VARSITY FOOTBALL (Activity)

Season Matches - September

Regional Tournament - November 3

1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences

5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively

September 1st , 2017: Though my football experience was quite limited, I decided to challenge myself to join the Varsity Football Team anyways. Priorly, I played for the U15 team in 9th Grade. During our first practice, I identified a few of my own strengths and several areas for growth. Though I had stamina, my dribbling and receiving skills weren't that great, which is required for my position, as I am a midfielder and am required to pass the ball from our defenders to our striker. The day before our first game with ICS, I was quite nervous as I was scared I'd let my team down and preform horribly, but I didn't let that stop me from playing, as I was up to the challenge. However, on the day of the match, our team struggled to communicate during the first half, which led to us losing 4-0. However, we have now realized that we need to work on our collaborative and communicative skills, which is essential to succeed in any team sport. Personally, I need to work on my dribbling skills and staying focused throughout the game, as once during the game I got nervous and accidentally passed the ball to the opposite team. Something which I hope will never happen again.

September 6, 2017: Our next game, less than a week later, was against KIS. After realizing our weaknesses at our previous game, I was excited and nervous to see how this game would play out. After recognizing my weaknesses, my goal this week during practice was to practice dribbling and receiving the ball. Though practice was quite challenging, it payed off as I was able to receive the ball better than the previous game. However, we lost 1-0 to KIS, a goal which our team should have been able to defended. Next week, I hope to better my defense and work on our team collaboration.

September 7, 2017: The next day, I had a game against MUIDS. Their school was quite far away so the car ride there gave our team a lot of time to reflect and strategize. As we reflected, we really regretted conceding that goal to KIS and hoped to better our defense and try to attack, even if we're not confident the goal is going to go in. During the car ride, our team also tried to boost each other's confidence, which did help me during the game. As I am not very confident in my football skills, the support from my teammates really helped and I felt that I was able to play my best during this game, which we won 1-0.

September 11, 2017: Our second to last game was versus Berkeley. Still confident from our win, we had more belief in the team. However, through all the effort, we lost to Berkeley 6-0, thus disappointing the whole team.

September 19, 2017: Our last game was against Concordian, which is a game everyone one of us truly regrets not winning. As we had lost to Berkely 6-0 a week prior, we were ready to give our best in our last game and win.

November 3: For our last football game this season, the team preformed to the best of our ability. Reflecting on the last two games, I identified and tried to overcome my weaknesses - one of which is my stamina. Additionally, we also reflected as a team and supported each other. Coming in second place, we were happy with the end results of this season. Hopefully, next season we will be able to preform even better.

MUN: BKKMUN XXV - October 8, 2017 (Creativity)

1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

5: Demonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively

6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

As this was my first conference after more than 6 months, I was a little nervous as I wanted to perform to the best of my ability. Since this was the first time the Arab League committee was introduced to an Model United Nations at BKKMUN, the chairs decided to debate SC style, something I was not familiar with. Though daunting at first, I realized it was not challenging as I expected, as it was similar to my previous debates in MUN, except this time it is scoped to just 1 clause instead of an entire resolution. The issues of Accepting and Relocating Refugee Populations, Issues Pertaining to the State of Palestine, and the Conflict in Yemen were debated during the 1 day conference. These are all issues prevalent and ongoing in our world. Additionally, as I am Arab, these issues identify with me on a culturally level, which allowed me to fully participate in debate. I started off debate a little shy, however by the end of the debate I often raised my placard to give a POI. Though due to time constraints, the topic in which I wrote a resolution on was not debated and hindered my chance of achieving the best delegate award, I still had fun. Most importantly, through all the nervousness in the beginning I lost sight that MUN used to be fun for me, something which I realized again mid-conference.

DEBATE: Thailand High School Debate Competition (THSDC) - October 13-16 (Creativity)

1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

5: Demonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively

6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

As this was my first year on the debate team, starting off the season and entering a national competition within only a month of being familiar with debate terms and rules made me really nervous and worried. I was afraid I'd let my team down or somehow mess up whilst giving my speech. However, my team mates really supported me throughout the competition and made me feel confident in myself, something I would not have achieve on my own. Throughout the 3 day competition, our debate topics ranged from technical schools in Thailand to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. On the first day of competition, I had a couple of mishaps, as I was not yet sure how to pace myself I had to repeat my points a couple of times to fill in the 8 minute time frame. On the second day, I knew how to pace myself a bit more which made it a bit easier. Though we didn't break into the final, we got the 11th spot, which I was very happy with considering this was my first debate competition. Through this experience, I learned that I should take risks and step out of my comfort zone sometimes, as this debate competition allowed me to better my public speaking skills.

MUN: WISMUN - NOVEMBER 12, 2017 (Creativity)

1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively

6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

ServICE Conference - November 24-25, 2017 (Creativity)

1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively

6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

Having previously attended a ServICE conference, I knew roughly what to expect from this one. Though I was a little disappointed there was no service trip this time around, reflecting on it now, it might be for the best as I believe in ethical volunteering - something which does not align with a one day trip. During this conference, I was able to interact with various people and attend several workshops. One of the workshops, where a Pakistan refugee fleeing religious persecution spoke about his experiences, allowed me to gain new insight into an issue that is relevant worldwide. Inspired by his story, I gave him my contacts as I wanted to help him and his community after the conference. Overall, this was a very rewarding two day conference where I was able to educate myself on issues that I genuinely care about.

OPERATION SMILE: Fundraising Booth at Ploenchit Fair - November 25, 2017 (Service)

3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience

4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences

6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

7: Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions

Having been involved with Operation Smile for over a year, I was happy to help when they asked for volunteers for the Ploenchit Fair. Selling items and collecting donations for their cause - providing free surgery for children with cleft lip or palate - I was also trying to educate people more on the issue, as I believe spreading word about the organisation . Often underestimated in terms of severeness, cleft lip or palate is a condition which can cause some children to die from malnutrition if they are denied proper healthcare - which is the case in many rural areas of Thailand. I was glad that I could once again help out Operation Smile.

MUN: FOBISIAMUN - December 9-11, 2017 (Creativity)

1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

5: Demonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively

6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

OPERATION SMILE: Christmas Show Fundraising Booth - December 13, 2017 (Service)

3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience

4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences

6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

7: Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions

Tasked with selling the newly released Operation SmilexAri T-shirts, our club thought it was appropriate to do this during the annual Christmas pre-show booths to attract parents, teachers, and students. Selling t-shirts and card holders, we also tried to educate anyone who is interested on the issue. Though we were not able to sell as many t-shirts as we had hope, I am still glad we were able to educate more parents on the issue of cleft lip and cleft palate and about Operatin Smile.

Clothes Donation - December 24 (Service)

3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience

6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

7: Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions

Every year, I clean out my closet to give to my maid as she makes her biannual trip back home to the south. Giving my clothes - some old some new - to children in villages down south is something I have done since I was a little girl. As my community over emphasizes on materialistic goods, it's refreshing to remind myself that I might need to stop spending all my money on clothes - some of which I rarely wear. Out of respect for the these children, I didn't ask for a photo to be taken.