I have done many things for service these past 2 years and i think the one that has had the most impact on me is teaching english at a convent near my house. I have undertaken this new challenge as i have had to figure out ways of teaching a language which is a big task and i have become aware of my strengths which are being firm but fair when teaching and not picking favourites-i like anyone that works hard. I have also become aware of my weaknesses which are being impatient with the children and losing my temper. This is where i consider the global impact of what i am doing. I am helping poor children to learn english which will help them to gain employment when they are older as english is very important not in Sri Lanka. I am happy to be helping them and i am even happier that the teaching has moved to a larger scale where more children can be helped.
Alzheimers and Habitat for Humanity are the two service groups i have been involved in in school. I feel i have contributed to the betterment of the lives of people that these cas groups are helping so i am aware of the global impact these activities have had. However, i have also understood the ethical implications of these are that some people do service so that they have something to write about for CAS and not becuase they really care about who/what they are helping. This bothers me as i am not one of these people but know many of them. I have become aware of the skills i have developed doing these things such as leadership skills, organisational skills and public speaking skills. Also the skills i know i must develop are getting along with all kinds of people as there were a few in my CAS i did not like and there was friction within the group. I also need to learn to be more patient and tolerant. Overall, i think i gained alot from these 2 groups and i have gained alot from participating in both of them.
Desi girl concert-this was for a charity concert and the time i spent preparing for it wiht my friends was considerable so i think i put in alot of perseverence and commitment to it. I am also happy as i made some steps up in a genre i have never done before and they looked good so i am happy with my contribution. In this respect it was also a new challenge that i undertook.
Mannar trip-i went to Mannar and i think i gained alot of insight into the lives of the less fortunate. I do not think i did a good job of folllowing it up with the bicycle project as i have been very busy but maybe during my gap year i hope to continue with more planned and initiated activities such as this one. I also had a chance to consider the global impact f what i was doing-i was helping patients in a health camp.
Week Without Walls: This really experience contributed to the development of my skills with children and entertaining them. It also showed me how patient i could be when doing something worthwhile like painting the school (which we had to do the whole day). I was forced to consider some ethical implications of this trip we may not really have done anything to help the community except make the walls of the preschool look nicer. We could have used all that money and time on something that would have had a more profound effect on the community. Also, the fact that we did all the work and did not involve the children and parents of the children was not a good idea in my mind because it is when a community contributes to something for themselves that they truly appreciate it, not when it is dumped in their lap. However considering that we are only high school kids and have a limited time, there was not much else we could do.
CHA: The experinece at the CHA i did not feel contributed to any one directly as we were helping to compile a database but i know that indirectly it will help someone.
This experience was a new challenge that i undertook because i am an impatient person and this job required sitting in one place and typing on a computer as well as using the telephone alot. I became aware of my strengths- being patient when i have to and being polite constantly even though i became exasperated with the work. I thought i would hate the office environment but it was not as chlaustrophobic as i expected. The areas for development of my skills that i became aware of were that i need to be more proactive if i am to be fully involved in something, as i found that i was so distracted because i didnt think i was doing anything to really help anyone. This is something i need to work on if i am to pursue a career in humanitarian aid. I will not always be helping people directly but what i do can still make a difference. I found that after a few days it was easy and i didnt have to bite my tongue everytime i got an irritating person on the line. Overall i am happy with this experience and what i learnt from it as i think i can use it in my future and it showed me how i can hava an impact.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Final Reflection-Action
Action:
I have done exercise at home and zumba! I have developed the skill of being disciplined and becoming more strict with what i do. I am also aware that the area of growth for me is that i become lazy towards the end of the day and do not feel like doing exercise then.
Swimming went well for me as it was also a new challenge that i undertook but i went every wednesday for a period of time last year. Although i retain the advice and critisism my instructor gave me, the area for growth is my lack of tenacity because as soon as i felt i had too much work to cope with i stopped going. This is an example of how i have failed to fulfill the criterion of persevering and being commited to something.
However, i was very happy with myself for participating in the school swimming meet. This really was an entirely NEW CHALLENGE for me as i had never even thought about participating in a meet. I did though and i did much better than i thoguht i would so i am happy with my effort!
Dancing is another activity that i did not continue as i found the classes boring and a waste of my time. I do not consider this a lack of commitment on my part asi attended the class every week but we did not learn alot at all and it was boring for me. However, i was complacent regarding finding a new class as i could have but i decided to focus on my academics as the other class was far frim my house and on saturdays which is when i go to the convent to teach english.
Alzheimers 5k walk: i am happy with my commitment to the program and i am also happy that i completed the walk. It was hot and humid but i showed perseverence and completed it.
