as a swimmer and a person by being a part of a team for so long. It is very hard work committing to such a team due to the difficult and tiring training sessions. Due to my commitment i was able to earn the position of team captain during my final year which I feel like i earned to my many years in the team.
Engaged with issues of global importance:
Week without walls, IB orientation, and Gecko Inc. Service group were the three activities which had me engage with issues of global importance most. During week without walls in Jaffna we were able to witness first hand war affected villages and towns and historical sites from the war. It was interesting to see the many structures and weapons and after effects that conflict can have on a community. Conflict between countries, ethnicities, and generally groups of people is an on-going issue in the world today and being able to visit these unchanged war inflicted areas was important for my understanding of the consequences of conflict.
During IB orientation we were split into groups to visit villages and people of different occupations to interview them. The Gecko Inc. Service group focused on meeting and interacting with local Sri Lankan school kids and teaching them various sports and games. Both these events involved me interacting with people and struggling with a language barrier. It helped me realise the difference of the lives we live compared with the locals and their past as well as their future. It definitely helped me see how fortunate I really am and the environment I was able to grow up in. As well as that generally appreciating what I have and the struggles other people face such as simply buying clothes or having access to clean drinking water.
Considered the ethical implications of their actions:
Although this was not one of my main learning outcomes, I feel like this had come up a couple of times during service sessions and also during week without walls. Especially when attempting to interview people up in Jaffna about the war and receiving little responses in return. It made me question whether openly asking affected people were respectful and or appropriate.
Developed new skills
I have developed if not improved many different skills over the course of the past 2 years. I have learned more about the importance of organisation and financial management through my position as treasurer. It helped teach me about prioritising and committing to planning in a given time frame. I also learned a lot more about responsibility with that position. Through sports I have learned many new skills such as diving a certain way, pushing myself when tired, pacing myself, different shots in basketball, I also learned more basic badminton skills, and lastly I learned a lot about personal fitness and following a personal schedule when attending the lifetime fitness gym. The most amount of skills developed have definitely been due to the event crew. In the event crew I had massive responsibilities and I was able to step out of my comfort zone to complete those tasks and ensure the tournaments ran smoothly. With service i have developed new leadership skills that I struggled with previously. Overall, every activity and event I have been a part of has helped me grow as a person and taught me skills that I was able to apply to various other activities later on.
Although I have persevered and committed to multiple teams, groups, and activities, I think that the one team that best demonstrates my commitment is the OSC Swim Team. I first joined the swim team when I was 12 years old and continued to commit to this team throughout the years and my senior year. I have grown as a swimmer and a person by being a part of a team for so long. It is very hard work committing to such a team due to the difficult and tiring training sessions. Due to my commitment i was able to earn the position of team captain during my final year which I feel like i earned to my many years in the team.
Engaged with issues of global importance:
Week without walls, IB orientation, and Gecko Inc. Service group were the three activities which had me engage with issues of global importance most. During week without walls in Jaffna we were able to witness first hand war affected villages and towns and historical sites from the war. It was interesting to see the many structures and weapons and after effects that conflict can have on a community. Conflict between countries, ethnicities, and generally groups of people is an on-going issue in the world today and being able to visit these unchanged war inflicted areas was important for my understanding of the consequences of conflict.
During IB orientation we were split into groups to visit villages and people of different occupations to interview them. The Gecko Inc. Service group focused on meeting and interacting with local Sri Lankan school kids and teaching them various sports and games. Both these events involved me interacting with people and struggling with a language barrier. It helped me realise the difference of the lives we live compared with the locals and their past as well as their future. It definitely helped me see how fortunate I really am and the environment I was able to grow up in. As well as that generally appreciating what I have and the struggles other people face such as simply buying clothes or having access to clean drinking water.
Considered the ethical implications of their actions:
Although this was not one of my main learning outcomes, I feel like this had come up a couple of times during service sessions and also during week without walls. Especially when attempting to interview people up in Jaffna about the war and receiving little responses in return. It made me question whether openly asking affected people were respectful and or appropriate.
Developed new skills
I have developed if not improved many different skills over the course of the past 2 years. I have learned more about the importance of organisation and financial management through my position as treasurer. It helped teach me about prioritising and committing to planning in a given time frame. I also learned a lot more about responsibility with that position. Through sports I have learned many new skills such as diving a certain way, pushing myself when tired, pacing myself, different shots in basketball, I also learned more basic badminton skills, and lastly I learned a lot about personal fitness and following a personal schedule when attending the lifetime fitness gym. The most amount of skills developed have definitely been due to the event crew. In the event crew I had massive responsibilities and I was able to step out of my comfort zone to complete those tasks and ensure the tournaments ran smoothly. With service i have developed new leadership skills that I struggled with previously. Overall, every activity and event I have been a part of has helped me grow as a person and taught me skills that I was able to apply to various other activities later on.
