As I near the start of exams and our subsequent graduation day, I reflect on my experiences and growth through the years. Since I started writing these blogs, I’ve accomplished a lot, learnt lifelong lessons, taken risks and worked with a diverse group of people. I am grateful for the experiences which have made my DP years so special, and I look forward to continuing my ‘CAS’ endeavours throughout life. I reflect on my initial goals in relation to the 7 learning outcomes of CAS.
Creativity :
As a passionate singer and performer, my creativity goals were mainly focused on music. I accomplished my goal – To improve my musical skills (vocally and with instruments), and my performance skills by engaging in different lessons and performance opportunities and trying to create music throughout my DP years – in a number of ways.
When we were online, I worked hard to improve my voice and gain skills which I had not yet focused on. The biggest take away was my songwriting. I began writing music consistently, composing the accompaniment and recording musical ideas. This has laid a foundation for me to build upon as I work to learn how to produce my own music – my next musical goal which will push me in this next chapter of my life. Through this perseverance despite the cancellation of many face to face performance events, I engaged with LOI4 : Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences Students demonstrate regular involvement and active engagement in CAS. Being unable to perform alongside live music for an in person audience was challenging, but with the support of my family and friends, I could achieve my goal and persevere with my musical endeavours.
In addition to training my voice through weekly opera singing lessons, I have also improved my piano skills through piano lessons, dancing skills through dance classes, and songwriting skills. I have recently learnt to use an app called LoopyHD which allows me to layer my vocals, creating cohesive songs, which achieves one of the my biggest goals of the year – learning how to synthesise my musical ideas into cohesive, completed songs!
During this time, I was also able to record a few songs with my sister and brother and some musicians, which was my first time doing a studio recording. It was a great opportunity to explore LOI2 (Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process A new challenge may be an unfamiliar experience or an extension of an existing one. The newly acquired or developed skills may be shown through experiences that the student has not previously undertaken or through increased expertise in an established area), and LOI3 (Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience Students can articulate the stages from conceiving an idea to executing a plan for a CAS experience or series of CAS experiences. This may be accomplished in collaboration with other participants. Students may show their knowledge and awareness by building on a previous experience, or by launching a new idea or process). Recording professionally was a new experience, pushing me to explore music on a more holistic level with all its elements beyond simply the vocals. I also worked to plan the experience, creating the vocal arrangements alongside my sister, coordinating the musicians alongside my family, and scheduling the recording day itself.
I have also been blessed with some in-person performance opportunities before my graduation, with the December Concert and my final Gala Concert . Through these performance opportunities I have demonstrated commitment to LOI1 : Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth Students are able to see themselves as individuals with various abilities and skills, of which some are more developed than others. I continually strive to improve in the arts, committed to training and working on my instruments.
As I worked to achieve my creativity goals, I demonstrated close engagement with LOI5 😀emonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively Students are able to identify, demonstrate and critically discuss the benefits and challenges of collaboration gained through CAS experiences. Drawing on support from fellow musicians, my family and friends, I have been able to grow as a creator, and explore my musical voice. During rehearsals, shows, music classes and recitals, I drew on a strong support network to be my best, learning from others and working to improve my craft.
Action :
Transitioning from an online learning environment to a F2F one, my action-oriented activities developed throughout my DP years. Looking back, I realised I have grown a lot as an athlete. I started DP1 with light indoor exercise, working to strengthen my hamstring after injuring it, and maintain a consistent routine. Now I have an extremely healthy relationship with exercise. It has become a part of my day which is uplifting and supports my productivity throughout the day. It is also just really fun. I end DP2 with volleyball, football and track activities, dance classes, regular runs and fun bike rides. I reflect upon the different experiences, and I am grateful to end DP2 playing sports with my friends in person.
At the start of the year, I made two goals. One goal revolved around SAISA’s if they would be possible due to the pandemic. Since SAISA’s were cancelled, I had a second goal : To maintain and improve personal fitness by running 1-3 times a week, and doing home workouts or other types of exercise (gym, bike riding, HIIT workouts, swimming, hiking) on other days of the week to ensure some level of physical activity everyday. I achieved this goal consistently, with an added bonus – in person sports started this year!