Latin Dancing:
One of the after school activitites (ASA's) that i took part in was latin dancing. As i love dancing this was exciting for me but i had never done it before so it was a new challenge. I do not feel as i showed perseverence and commitment in this activity as i had my exams and i do not think went enough times. I am disappointed in my lack of commitment.
Natanda dancing: As above this was only on for a few weeks i thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a new challenge for me as i t was VERY difficult to grasp the technique as the movements were so painful to do.
For the two above i recognized that the area i need to develop is my commitment to things that are not compulsory but that i sign up for. I tend not to miss charity events etc but if it is an activity like dancing and my not being there doesnt affect anyone then i sometimes miss the activities which i think i a horrible thing to do.
Desi girl dance: the practcing and the performance of this dance took an immense amoutn of effort. This was a collaborative effort and all the dancers had to be commited and persevere to finish it. It was also a new challenge for me as i had never danced bollywood before and i want sure that i would grasp the steps properly. This was also the planned and initiated activity that i did with my friends the fellow dancers. It taught me that i needed to develop the skill of being patient and accepting others opinions but also that i could grasp the steps others choreographed fast and i kept to the beat of the song.
track and field: i did track and field but as i twisted my ankle i found i could not run so i never made the team as i stopped going for practices. As this was a result of an injury and not a lack of interes on my part i cannot comment on it.
wall climbing elective: i chose the wall climbing elective on wednesdays as i wanted to do exercise as much as possible, and i did it every wednesday until it was removed as an option for an elective. Thus i was commited and developed this skill becasue i found i could climb higher than some people and faster than i could before.
I have done exercise at home and zumba! I have developed the skill of being disciplined and becoming more strict with what i do. I am also aware that the area of growth for me is that i become lazy towards the end of the day and do not feel like doing exercise then.
Swimming went well for me as it was also a new challenge that i undertook but i went every wednesday for a period of time last year. Although i retain the advice and critisism my instructor gave me, the area for growth is my lack of tenacity because as soon as i felt i had too much work to cope with i stopped going. This is an example of how i have failed to fulfill the criterion of persevering and being commited to something.
However, i was very happy with myself for participating in the school swimming meet. This really was an entirely NEW CHALLENGE for me as i had never even thought about participating in a meet. I did though and i did much better than i thoguht i would so i am happy with my effort!
Dancing is another activity that i did not continue as i found the classes boring and a waste of my time. I do not consider this a lack of commitment on my part asi attended the class every week but we did not learn alot at all and it was boring for me. However, i was complacent regarding finding a new class as i could have but i decided to focus on my academics as the other class was far frim my house and on saturdays which is when i go to the convent to teach english.
Alzheimers 5k walk: i am happy with my commitment to the program and i am also happy that i completed the walk. It was hot and humid but i showed perseverence and completed it.
Latin Dancing:
One of the after school activitites (ASA's) that i took part in was latin dancing. As i love dancing this was exciting for me but i had never done it before so it was a new challenge. I do not feel as i showed perseverence and commitment in this activity as i had my exams and i do not think went enough times. I am disappointed in my lack of commitment.
Natanda dancing: As above this was only on for a few weeks i thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a new challenge for me as i t was VERY difficult to grasp the technique as the movements were so painful to do.
For the two above i recognized that the area i need to develop is my commitment to things that are not compulsory but that i sign up for. I tend not to miss charity events etc but if it is an activity like dancing and my not being there doesnt affect anyone then i sometimes miss the activities which i think i a horrible thing to do.
Desi girl dance: the practcing and the performance of this dance took an immense amoutn of effort. This was a collaborative effort and all the dancers had to be commited and persevere to finish it. It was also a new challenge for me as i had never danced bollywood before and i want sure that i would grasp the steps properly. This was also the planned and initiated activity that i did with my friends the fellow dancers. It taught me that i needed to develop the skill of being patient and accepting others opinions but also that i could grasp the steps others choreographed fast and i kept to the beat of the song.
track and field: i did track and field but as i twisted my ankle i found i could not run so i never made the team as i stopped going for practices. As this was a result of an injury and not a lack of interes on my part i cannot comment on it.
wall climbing elective: i chose the wall climbing elective on wednesdays as i wanted to do exercise as much as possible, and i did it every wednesday until it was removed as an option for an elective. Thus i was commited and developed this skill becasue i found i could climb higher than some people and faster than i could before.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Final Reflection-creativity
The time has come for my final reflection and i think i have achieved most of the aims i set for myself at the beginning of grade 12. I will assess what i have done regarding each criterion and each component of CAS.
