CAS Final Reflection

The FINAL CAS REFLECTION

In the two years of CAS, I have been dedicated to broadening my scope of skills and learning new things. It’s been interesting to be part of this, and I feel I’ve developed skills that are useful in the real world but also made me more complete as a person. I have engaged all of the CAS learning outcomes and learned more about what it means to be a person outside of academic achievements.

Creativity goals: I have focused on music, and since this was my CAS Project, it should come as no surprise that this is a skill I really honed in on developing. I have learned how to mix and masterpieces more successfully, and learned how to collaborate with other people to create music that is interesting and stimulating to a wide audience. I have broadened my knowledge of music theory and production skills. I consistently practiced guitar and learned how to use my guitar skills to create music myself than just listening to songs and play them. I also developed piano skills on my own, and learned how chords are structured. I learned how to play a few interesting pieces and also writing my own music using a piano. I have also been in production, Reservoir Dogs, after school, where I took on the role of Mr. Blonde from the film. This was a fun way to learn how to work with other actors, and how to convey a character in a way that shows who the character is to an audience. Overall, creativity, music and theatre development over the past two years has been an incredibly rewarding process for me that I take pride in.

 

Activity goals: My activity goals were simple, it was just to assure that I stayed in shape by going to the gym more frequently and trying out a variety of exercises targeting many muscles. I achieved this goal by taking consistent trips to the gym in Shangri-La as well as in Norway by going with friends, and having long sessions each time I went. I spent up to two hours every time, and used all the equipment there. I lifted weights, went on the treadmill and trained my biceps and triceps as well as my calves, hamstrings and abs. Going to the gym can be exhausting and it is highly repetitive, but the satisfaction gained at the end of each session is amazing. I learned especially the value of breathing and cardio in gym, that during exertion of muscles you have to exhale. So in the process of a pushup, you inhale on your way down and exhale when you go back up. Cardiovascular exercises should also generally be done at the end of the workout, such as running on the treadmill or using cycling machines.

 

Service: I have been engaged in service for the past four years, and the service I joined in DP2, recycling and sustainability has been the most enjoyable out of all of them. I particularly enjoyed that there was a clear task each time; we met up in Mr. Lockwood’s room, recycle paper from the classroom and dispose it with the recycling truck. I got to go on the truck a few times, and I enjoyed just collecting paper as it kept me occupied while also making me feel that I’m doing something good. I have been involved in Eco Schools in DP1, but did not gain much from this as I felt there was little action and that we dedicated too much time to planning. Recycling in comparison felt like it was a more active service, which is something I liked.

Overall, throughout the entire CAS program in the DP I have developed useful collaborative skills, learned how to better commit to a project or idea, how to be more considerate of consequences and overcome many challenges. I have also developed creatively and as a person. I am glad to have partaken in the DP program for these reasons, as I feel I am more balanced and complete with the encouragement from school to engage in creative endeavours, physical activity and service.

Service – Recycling and Sustainability Truck

(Photo Credit: Dmitri)

Today, I went with my service group to the recycling area to exchange the recycling material for money. I went with Cohen, Dimitri and Vansh to give the recycling place all the paper waste our service group had collected. We had to load all the recycling waste onto a truck. This has helped me improve my engagement with world issues such as sustainability and given me the opportunity to give a valuable contribution. We collect paper from classrooms at OSC in our recycling boxes, then some of us go on the truck to unload all the cardboard and other paper wastes we have collected. We sell it to a person who pays for the material, and make money off of the recycled material. Then, we load food waste into the biogas plant and use it to make popcorn which is a useful way of converting waste into useful heat energy. Overall, engagement with this service is making me more conscious of how I am recycling my waste and consider more opportunities for how I can use recyclable material in an efficient way. This is something I find valuable, as the future well-being of the planet is an important concern for our generation.

LO6: Global engagement. I am directly engaging with the global issue of sustainable use of resources and the ecological future of the planet by being part of this service where materials are recycled and waste is minimized.

LO7: Consider ethics of choices and actions. In this service, I have learned to be more aware of how I use my recyclable material, and consider more carefully where I place my food waste and think about opportunities for more sustainable use of certain materials.

