As my final days of DP rapidly come to an end, I would like to reflect on my experience with CAS and OSC in general as someone who has joined at the beginning of DP 2. As I come to the end of my IB DP journey, I reflect on my experiences with Creativity, Activity, and Service. Engaging in CAS activities has been a highlight of my IB experience, allowing me to step out of my comfort zone and explore new areas of interest. Through my involvement in various activities, I have developed new skills, gained a deeper understanding of different cultures, and made lasting connections with people from diverse backgrounds.

Service

In particular this included my Service activities with US Peace Corps and working on cultural exchange with students from Ingiriya and participating in activities with them. These interactions with students for the course of the year were of course incredibly meaningful but it was particularly important for us to meet these children in person during the New Year to learn more about their cultures and traditions.  Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience – in this service activity initiating and planning has been a crucial part of creating a memorable experience for children as leadership skills were necessary to organize the events and allow the children to have an organized activity. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively – this was an important part of the service as the OSC students were all very helpful in organizing and collecting donations for the schools and helping with the activities. Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance – Such activities are of course address the global issue of accessible education for everyone and how certain communities may not have an opportunity to communicate with cultures different from theirs due to geographical differences in more isolated areas. Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions – this was an important outcome from the cultural exchange because we of course when interacting with cultures different from our own we must consider the ethical implications of our actions and knowledge the cultural differences and traditions.

Creativity

My CAS experience was furthered improved by my passion for music and involvement in the guitar ensemble where I got to practice my guitar skills and also get experience in performing in front of an audience. I have had the opportunity to perform musical acts in many instances throughout the year including small audiences at lunch and even bigger ones like the Winter Gala. Additionally, practicing the guitar has also allowed me to help one of my classmates with their music portfolio as a bass player, which proved to be very useful. Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth – this learning outcome was an integral part of the activity as being able to overcome the challenges of learning a new instrument and performing in front of an audience has had a significant impact on my approach to music and performance.

Activity

Additionally,  my CAS journey would not have been fulfilled if not for the involvement in sport activities and SAISA: specifically my time on the volleyball team. Joining the volleyball team and traveling abroad for a tournament was of course a new experience because I had never traveled for sports. Nonetheless, this part of CAS journey was very important because it allowed to me keep a balanced lifestyle of exercise and academics. Also, being involved in a team has also been important because of the importance of understanding team work and motivating others around you. This has been one of the more exciting parts of the CAS journey as our team was able to win the tournament and take 1st place in SAISA! Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences – Showing commitment and perseverance was of course present in the sports activities as all of the team members consistently showed up to practice and carried out every session with their best ability and willing to improve. Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken – challenges were undertaken as joining the volleyball team and being chosen to travel to SAISA required mastering a lot challenges and skills in Volleyball which previously incredibly difficult for me.

In conclusion, the CAS program has been an enriching experience that has allowed me to explore new interests, develop new skills, and engage with my community in meaningful ways. With my reflections, I have been able to track my progress and growth, and I am proud of the achievements I have made. I have learned the importance of balance and found ways to incorporate creativity, activity, and service into my daily life. I am grateful for the opportunities that the CAS program has provided me and will continue to apply the skills and knowledge I have gained in my future endeavors.