1. Identify your own strengths and develop areas for personal growth.
What it REALLY means: When you leave your comfort zone, you learn things about yourself. For example, when you are tutoring, are you patient with other people? If not, why not? Maybe you could try to improve this area of personal growth. Do you tend to overlook your physical well-being when overwhelmed and stressed? If yes, how can you prioritize yourself? Could this help you improve your overall mood and ability to handle stress?
2. Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.
What it REALLY means: What have you done to push yourself? What was unfamiliar about it? What skills do you think you developed? For example, have you ever tried out for something you think you might not be "good" at? Could this help you develop emotional strength and resilience?
3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.
What it REALLY means: This one’s easy! When you are organizing your CAS events or activities, just make sure you keep notes on how you organized them, who you contacted and what the organizational process was like.
4. Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.
What it REALLY means: All IB diploma students are thinking the same thing – why do we have to do this when we have so much to do already? You are not alone. If done well, this can be a very rewarding and reflective experience that will help you evolve in (often neglected) areas of our lives. Stick with it, and try to keep an open mind and positive attitude.
5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.
What it REALLY means: Participate in group activities. Maybe this is as straight-forward as a being part of an athletic team. Perhaps you and a few classmates can organize a clothing swap. Consider joining a club if you tend to keep to yourself.
6. Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.
What it REALLY means: There are so many global issues right now: global warming, geopolitical tension, homelessness, hunger, access to healthcare. Some (not all) of your CAS experiences should be meaningful in how they get you to engage with significant, worldwide issues.
7. Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions.
What it REALLY means: Your caregivers have likely been telling you this for a long time: The things you do and the choices you make have consequences. Think about the CAS activities you are doing and how they affect others. Are your actions ethical? How so?