CAS Project Reflection

 

(Photo Credit: Author)

THE CAS PROJECT – MIXTAPE

After having engaged in CAS for two years, it all ended with a musical project that was a mixtape of multiple songs, with diverse genres and styles. This was a collaboration with Chathil and Andrian, and we used Logic Pro X to produce our music. We used a mixture of software instruments and live recorded instruments to create our final product. Our final product was a mixtape known as “Sounds of the World” published on soundcloud. We learned a wide range of skills in the production of this product, for instance how to layer and mix instruments, and how to masterpieces better. We gathered during lunch breaks and free blocks to work on the project, and to finalize each individual track.  We wanted a diverse range of tracks, so each track explores a unique genre or idea that we feel is interesting. While it was hard to commit to and persevere throughout the process, we managed to do so in the end.

LO2: Overcoming challenges. With no proper knowledge of theory or music production, it was a hard process to overcome this challenge. However, internet resources and YouTube became incredibly useful here as I used them as a reference to better learn how to produce proper music. I learned the value of mixing and mastering piece, and how to make each individual track of the song sound good together. This was challenging at first, but once you practice you learn how to do it better. I also created new tunes just by piecing together what sounded good to my ear rather than learning proper theory. I, however, learned some essential chord combinations and how to write a guitar riff.

LO4: Show commitment. This was the hardest component of the CAS project, as we all had different views on when we wanted to come together to produce a track and we had different schedules. However, Chathil, Andrian and I finally managed to get together during lunch break to compose a new beat. We motivated each other and wanted to see the completion of the project all the way through, so we managed to commit. We changed the idea slightly as well sometimes, by reducing the amount of tracks or changing the core tune of a track. In the end, we ended up with seven tracks, three produced by Chathil and four by me.

LO5: Collaboration. This was the largest component of the project, as music is all about collaborative work. I learned how to better merge my own ideas with the ideas of Chat and Andrian, and so we came to an agreement on how we wanted a track to sound. I became better at communicating my own ideas while being considerate of the ideas of others and taking their value into account. This is useful in music, as this is a highly collaborative field.

Overall, the CAS project has been fun but challenging to commit to and stay focused on at times. However, this was a challenge we all overcame in order to commit to something we were all passionate about seeing to the end. I have also learned valuable music production skills such as mixing and mistering, which were more important than I previously thought.

CAS Project progress

I have been working with Chathil to produce our CAS project, which is a project that involves making music as a way to explore creativity. We have been doing an idea where we want to create a mixtape involving five different tracks that each have a different feeling to it. We want to explore a large range of musical ideas within our project. The process has been successful so far, we have been working particularly on instrumentation. We have to put thought into what instrument we want to use and when we want to use it, and how this aligns with the overall intention we have for this mixtape. Chathil has been working with keyboard instrumentation, and I have been working on composing guitar tracks. This involves using music theory online to create an interesting guitar solo. Overall, there have been a few challenges with time over this project, but I think we’re on good track now in terms of our music.

Reservoir Dogs PRODUCTION

I recently involved myself in a production, Reservoir Dogs. This is a production led independently of the school and a student is directing it. We had our first session, and I enjoyed it. Working in this production has taught me the importance of teamwork and communication. There were several instances during rehearsals when we had to work together as a team to troubleshoot issues or work on our blocking. In situations like that, effective communication and collaboration were essential, and I quickly learned that everyone had a role to play in ensuring the success of the production.

One of the best thing about being involved in the production is that I got to expand my social horizons, and talk to people in lower grades I normally wouldn’t talk to. Despite mild challenges here and there with planning and timing, as well as casting, we were able to work together towards creating a final product. I am excited for how this will go

Overall, my experience in Reservoir Dogs has been a valuable learning experience that challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and develop new skills. Through my involvement in the production, I learned the importance of teamwork, communication, and collaboration, all of which are essential qualities for personal and professional success. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this production and look forward to participating in similar activities in the future.

