Creatively, I feel that this year I have really tried to push and achieve my full potential. I participated in the Winter/Spring Gala, in addition, being part of the Stage Management Crew. I had also advocated my week with extra guitar lessons to prepare for both Gala’s. Likewise, in Guitar Ensemble we worked collaboratively to portray our guitar skills in the flamenco guitar style. A whole deal of planning and practicing was needed to make an ensemble of musicians work in harmony and perform well. I’m proud of what we have achieved as a group of musicians and how much we have developed our set of guitar skills over the year. I’m particularly proud of the Winter Gala just because I prefer the songs (Wheels & Billie Jean) that we performed. Everything went really smoothly and as a group we helped and trusted one another with the different parts we were assigned too. Likewise, Stage Management was whole other rollercoaster. From missing class time and having to catch up or just the pure stress of watching a performance and realising you messed up one mic. It was a great challenge but a whole lot of fun too. Learned a lot in terms of the technical and the delicate movements that is required when moving on stage. I’m telling you its hard to be fast and accurate with all the equipment in addition with the crowd watching every single movement you make. Oh well…we survived both Gala’s and was still able to walk pass Ms. Duncan (music teacher) with a smile even though a few mistakes was made along the way. When I performed on stage its always exciting and fresh. A new crowd, a new vibe, a new atmosphere was always felt when I got on stage. It felt really awesome playing electric guitar with a new set of people besides the guitar ensemble which the feeling also amazing. I’m glad I stepped up and tried something new when I performed for Akhil and played a solo part which was bomb. I remember as the moment I finished the solo my guitar mentor (Mr. Marlon) congratulated me while still playing next to me. It was also really cool to play with the Boys Voice in both Gala’s and once in the Winter gala with the Middle School Voice. I feel like I’m starting to be part of the musical community in OSC and I hope to continue rocking the stage in DP2.

This year sports wise it was great fun being part of the Boys Volleyball Team when we flew to Kathmandu for the SAISA tournament like wise, the Boys Football Team in Muscat. Trained hard to prepare our best selves for both sports. Yet, the results may not speak or portray the amount of work we have put as it was hard to face the losses. But, at the end of they day we have to go back to the drawing board and just keep on improving. Chemistry within a team I feel is what determines a winning and losing side. More was shown in football than Volleyball to be fair but I guess in volleyball we were just a really young team both age wise and together wise. In football, we grouped in and made one of my favourite matches ever against ACS. Losing and then winning, coming back short then coming back up to win. What a comeback is was. We won 5-4 that day and besides the overall outcome of our team in the tournament that game proved our true capabilities to everyone watching there and at home. Our hard work paid off in that game and we scored a bag full of goals which was something we lacked in the previous years. I’m tremendously proud of all the teams I was able to be part of this year and strengthen a lot of friendships. I also made great memories as I enjoyed coming to each training session and seeing my mates. Now, I’m looking to focus and train for next year as I hope to start running once more.

This was my first year in the DP program and also in Housing and Habitat (H&H). I enjoyed really from beginning to end as I made and strengthen a lot of friendships throughout the year. I had a great time during our Week Without Walls (WWW) in Hambantota. Did a lot of fun stuff like planting trees, learning to do pottery, and teaching the kids in the foundation there. Learned a lot of personal stuff from being patient and grateful with the life I have because I’m lucky to go to an International School and not be hungry at night or just having the privileges of being a 3rd culture kid. Just seeing the kids in the morning was an enlightening experience and teaching them was hard but I learned patience is important for people to learn. I had fun with my service group and the teachers that came as throughout the whole time all I could hear was laughter and jokes. We came prepared and we came out learning more than expected to be honest. I’m sad to say that this year was my last WWW trip but happy to say that it was my favourite. During the year I also learned how to cut wood with a saw and used a hammer to take out nails which I never knew before joining the service. We had an eventful Home Run where we made a significant amount of money for future projects and I’m lucky enough to say that I will be co-leading the service next year with Nehe and Emily. Truly a great year in service and hoping to see new faces next year in the focus to improve the Sri Lankan community someway.

Link to the IB Learning Outcomes (at Mr. Lockwood’s request): https://www.woostercolts.com/cms/lib/NV02000980/Centricity/Shared/pdf/ib/ibdp/CAS_outcomes_and_info.pdf