A universal reflection on my journey with CAS

My journey with CAS has been immensely joyful and knowledgeable. The interaction process with everyone involved, opened my mind to more perspectives. It taught me the importance of accepting different thoughts and ideas, to reach solutions, with harmony. I feel like CAS has helped me grow as a person. It has made the way I think, the way I communicate with people, better.

Here, I would like to talk about the activities that I learned a lot from and enjoyed the most.

The Sports drill on Republic day was what started CAS off in full swing, so I'll with that. Initially I was very impatient, when we were asked to go on repeating the exercises. But later I developed the patience and realized the importance of it as the activity progressed. Also, I wasn't initially aware that I was flexible and confident enough to do the asana that I did, on a partner, in front of the whole school!

Then was the IIMUN, in Kodaikanal. I was pretty nervous about sharing my points and debating. But then in the process, I realized that it's all about facing that fear and speaking your mind. I learned what a MUN is and how it works. Also, I saw how a delegate needs to support the stance of his/her country on a global issue and reach solutions by forming a team with other delegates who have similar views. There were quite a few things about different countries that I became aware of.

It was nice to meet and talk to new people, it helped me develop my social skills. A lot of research work went into this activity, so I felt like I developed my research skills as well.

After this was our first food stall activity, which was also pretty exciting!. While setting the menu I introduced a different item, that I experimented at home and surprisingly many of our customers at school (parents, participants and others) enjoyed the taste of it. I was happy that I contributed and learned that the process of experimenting can be fruitful. When I was suddenly asked to substitute another person for the billing, I was totally not confident about it because I had to be fast and a little techsavvy (it was a software for billing). But eventually I discovered that I was able to do it decently. We also had to be fast and cooperative in the team, because we had to prepare the finished item on spot, decide on when to change the prices and so on.

Then was the Eco-club activity. I was careless and lazy to work at first, but I overcame those flaws in the process. We all knew that our environment is in bad health and will only get worse if we do not contribute to taking care of it. The process of researching about different plant to nurturing them, to conducting the awareness campaign and the seminar for 5^th graders, was responsible-filled and satisfying. The amount of pollution outside showed how much our air needs to be purified and so we decided to take the little step, together, from school and begin the change.

After this was dance!. I knew that dancing was under one of my strengths. My friend and I wanted to create a YouTube page to showcase something we enjoy doing. I liked choreographing the steps and to think about the fact that that it's our original work. Also felt that I improved on my moves in two of the styles.

The experiences were fun, challenging and educational, all together. Thanks to everyone who was directly and indirectly a part of this journey; my teachers, classmates, friends and helpers. It wouldn't have been possible without them. They gave me, gave us, the encouragement to break the barriers, discover our potential and reach new heights!

Journal+Reflection 16: Orphanage

Two of my friends and I set out to Thaliyur, a place where there's an orphanage that is home to around 100 children. I usually like to go to this orphanage on my birthday, be with the kids, distribute food, play and spend time with them. But then I couldn't go this time so I thought I'd go sometime this month. So we started off by interacting with them for a while and then we played a few games in the ground. I discovered that these kids are so talented – some showed us their artwork, some sang for us and the rest danced. Later we served them lunch and continued talking to them. They were really happy and we were too. It was such a good feeling to see all of their smiling faces. I enjoy coming and spending time here. I get the feeling of satisfaction when I help them in one way or another and so I felt like I learned to be caring.

Reflection 8:

I enjoy dancing the most and so this has by far been my best CAS experience.  When I dance, I feel more myself, I feel more alive. It is such a refreshing activity that helps me relive any stresses and feel content. Although I felt like this was my strength, I knew I had scope for improvement. But in the process I learned better coordination and control over my body and mind. I also learned how to better sync with the music and cooperate with a partner. Mainly I learned to choreograph some good steps in limited time (because we needed to have time for practicing, shooting and editing as well!). Finally, I was proud and more than glad after the comments and likes we got from our audience.

Reflection 5:

Every eco club member has managed to take care of something as precious as gold – a plant. We had a lot of fights within us and sometimes our plants were not healthy. Some of us would forget to bring their plants out of the cabins before the weekend some would forget to water the plants properly. A couple of members were pushed out of the Eco club for not cooeperating. But in the process we learned how to negotiate and work together. Maybe initially I thought of it as a burden to keep running around to water my plant and take it into and out of the cabin, but as days went by, I realized the importance of a plant and stayed committed to taking good care of it. It was nice to share with the children and the teachers this importance of a plant and propelling them to grow one.

This CAS experience taught me what 'responsibility' really is. I believe that I have taken this little step to contribute to the better health of our planet and my respect for our Mother nature has risen. I also learned how to be 'principled', because watering a plant was something we had to do without fail to keep it alive.

I love the fact that our school looks more green and that the freshness can be felt. Also, by looking at this result I am now sure that most of us will carry this trend outside of school and make a difference, as responsible global citizens.

Journal 5.11: Handing over ceremony

Our juniors volunteered to carry the Eco-club forward. So we held a meeting and asked the interested students to give their names to take this responsibility. We then allotted each plant for each one to take care of. Then we instructed them on how to take care of the plants and how to place them outside before every weekend so they don't dry out in the cabins without enough sunlight and water.
The DP faculty helped us arrange a ceremony to hand over the club. One of the juniors hosted the ceremony. Then, Dr. Sonali Geed gave all the members of the eco club certificates and appreciated us for bringing up this trend in our school! After the certificates were given, the ceremony was closed and all our juniors took charge of their respective plants and carried them to the cabins.
 It was a little disheartening because I had this emotional connection with the plants and now they're going to be taken care of, by a whole new set of people. But, it was a proud feeling since we're making this trend that we started, continue forever!

Duration: 2 hours

Journal 5.10:

The day we got to school soon after the winter break, we picked up our plants from the parking lot area and put them back in the cabins they belong. Most of the plants were healthy but some had brown leaves. Yet they were in a fairly good condition. We added the organic fertilizer to all the plants and put them on the automated water system that one of our friend made for our plants. He is working on expanding the system so that all the plants can be watered regularly, with ease.
      The 'Go pachai' team is taking good care of their plants. Much to our surprise, their peace lily plants beautifully bloomed into white flowers before our plants did.

Duration: 1 hour

Reflection 15:

Being the senior most of our school, it was truly an honor to carry forward this tradition of respecting an spreading the awe-inspiring achievements of the toppers of the passing out batch. Our teamwork and coordination has become better.

I was very happy to do the MC in both Hindi and English together, in front of a huge audience! My hindi board exam is coming up and this opportunity definately helped with my reading practice. Also, my confidence has improved.

Nishanth's speech inspired us all to continue discovering our potential, work harder to achieve our goals and enjoy the journey!