Through quarantine I did many bike rides, usually ranging from 35-45km. We found new routes and explored new areas, which was a fun and therapeutic form of exercise. Much of my fitness activities during online learning were done with friends and family. This helped motivate me to continue staying healthy, and pushed me to stay fit. From HIIT workouts to runs, working with others helped me be better. This concept stayed true during in-person activities as well. Working with friends and in teams, sports were so fun and I felt motivated to be my best and learn from others. Thus I explored close engagement with LOI5 : Demonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively Students are able to identify, demonstrate and critically discuss the benefits and challenges of collaboration gained through CAS experiences.
During the second lockdown, I persisted in my efforts to stay fit and exercise consistently. I ran regularly, did HIIT workouts, swam and played sports with my brother, demonstrating commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences (LOI4). I knew that maintaining fitness would be beneficial in the long run for my mental and physical health, and pay off when in-person activities started again.
Looking back, the best action-related part of my DP life has been the last few months. This was timely seeing as I graduate soon. With activities starting up again, I pretty much signed up for them all – Volleyball, Football and Track – and I am really grateful I did. I got to participate in matches, play sports with other people, get back into running, take on a leadership / captain role in the Track activity and more. It was really fun and lifted my days. I also got to try improve my dancing through weekly dance lessons. These used to be online, but going in person was significantly better and so fun. I think this proved to me that consistency pays off, because I was able to do all the sports in the end and I am thankful for that opportunity. I was particularly happy playing football, as I have not played in a few years but I found it very enjoyable. I was able to demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process (LOI2) as I improved as an athlete.
I look forward to continuing sports at some level during university, and will always look back on these experiences throughout life.
Service :
As we spent a portion of the year online, and the other part in person, I was able to accomplish both of my initial service goals :
Plan A (If OSC provides the service program despite COVID-19 restrictions): To participate in the service groups Girls for Girls for the full year, and work to support the girls who are victims of sexual assault, and help them develop different types of skills.
Plan B: To engage with the community around me and take up small service projects wherever there is a need.
I was able to help in service initiatives around my neighbourhood in a number of ways. For example, my family and I planned to consistently support the local street dogs by feeding them. This demonstrated LOI3 (Students can articulate the stages from conceiving an idea to executing a plan for a CAS experience or series of CAS experiences. This may be accomplished in collaboration with other participants. Students may show their knowledge and awareness by building on a previous experience, or by launching a new idea or process) as we planned the initiative. I also participated in a school-clean up, to support an elementary school neglected amidst the pandemic. Through this I engaged with LOI6 (Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance – Students are able to identify and demonstrate their understanding of global issues, make responsible decisions, and take appropriate action in response to the issue either locally, nationally or internationally) , working to understand the impacts of the pandemic exacerbated for lower income communities, and working to support those most affected in whatever way possible.
My CAS Project related closely to service as an environmental collective action campaign. The results have been incredibly promising and successful, leading to success in our governmental lobby’s, and a halt to the highway construction. Because of the campaign and the continued work to protect the wetlands, new routes are being considered, and environmental protection groups are being consulted to accurately asses the potential impacts of the proposed road construction. This reflects engagement with LOI6 (Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance – Students are able to identify and demonstrate their understanding of global issues, make responsible decisions, and take appropriate action in response to the issue either locally, nationally or internationally) and LO7 (Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions – Students show awareness of the consequences of choices and actions in planning and carrying out CAS experiences), as I worked to mobilise a community to fight a global issue : environmental destruction.
My major service engagement throughout high school has related to women’s rights advocacy, leading to my leadership in Girls for Girls for the past two years. While online in G4G, I worked to organise debates and create videos to raise awareness on gender inequalities. However there were many challenges as we were unable to work with the girls at the Emerge Lanka Shelter, which was the crux of our service group. Thus we adapted our strategy, looking for how we could support the cause in different ways, and demonstrating commitment to supporting women’s rights (LOI4 : Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences – Students demonstrate regular involvement and active engagement in CAS).
When we transitioned to in-person school, this resulted in a combination of videos to raise awareness, and most notably, a highly successful and eventful international women’s week, with a series of school-wide activities, fundraisers, protests and events. This was an incredible final event to host as leader of G4G, and I am very proud of the impact we made in school and beyond. I look forward to continuing to advocate for women’s rights, and working to make a difference in battling the relentless gender inequalities in our world. Through my leadership in G4G and organisation of Women’s Week and service sessions, I demonstrated close engagement with LO6 (Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance), working for women’s rights, LOI3 (Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience), LOI7 (Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions), and LOI5 (Demonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively), working with my service group.
I feel very proud of my CAS engagements throughout high school, very grateful for the opportunities, and very excited to continue my diverse pursuits throughout university and life ahead!