Mother Tongue Assembly

The mother tongue students in DP2 had to present a speech in their own mother language. My speech was me doing a summary of the play “A Dollhouse” by Henri Ibsen. Huirong, Liam and Dasha all did a poem or a literary extract in their respective languages. I thought the speech would be a more challenging experience, but it became incredibly successful. I got a lot of positive feedback on my speech, people said the delivery was clear and passionate. It was a great way to improve my public presentation skills and the good feedback made me motivated and confident that things would go well in the future if I were to give another speech.

LO2:  Developing skills

 

Making late-night pancakes

Making pancakes is not only a fun activity but also a great way to start your day with a delicious and nutritious meal. At 10.30PM yesterday, I made delicious pancakes for myself because I was hungry and recently I’ve been more interested in cooking and baking. In or

der to do this, I found a good recipe online I could use.

Ingredients necessary:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

After making the batter, I poured 1/4th cup pancake batter into a frying pan with unsalted butter. I was able to make 8 pancakes total, and they ended up having a really fluffy and satisfying texture. The taste was also nice, I decided to add a bit extra sugar than was given in the recipe because I wanted a sweeter taste and to balance out the baking powder. Overall, pancakes are a quick and easy dessert meal to make and it can be made for a lot of people.

I ate them with jam and it turned out to be a valuable experience because I learned more about balancing out ingredients and how to cook pancakes effectively. Pancakes are a meal everyone should learn how to make.

 

Going to the gym in Shangri-La

In recent times, I have been more passionate about fitness. Luckily, Shangri-La has its own gym I can go to and use whenever I want.

I love going to the gym in Shangri-La because it’s so convenience. I no longer have to worry about finding a gym that is close to my home or spending money on expensive gym memberships. All I have to do is take the elevator down to the gym and start my workout. This has saved me a lot of time and money, and it has made it easier for me to stick to my fitness routine.

Another great thing of having a gym in Shangri-La is how flexible it is. I can work out at any time of the day or night, without having to worry about the gym’s operating hours. This has been particularly useful on days when I have a busy schedule, and I can only squeeze in a quick workout in between my other commitments. Being able to work out whenever I want has also helped me to stay motivated and consistent with my fitness routine.

One of the things I love about Shangri-La’s gym is that it has all the equipment I need for a great workout. There are cardio machines, weight machines, free weights, and even a yoga studio. I never have to wait in line for equipment, and I can always find something that suits my workout needs. The gym is also well-maintained and kept clean.

I worked out using the leg press machine, the ergometer, the chest press machine, the biceps curl machine and a hammer strength machine. I had a two hour long session and ended it all with a 10 minute run on the treadmill. Overall, it was a successful workout and I will plan out a routine for my workouts to maximize fitness.

Gym Workout Session

As someone who has always struggled with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, I can confidently say that going to the gym with my friends in Norway has been a game-changer for me. I was tired of feeling tired, sluggish, and lacking energy. So, I decided to take the leap and join a gym. At first, going to the gym in Norway was intimidating. I didn’t know anything about working out and I was intimidated by all the equipment and people who seemed to know exactly what they were doing. However, I was determined to get through with the exercise and I’m so glad I did it.

One of the things I love about going to the gym is that there is always something new to learn. Whether it’s a new exercise, a new piece of equipment, or a new routine, I feel like I’m constantly challenging myself and growing. I’ve also met some amazing people at the gym who have become great workout partners.

Another thing that I love about going to the gym is the way it makes me feel. During my workout with my friend, I was able to try out the treadmill, the benching as well as other equipment that I forgot the name of but that contributed to my fitness. After the workout, I felt energized and accomplished. I’ve learned that exercise is not only good for my physical health but also for my mental health. It’s a great stress-reliever and helps me to clear my mind and focus on the present moment.

Of course, there are still times when I don’t feel like going to the gym. But I’ve learned that the hardest part is always getting started. Once I’m there, I’m always glad I made the effort.

 

  • Strength and growth
  • Showing commitment and perseverance

Reducing the School’s Ecological Footprint through Recycling and Sustainability

Every Thursday, we go out to collect recycling paper around school. In our service, we divide into pairs and collect paper waste in every room in a school building. Every session is successful, and we manage to complete the job efficiently. After we have collected all the paper from the rooms, we go to the recycling room and organise all the waste to ensure that it gets recycled properly. During the last session, I went with Dasha to collect paper waste around the M-block.