Quarter 2 Extracurricular Activities

This quarter I planned to continue with my creativity and service activities of piano lessons and the Checkmates service group (Showing perseverance and commitment), while changing tracks for activity from volleyball to basketball as the previous season ended, like I did last year and the year before. However, my plans were thrown for a loop when I discovered that the SAISA tournament and the mock exams are only a few days apart, as well as the fact that the badminton season would occur at the same time but on different days of the week.

Originally I wanted to not take part in any SAISA to focus on my academics, but ultimately decided that since the tournament takes place only after the mock exams instead of before, then it was okay to take part in a SAISA sport one last time. This year I decided on trying out for the badminton team for multiple reasons, but mostly to try something new (Undertaking new challenges). This new activity would also allow me to develop new skills, gain increased awareness of strengths and areas for growth, and work collaboratively with others.

DP1 Final CAS Reflection

Increased their awareness of their own strengths of areas for growth
This outcome was one of the harder ones to achieve, as I had to make an objective judgement about myself, and how I have grown by identifying my strengths and fixing my weaknesses. Awareness of myself mostly had to do with the Activities section of CAS as I had to consciously work on my weaknesses and perfect my strengths through training and practice for SAISA.

Undertaken new challenges
Joining the Alzheimer’s Awareness Service Group was a bit of a challenge as I had never really interacted with patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease before and am nervous by default around new people. Another new activity that I undertook was piano lessons. I had always wanted to play the piano when I was younger but became more disinterested as I became older, so learning to play was a challenge in and of itself, as well as sticking with it.

Planned and initiated activities
Though I did not take any major leadership roles in any of my CAS projects, I was still included in some of the decision making processes and event planning processes involved in Alzheimer’s and the Student Government Association.

Worked collaboratively with others
Collaboration was immensely important in the sports teams that I was a part of. Teamwork is an integral part of basketball, football and volleyball as they are team sports. Collaboration was also used a lot in the SGA, not just in the group but also with the SCN (School Connection Network), the school staff and other groups to plan and create an event.

Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities
Commitment applied to all of my CAS projects, as dedication is very important to the different activities. I tried to attend all the sessions that I could because being present is just as important as collaboration and participation. Perseverance was a bit of a challenge for me with regards to piano lessons as I was not as interested in it as I was when I was younger.

Engaged with issues of global importance
This learning outcome was mainly applied to my work in the Alzheimer’s service group as the disease is an occurrence worldwide and raising awareness for it and caring for the people suffering from it is equally important around the world.

Considered the ethical implications of their actions
Questions of ethics came up a lot during sessions in Alzheimer’s. For example, was our continued visitation of the Alzheimer’s centre beneficial to the patients? Were we unwittingly causing further damage or causing the patients to feel bad about their disease? Was the entire process done to help the patients or to make ourselves feel better?

Developed new skills
When undertaking any new activity, a new set of skills need to be developed to meet the challenge. For example, in SGA I needed to learn about advertising and marketing events and how to take minutes in a meeting.

Next year for the DP2 I hope to make as much time for CAS as I did this year, but this is unlikely as I will be focusing more on my studies near the end of the year. Hopefully next year I will also focus more on reflecting and updating my blog more than I did this year. Though I did not complete all of my goals, I am still satisfied with my CAS work this year, and hope to do just as well in the following year.

Quarter 2 Reflection - Action

(Photo credit: @gecko.athletics Instagram)

Action this quarter was all about basketball – I was picked for the SAISA Girls’ U19 Basketball team, primarily as a post guard (stays closer to the baskets to defend and attack – usually for tall players). Like volleyball, I was on the team last year and focused on getting back on track to my fitness and skill level from last year (since I had forgotten almost all the rules and plays).

Something that I needed to work on a lot was being quicker on my feet because I couldn’t rely solely on my height to defend against someone trying to take a shot. On the plus side, my shots had improved from last year, where last time I had trouble getting enough power into a shot from the free throw line to even reach the basket, but this year (with a TON of practice) I was able to make shots anywhere inside and around the outside of the key.

In terms of teamwork, I think we really bonded and worked well as a team, especially with such a strong captain (Soraya). We were able to come up and apply a lot of plays, most of which had the triangle at the core. A triangle just means three players positioned in a triangle, usually with maximum two of them connected to the key. As part of our traditional team bonding party before every SAISA, the team created a ton of posters which we hung up around the school and gym, and handed out to people so they could show they’re support.

(Photo credit: @gecko.athletics Instagram)

This year our school hosted the tournament and this put a lot of pressure on the team, especially the players from last year. Last year the tournament was hosted at AISD (American International School of Dhaka) and we were able to make it to the finals against the Dhaka team. It was a tough match but we won by one point in the overtime, which was incredibly stressful and nerve-wracking. Now this time Dhaka promised that they would be the ones to beat us on our home turf and we were a bit nervous.

The tournament was incredibly fun, especially since we practically cruised through all the matches, coming out undefeated by a large margin in all of them. We made our way to the finals and we were once again facing Dhaka for the trophy. We were all a bit nervous and jittery, what with the cheers from one side of the gym where a lot of the students, parents and teachers came to support us, and the death glares from the Dhaka tiers on the other side.

The beginning of the match was slow and we made a lot of stupid mistakes because of our nerves, but I think we picked up steam pretty quickly after I made a buzzer-beater basket that helped lift the nerves off of the team. The game progressed with Kalila and Soraya making some pretty amazing baskets, as well as Jaz with her unbelievable three-pointers, Nela’s hilarious steals, and Vanessa’s blasé attitude when she made an impressive steal or shot. I think the only reason I pulled through the match without throwing up from nerves was by revelling in the team’s achievements.

In the end, we also won the entire tournament undefeated like volleyball. Thankfully we ended the match with minimal injuries on either side (although all the injuries I caused were purely accidental), despite Dhaka’s obvious fake falls to get a free throw. It was incredible to win twice in a row, as well as volleyball, and I really hope we can keep this up for football and the year to come (even though I’m pretty sure that we’ve made Dhaka our permanent archenemies rivals now).

(Photo credit: Nela)

One of my teammates made an awesome video of the tournament as well:

(Photo credit: Nela)