Creativity:
Regarding playing the piano, i have an increased awareness of my strengths and weaknesses as i know that i am good at tone and fingering but i am also aware that i need to improve sight reading and speed and rhythm. With sightreading i think i have fully achieved my goal as i sat the exam in march and i was happy with the paper, i had no surprises and i am currently awaiting my results.
Piano concert: i played well in the concert and did not make any mistakes. I was proud of this achievement as i had put alot of time practising at home. I was commited to all the practices, so again i think this is an aim i achieved. Another Skill i developed here was staying calm in front of an audience and not panicking!
Also in the piano concert was a dance that we had to do with all the children in it. This collaborative activity benefitted me as i had to work with another person and accomodate that person's strengths and weaknesses. Although my dance partner was very good, i often had to dance with others for practice and this made me more patient as they often had no idea what they were doing. The new skill i developed is learning the jive steps and the basic step so now i can add that to my list of dancing techniques i have learnt.
Regarding playing the guitar, i do not think i have fulfilled this task. Although i have learnt a few more chords and am able to play very simple songs i do not think i have made much progress so i think my levels of commitment and perseverence in this task were poor and i am thoroughly disappointed with myself.
Regarding choir, i think i fulfilled my aims as i learnt how to control my voice and work collaboratively with others. I thik this was a new challenge for me as i had not sung in 4 years so i was unsure about how my voice would sound. I attended many practices, much more than my friends and i think my perseverence in this area is also something to be proud of for me.
Concert at food and fun fair: I think this was another goal i achieved as i had to sing for an audeince again. Again, collaboration was necessary as we sang without music so our voices needed to be perfectly in key and in harmony with the other voices.
Creativity:
Regarding playing the piano, i have an increased awareness of my strengths and weaknesses as i know that i am good at tone and fingering but i am also aware that i need to improve sight reading and speed and rhythm. With sightreading i think i have fully achieved my goal as i sat the exam in march and i was happy with the paper, i had no surprises and i am currently awaiting my results.
Piano concert: i played well in the concert and did not make any mistakes. I was proud of this achievement as i had put alot of time practising at home. I was commited to all the practices, so again i think this is an aim i achieved. Another Skill i developed here was staying calm in front of an audience and not panicking!
Also in the piano concert was a dance that we had to do with all the children in it. This collaborative activity benefitted me as i had to work with another person and accomodate that person's strengths and weaknesses. Although my dance partner was very good, i often had to dance with others for practice and this made me more patient as they often had no idea what they were doing. The new skill i developed is learning the jive steps and the basic step so now i can add that to my list of dancing techniques i have learnt.
Regarding playing the guitar, i do not think i have fulfilled this task. Although i have learnt a few more chords and am able to play very simple songs i do not think i have made much progress so i think my levels of commitment and perseverence in this task were poor and i am thoroughly disappointed with myself.
Regarding choir, i think i fulfilled my aims as i learnt how to control my voice and work collaboratively with others. I thik this was a new challenge for me as i had not sung in 4 years so i was unsure about how my voice would sound. I attended many practices, much more than my friends and i think my perseverence in this area is also something to be proud of for me.
Concert at food and fun fair: I think this was another goal i achieved as i had to sing for an audeince again. Again, collaboration was necessary as we sang without music so our voices needed to be perfectly in key and in harmony with the other voices.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sacred Hearts for Little Hearts
(thats me on the right in green)
About a month and a half ago, the nuns at the convent i teach english at every saturday told me that the classes at the convent would be stopping but clases on a larger scale would be starting at a larger church in Rajagiriya (about 5 minutes away from the original location).
It is called sacred heart to little hearts as the church is called Sacred Heart Church. It is a programme for children of low income families who cannot afford tuition and are weak in their academics. It is from 2.30 to 5.30 every saturday and there are 3 45 minute blocks. They learn enlgish, maths and either sinhalese or tamil depending on which language is their first and which they are educated in.
I go for 2 hours and teach english for both periods. I help to teach grades 7,8,9 and 10 in the first period, a class of around 18 and grade 5 and 6 in the 2nd period. the second classes is a little smaller.
The skills i have developed doing this service are speaking in sinhalese more which was one of my initial goals and learning to be patient with younger children. Additionally i have realized that i need to work on the way i explain certain concepts and this is an area i need to work on if my teaching is to be effective.
This service has really shown me how much of an impact i can have on other people. With a little time and effort it is possible to really impact the education of young children. I have been consistently committed to this programme so i think i have achieved that goal. This also links to being aware of the problems facing portions of our community which must be addressed. Not only has this service made me aware of the problems these children face but it has made me appreciate what i have and made me want to help them.
Zumba
My cousin introduced me to Zumba, (a south american style of dance) as she had a DVD and told me that it was a good work out. As i have not done any exercise for a while, i decided to do some.
On days that i have time, i do it for an hour and as it really tires me i feel much healthier after i finish!
I think the skill i haev developed by doing this is discipline. Even when i am in pain and feel like stopping, i force myself to carry on until the routine has finished. After having to force myself a few times, i get to the point where i don't have to think about what i'm doing and i dance without thinking. would like to apply this discipline to all other areas of my life as i am too relaxed and disorganised about everything e.g. doing assignments on time and i think the key to solving that problem is through discipline.
So not only am i gettin exercise, but i am also learning to descipline my self.
On days that i have time, i do it for an hour and as it really tires me i feel much healthier after i finish!
I think the skill i haev developed by doing this is discipline. Even when i am in pain and feel like stopping, i force myself to carry on until the routine has finished. After having to force myself a few times, i get to the point where i don't have to think about what i'm doing and i dance without thinking. would like to apply this discipline to all other areas of my life as i am too relaxed and disorganised about everything e.g. doing assignments on time and i think the key to solving that problem is through discipline.
So not only am i gettin exercise, but i am also learning to descipline my self.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Piano
Practical: Although i officially stopped playing the piano (having lessons) i have continued to play at home. I found that i learn better on my own and the only aspect of playing piece of music that i need help with is the tone.
I have also improved in sight reading -ALOT! Before i started playing on my own at home, my sight reading was abysmal. Now i can easily read pieces on my old exam books.
I have learnt a few new pieces, namely the first and second movements of the moonlight sonata, Tristesse and i am starting to learn the Hungarian dance and swan lake.
Moonlight sonata 2nd movement:
I am very happy with my progress.
Me playing the piano:
Theory:
I had my theory exam 5 days ago and i am satisfied with my effort. I thjink i should have spent more time learning the italian terms as i learnt them in the car on the way to the exam so i was disappointed at my lack of organisation.
BUT i am happy it is over as i prefer playing and can concentrate on that now.
I have also improved in sight reading -ALOT! Before i started playing on my own at home, my sight reading was abysmal. Now i can easily read pieces on my old exam books.
I have learnt a few new pieces, namely the first and second movements of the moonlight sonata, Tristesse and i am starting to learn the Hungarian dance and swan lake.
Moonlight sonata 2nd movement:
I am very happy with my progress.
Me playing the piano:
Theory:
I had my theory exam 5 days ago and i am satisfied with my effort. I thjink i should have spent more time learning the italian terms as i learnt them in the car on the way to the exam so i was disappointed at my lack of organisation.
BUT i am happy it is over as i prefer playing and can concentrate on that now.
Monday, February 28, 2011
CAS evening
There was a CAS evening in school.
On the 8th of January, there was a CAS evening after school. Parents were to attend it and each group had to put together a board displaying pictures of what we do and information about the objectives of the electives. Harini and Hee Soo. next years leaders as wel as myself made the board and stayed on the night to inform parents about our CAS. I think I did an average job of the way i presented what we do but as usual my speaking skills need improving. I also noticed that one of next years leaders seems to always dominate the situation and the other one allows her to do so. I must (diplomatically) sort this out as the same thing happened to me last year. The responsibility is shared and at the moment they do not seem to be acknowledging this. Working with these people has also been somewhat like a character building exercise. I need to learn how to deal with all kinds of people in the world and not only people that i know i am similar to and find it easy to get along with.. Despite this i am happy with how the board turned out.
Me Helping to Make Board:
People Were interested in the board. We made it interesting to look at !
The Whole CAS Group:
On the 8th of January, there was a CAS evening after school. Parents were to attend it and each group had to put together a board displaying pictures of what we do and information about the objectives of the electives. Harini and Hee Soo. next years leaders as wel as myself made the board and stayed on the night to inform parents about our CAS. I think I did an average job of the way i presented what we do but as usual my speaking skills need improving. I also noticed that one of next years leaders seems to always dominate the situation and the other one allows her to do so. I must (diplomatically) sort this out as the same thing happened to me last year. The responsibility is shared and at the moment they do not seem to be acknowledging this. Working with these people has also been somewhat like a character building exercise. I need to learn how to deal with all kinds of people in the world and not only people that i know i am similar to and find it easy to get along with.. Despite this i am happy with how the board turned out.
Me Helping to Make Board:
People Were interested in the board. We made it interesting to look at !
The Whole CAS Group:
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