The Big Sleep

On the 5^th of October, I worked as security for The Big Sleep. To begin with, we first saw a presentation about what basically The Big Sleep is about called “A World without Mirrors”. The Point of this presentation was to raise awareness about street children that are suffering every night without a bed or a home to sleep in. After the presentations, Mr. Land tried to establish a Skype Video chat with the founder of the organization named Duncan; however there were some service and connections issues that we could not surpass. This was very unfortunate because I was looking forward to seeing and speaking with the street children of Guatemala.

 After everything was over, the securities were free to roam around all areas of the school and fields to help and supervise the children. We were aloud to sleep in the Black box inside the school which was better than outside, but still very cold. My Shifts took place form 12:00 to 1:00am then from 4:00 to 5:00am. During our shifts we were expected to walk around and make sure that the students that were sleeping outside were actually sleeping and not running around or talking. Many people went to sleep before their shifts, so that they could have enough energy to stand outside in the freezing cold watching the kids. This was an amazing life learning experience, yet also very exhausting. This experience improved my leadership skills as well as organization and patience skills. Being the security thought me a lot about responsibility and how to treat younger children. I am looking forward to participating in this event next year.  

 

Breast Cancer Awareness

For the breast cancer presentation that I signed up for, Caroline, Carolyn, Dechen and I presented to grade 7 during our third period on Wednesday. The purpose of this presentation was to raise awareness and inform the younger students about Breast Cancer. We re-used the presentation that some of the 12th graders put together previously, we did change a bit of the information, as it was slightly advanced for the 7th grade. We had a few problems getting ourselves organized because none of the girls knew how to set up the beamer so there were moments of panic. We only got about 10 minutes to practice and sort out which person was saying what. I was very nervous to present in front of a large audience as I always am, but the 7^th graders were very focused and respectful so everything went according to plan. At the end of the presentation we showed a short video clip of the Pink Glove Dance: Breast Cancer Survivors, in order to show how many people are participating in creating awareness as well as also showing how many people are directly affected by breast cancer. This was a very great learning experience on how to increase and practice my public speaking skills. Talking in front of such a large audience built my confidence, as I am very nervous when talking in front of large audiences.

After the presentation was over, we split up the grade into their tutor groups and set out pink paint and posters for the students to mark their hand prints on the posters. Each student would place their hand into the paint and then proceed to press it onto the pink paper. Once we were done we hung them up in the Main Buildings entrance, for all to see. I thought it was a job well done considering we changed our minds about the activity right before we presented. Overall I thought everyone put a lot of effort and consideration to our presentation.

Questions I Need to Answer

 1. How did this activity involve creativity, action, and/or service? What did you plan to do? What did you accomplish? (You must provide examples of how the activity was creativity, action, and/or service. Respond to all three questions.)


2. How did this activity relate to any or all of the eight learning outcomes? (Examples should explain how the activity applies to any or all of these 8 outcomes.)


3. What was the value of the activity to you? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about others? (Respond to all three questions. Exemplary evidence must support the outcomes about leadership, global importance, and ethical issues.)


4. What abilities, attitudes, and values have you developed, changed, or examined as a result of this activity?


5. What difficulties did you encounter? How did you overcome them? (Respond to both questions. If there were no difficulties, the activity should not be used for CAS.)


6. How did this activity benefit others? (CAS activities should benefit others.)


7. How might what you learned from this activity be applied more widely in other life situations or in your own future?


8. In your interaction with others, who provided guidance and support during the activity? (Cite who, what, and how as it applies to the activity.)


9. In service activities especially, ethical questions should be considered: were you trying to help or empower people; what obligation do you have to the person(s) being served; if relevant, how do you plan to end a service relationship and/or what do you do if a person(s) does not want your service? (Respond to this question only if your activity involves service hours.)

Creativity

Creativity

• Yearbook Committee

My awareness of my limitations and strength has definitely increased by participating in this committee. I contribute to the yearbook every Tuesdays and Thursday s. The yearbook photos are a very organized process, of who will take which picture, when, and where. This has helped me realize that I need to balance out my school work to the easiest level because I will be needing to attend several events that I will be needing to take pictures of, photoshopping them, writing about them and also, creating a page layout. The yearbook committee is like having an extra class, because it involves lots of creativity, and lots of homework. I have not engaged in any photo taking yet, but i have signed myself up to do so.  I have shown perseverance and commitment, by showing up regularly to the yearbook meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have singed myself up to take picture for the Volleyball games, football games, ect. I am using my skills from the Photoshop class I took in 9^th grade to organized all the pages. I will need much help from the students that took journalism last year. I have not yet engaged in any issues of global importance.

