Embedded Files
Introduction
Introduction
My CAS Journey for the 2 years of DP has allowed me to grow in all 10 aspects of the IB learner profile. I think the most important learner profile I have learned from my CAS program is learning to stay balanced, as the amount of schoolwork in DP is very heavy, and can bring a lot of stress to students, which is WHY CAS IS HERE TO BALANCE OUR LIVES (DEFINITELY), so that we do not neglect exercise, servicing others, and most importantly, rest. CAS also allowed me to expand in knowledge beyond the courses I take in DP, and is really something that adds diversity to the IB DP course.
This final reflection present some of the most memorable CAS experience I've had over the two years, and will be used to evaluate to what extent I have achieved the 7 learning outcomes of CAS.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
Sprinting is one of my strengths that I have gained over the years, but has slowly faded away ever since I started IB. It was only through Sports Day 100 meter sprint contest that I realized that I have stopped improving and that there is still much more area for growth. Getting second place in the final 100 meter sprint contest is a commendable achievement, but it reminded me that my life needs to be more balanced, as I have been neglecting exercise for a few semesters ever since doing IB. Because I have regressed in my physical capabilites, I am now more open to improvement and growth, and is something that I am trying to maintain even after the Sports Day 100 meter sprint contest. Other CAS activities such as the Barber Shop Vocal Performance has also allowed me to contribute in something that I am good at and improve on. It would be to a good extent that I have achieved in learning outcome 1 through all three aspects of CAS activities.
2. Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
Each CAS activities has its own challenge, in which new skills can be developed somewhere along the way. One of the more significant challenges that I have taken on is 2020 HSINMUN XVI, in which I participated as a delegate of Italy in the UNDP conference. Being the first conference I had outside of school, I was a lot more nervous than before, not to mention that the procedures of UNDP conferences are completely different from what I've experienced before as well. It took me a while to find the courage and contribute to the discussion in the committee, interacting with new people, allowing me to learn new things and skills in the process. This activity has encouraged me to take on more challenges in the future, as new skills and experience can always be learnt in the process of these challenges being taken. It would be to a good extent that I have achieved in learning outcome 2 particularly through the creative and service aspects of CAS activities.
3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
The longest CAS activity that I have done is MYP PRESENTS SEUSSICAL JUNIOR, which required many people to initiate and plan together so that the final product can come out greatly. The CAS activity started at the end of October in 2020, all in preperation for the final performance day on the 15th of January of 2021. Needless to say, all CAS activies needs initiation and planning to a certain extent, but a project this long needs much more refined and detailed planning, in which I have turly experienced the importance of a good plan. Some of the props were still upainted 2 days before the final performance day, which I stayed at school at took a long time to finish the painting. It made me realize that even with plans things can still be unpredicted and go wrong in an instant. It is only through better planning and the ability to adapt that can overcome these obstacles. I feel like this learning outcome has been achieved to a great extent as all of the CAS activities and experiences are mostly planned by us students, helping us to be better in planning for any activities or projects that we want to do in the future.
4. Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
Commitment and perseverance is pretty difficult for me when it comes to activity related CAS activities. The Daily Yoga Routine really tested me for the leraning outcome as I had to show commitment to doing at least 30 minutes of yoga everyday. There were many days where I didn't feel like doing yoga, and I indeed did not do it on those days, because why not. In the end, I can only say that I have demonstrated learning outcome 4 to a small extent, especially in activity related CAS experiences that require long term commitment.
5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
All of my CAS activities have some sort of involvement with other people, to which I have certainly realized the benefits of working collaboratively. The ideas formed from a group of people can be much more objective, and work can also be done a lot faster when it is done right. However, there are still some demerits in working collaboratively that I have seen through my CAS activities one being that some people in the group may take advantage of others and do less work, which could potentially create disharmony between people. I would say that I have achieved this learning outcome to a very great extent, as I believe that one of the core concepts of CAS is to try and work collaboratively with other people, and I have demonstrated this throughout all my CAS activities as well.
6. Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
The Topic of the UNDP Committee that I went during HSINMUN XVI was “The Question of Rights to Universal Health Care and Sanitation”. What other than COVID-19 to talk about! Through the HSINMUN XVI CAS activity, I was able to demonstrate the engagement with issues of global significance through creative and servicing aspects, coming up with our own resolutions represented by all delegates, and doing a model-service to the world's pandemic. Other CAS experiences such as Sports Day Festival Fundraising or Hiking with Friends demonstrate this learning out come too, so I would say that this learning outcome has been achieved to a certain extent.
7. Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
Many of my CAS activities relate to the ethics of choices and actions in a subtle way, and isn't as obvious as other learning outcomes. Many of the processes in my CAS activities require the consideration of the ethics of choices and actions, and is mostly done subconsciouly. It is only through self-reflecting that I realize that this learning outcome is probably the most common one that should appear in every of my CAS activities, it doesn't need to be servicing activites such as the Sports Day Fundraising Events, it could be the simplest activities such as the sincerity I am putting in to my yoga routine. So I would say that this learning outcome has been achieved to a great extent
Conclusion
Conclusion
Would I ever want to do CAS again? No. The "mandatory" component of IB Diploma Programme enables us students to enhance our personal and interpersonal by learning through experience, known as Creativity, Activity, and Service. Although it may seem like a great component that IB has added, I personally think that making these concepts "mandatory" for completing the IB Diploma Programme discourages students to do what IB wants them to do. This does not mean that I won't exercise in the future, won't help others in the future, or that I won't be creative anymore in the future, it just means that I don't want to do these things just for the sake of getting something unrelated, rather than the core essence of the activities itself. 5 years from now, I will still be passionate in creating, exercising and servicing others. Doing these things is already something that I enjoy, and is definitely willing to do more in the future. It is not necessary for any more tasks similar to CAS that changes my mindset into doing things I like just to earn something else.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse