Intro: I solemnly swear that I’m up to no good
Over the course of two years in the IB Diploma program, I have grown as an individual that is confident in not only fitting into society but also helping to enrich it and help it develop with the vast knowledge I have acquired as well as the skills from the plethora of activities and societies that I participated in for CAS. The CAS program in the IB is to make sure that students are well balanced with Creativity, Activity and Service. Students have to blog about their adventures as well as reflect on them.
This is the final one. My last reflection of the two years. It still seems so surreal especially with current events in the world. This post is called Mischief Managed because, as most hardcore Harry Potter fans would know, it’s a reference to the Marauders Map, a map that guides Harry through his endeavours. He activates this map by chanting “I solemnly swear I’m up to no good”, which is the title of my first post, and Harry deactivates the map by chanting “Mischief Managed”. This is how I deactivate my two-year journey. I think it’s best to reflect on each of the sections of CAS as well as the two years overall.
Creativity
The main driving force behind all of my creativity these past two years have been the two senior productions where I was cast in main roles both times. I believe I have, or at least have been told, I have a certain aptitude for acting hence why I chose it to be my sole focus for my creative side.
The first year’s production was A Midsummers Nights Dream where I played Puck. A Midsummers Nights Dream, in a nutshell, is a comedy that induces a mix of emotions and connection towards characters and the overall, over the top synopsis and storyline. A goal that I had for this character is to act like Puck the way the directors want Puck to be portrayed and to learn and memorise all my lines so that I am individually successful and that I am compatible with my fellow actors. I believe that I achieved all these goals and both performances were a huge success and a hit among the people who watched it!
The second production, a musical, Oliver where I was cast as the mischievous and lovable Fagin. I was lucky enough to be granted the role of Fagin after a competitive audition process. Honestly said I was really nervous on playing this role as I have never really played an older gentleman, let alone a father figure. So, it is fair to say I was especially nervous about this one. I overall was proud of my performance and glad to have been part of this amazing touch on a stage as everything was successful and it took me out of my comfort zone and I learnt a lot of new things. Regardless of the handicaps that I mentioned.
Additionally, over the two years, I have been part of more creative activities. I have been part of two ISTA theatre events in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur respectively in 2018 and 2019. On top of that, I got to partake in a SAISA Music event in 2018 where I even got a solo part to sing in the final performance in Kathmandu. These events allowed me to grow and learn to develop skills that I necessarily wouldn’t have been able to achieve in the classroom, so I am very grateful for CAS for allowing me to have the opportunity to partake in these events.
Activity
The SAISA sports available in our school is what mainly took over my time in CAS and the three sports seasons in school, the sports being volleyball, badminton and basketball. To each of these SAISA events, I travelled with a sense of responsibility and commitment to represent my school proudly over the DP program.
Volleyball was my first SAISA sport where I travelled to Kathmandu Nepal. Honestly, this SAISA was truthfully a little disappointing as the amount of training I put into it was not seen on the court since I did not play a legitimate minute in the five games we played in Nepal. We were a team, rather I should say that at brief moments we were a team, even though I may have not felt like I was truly a part of it. Despite this, I loved the actual event itself and got to socialize with the other athletes there as well as bond with my teammates off the court.
My one and only championship I won was in SAISA Badminton, Chennai. I am proud to say as the Varsity team second seed, that we won the entire tournament and came back home the defending champions two years running. It was really close, I mean really close. The runners-up, Dhaka Tigers gave us a run for our money and we were in anticipation whether we would come out with the win or not. WE DID!
Basketball was the sport I would look forward to the most. As it is my first love and the sport I spend most of my spare time doing. So, when basketball season rolled up, I knew it was going to be a good few weeks. I was fortunate enough to be named the captain of the basketball team three years running. Leading this group of young men was the most fortunate and luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me. In the DP CAS Program, I was part of two SAISA basketball events in Bombay India and Amman Jordan. Both of these tournaments taught me to grow as a person despite not having the results we wanted but being satisfied with the amount of work put into it. This was easily my favourite sport in the CAS Activity section.