 

 

• Set Design

I am in charge of the set design for this years’ BITE show "A Piece of My Heart" as well as perfroming in it. This will help me with my leadership skills and organization skills. So far only one meeting has been held, and I have only brainstormed ideas of what the set should look like. I have already measured out and taped the set to the correct coordinates of the space that we will need. Also, we have decided that we will be performing in a circular area with the audience sitting around us. There is not much to say considering only one meeting as been held, but I will reflect on the upcoming ones that I attend. All I know is that I will need to listen to the opinions of the members of set design, and be able to make it happen. Also, I need to organize my schedule very well now because; I will need to be switching from yearbook to set design every other week. This will be a hard task to keep up with my other CAS activities and homework but I am sure if I try I can succeed.

Action

 

• Volleyball

I am participating in the JV volleyball team; I have been going to every practice every Monday and Wednesday and so far have not missed a single game. Volleyball in currently my only CAS activity regarding action. I think that Volleyball in a great way to spend my time, and I will be sure to take on further sports through out this school year. I have increased my skills greatly in Volleyball in comparison to the begging of the year. I have learned that I am a better setter than a hitter, and I will keep trying to exceed in both. There are only about 7 other girls on the team, and that makes it harder to play when there are no substitutes to take your place during the games, because many of the girls are not available to participate in all the games. All our games take place very early in the morning, so I have to wake up almost an hour earlier than I usually do to go to school, to get there on time. We have two uniforms, one is white and the other is the traditional ICS orange.

 

So far we have had about 3-4 games/tournaments. The JV team is slowly but surely getting much better each game. A couple weeks ago we went to Lausanne for a weekend tournament. We won about half of the games and the coaches were very proud, considering that we tried and played to our fullest potential. This tournament took about 6 hours straight of playing volleyball with a couple 10 to 20 minute breaks in between. Most of the girls including myself are at our breaking points towards the last games. Our muscles were becoming weak, and many times there was no time for water during the game. Overall it was a great tournament I had a great time with everyone. And I know my volleyball skills have definitely increased after this tournament. And, I would barley walk the next day because my muscles were hurting to bad. Overall it was very worth it, and I will try my best to participate in every game and give my fullest effort. I will try to reflect on all my further games and take many pictures.

Service

Service:

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

I have already had several meeting with the beast cancer committee, and we have organized many events. Most of the projects we have planned will be happening in October. We have organized to partake in a power point presentation to give awareness to the 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6^th graders. Also, other events to create awareness will be held such as, the bake sale, wear pink day, and the selling of breast cancer pins at school. We will also be participating in the breast cancer walk as “Angela’s Army”. I am very motivated to continue being part of this team, I have participated in every meeting at lunch, and have signed up to create a presentation to the 7^th grade about Breast Cancer, and do several fun activities with them.

• The Big Sleep

I have decided to take part in the big sleep coming up soon. I think this is a great opportunity to become aware of the harsh life that kids go through in their every day life. Hopefully this project will teach me how to be more grateful for all the wonderful things and opportunities that I have in my life. I am volunteering to do the security for the kids. Even though being security will not be the same experience as actually partaking in the making of cardboard houses and sleeping outside, I will still be part of the video Skype chat to see what all the street children go though. I am very excited to participate in raising awareness for the saving of Street Children.  I know it will be hard to take shifts at 3am to go walk around and watch the kids, but it will be a great opportunity to learn how to be grateful. I am hoping it will be an eye opening experience, and I will be looking forward to partake in this project next year as well.

CAS Refelction

1) Undertake New Challenges: Yes, I will be undertaking new challenges as i have never done a page spread on the yearbook, have not participated in volleyball events, have not participated in the breast cancer month, and have not be part of the Big Sleep. I have the chance to create new memories, goals, and experiences

2) Ethical Implications: I services will increase my ethical consideration for my actions, and I will be more open to new and different things. I will be able to look at both positive and negative things of every situation.

3) Engage with Issues of global important: I am partaking in the Breast Cancer month and the Big Sleep. I think these activities are very important because I am trying to raise awareness for Breast Cancer Globally and am partaking in the Big Sleep to experience what other children go through every day and raise awareness.

4) Awareness of own strength and weaknesses: These projects will let me know if I can juggle my school grades with all the CAS activities I am partaking in. I am aware that I am not the most organized person, but I am a hard worker when I try to be. I think my main weakness in keeping my schedule in tact, I sometimes tend to put more on my plate than I can handle, but hopefully this year i can actually achieve to my best potential.