Additional events I joined to reach in CAS Activity requirements is the 5km Home run twice and Duke of Edinburgh. The 5km home run is mandatory for every SAISA athlete that is hosted by the Housing and Habitat service group of OSC. This was a particularly fun event and my late dog enjoyed it when I did it for the first time. Unfortunately, he wasn’t there for the second one. Duke of Edinburgh was another opportunity for me to expand my knowledge from what I know in the classroom and take it outside to mother nature. I learned things like first aid and how to read a map which were new skills for me. Now I feel prepared to take on any situation mother nature can challenge me with. Again, this wouldn’t be possible without CAS as I would have never otherwise taken it. Nevertheless, all the activities I participated in were truly enriching and rewarding experiences which topped with the award of Outstanding Contribution to Gecko Athletics.
Service
Initially choosing my service at the beginning of the year was the hardest choice I had to make. I was stuck between SOS village and the Hope for Kids Service group. I am really glad to have chosen the Hope for Kids Service group. I love what the group stand for and the individuals in the group I get to work with and I was made Service leader for both years. We ran projects like the Christmas Gift giving, valentine’s day cards, Food Drive and a Halloween party.
My first visit to the CCC house was nerve-racking and I was super nervous to meet the kids, what if they weren’t nice and they were quite hostile, or even worse what if they didn’t warm up or open up to me! But they were the friendliest children and the most social children you will ever meet. Initially going in I was nervous that the people in the service group were not supportive of any ideas that I proposed. But rather it was quite the opposite and was surprised to see my ideas being taken into action, like an idea for an activity I had related to arts and crafts. From then on, I was responsible for then on to purchase the items required for the visits, such as arts and crafts and goods.
The Christmas gift-giving was the first major event that we did. We were able to raise enough money by selling bandanas and hosting bake sales through events held at OSC in order to buy Christmas presents for the children of the CCC house from Arpico Supercentre as well as purchasing presents for their parents from the same store. Overall the gift-giving was a success and hopefully, we inspired the children to be creative and be more fulfilled in their day to day lives. To be able to bring joy to these children and being able to make them smile through the simple act of giving as selflessness is what I live for. The Food Drive was similar to the Christmas gift-giving, but rather than toys it was food and necessary items that we gave out instead of toys.
This experience has brought out more in me than I could ever imagine. I have learned to care by feeling empathy for someone rather than sympathy. I have also seen how quickly a young life can be taken away. Doing this service and this being my first encounter with the critical nature of a cancer patients condition left me saddened and shaken. However, this was only the beginning of my experience with children at the CCC house. My original intentions were to spend the length of a Thursday afternoon at the hospital until I can graduate and get it over with, but I don’t find myself thinking that nowadays. Although this time often leaves me exhausted mentally and physically, I always leave with a sense of fulfilment. Now I know this is something that I will continue no matter which part of the world I’m in as Cancer is a global issue that people always need a helping hand with.
CAS Project
I was unable to complete the CAS project due to the COVID-19. I was intending to run a basketball training program for the female basketball team in my school, and other students who wanted to improve their fundamentals of basketball.
The idea for this project came about when I was talking to the SAISA girls basketball coach, Mr Rosberg who felt that the girls who had a strong defence or lacking fundamentals of dribbling in basketball and shooting, and this was not letting them win games. So I suggested that instead of taking time in their practices to where they’re working on fitness too wasted on the basics that I would take a separate time with the team and work on the basics with them so that they’re better prepared for the games and eventually win a tournament in the future. Mr Rosberg agreed to be the supervisor for this CAS project.
Even though there wasn’t much I could do I had planned and was ready to teach the SAISA girls’ team. Nevertheless, I hope to teach this eventually to a cohort in the future in place of the missed opportunity.
Conclusion: Mischief Managed
Over the Diploma Program, I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs. one thing is for sure though, my most memorable and fun times have been the direct cause of CAS and I am very grateful for the opportunities it has generated for me. the ups and downs have transformed me into the person I am today. Therefore I just want to say a big THANK YOU to CAS and Mr Lockwood, my supervisor. Thanks for the last two years.
Go Geckos…
