CAS 2013-2014

This year I am in 11th grade and am therefore beginning the IB. I will try to keep up my CAS during this term despite the extra work I'll be getting and will hopefully continue to improve in areas like leadership, dedication and responsibility. I had an amazing experience doing this program last year - I learnt so much and became a better person for it.

I am planning to join a number of groups this year:

- Photography club - creativity

- Interact club - Service

- GIN - Service

- Greenhouse club - Service

- Swim team - Action

- ARTSCO - Creativity and Service

- Save the Rhino - Service

- Book club - Creativity

- President's award - CAS

- Piano classes - Creativity

- KSPCA - Service

Over the course of this school year I will try to build on the eight learning outcomes of CAS:

1. Increased awareness of strengths and weaknesses - I know that I am not a very good leader, tending to automatically fall into place as a follower in group activities. However, I am very determined and hardworking and believe I have the potential to improve in this area. Hopefully more of my positive and negative traits will become known to me during this program.

2. Undertake new challenges - A challenge for me would be to speak up and be a leader in one of my groups. I have already applied for the role of vice president in save the rhino, but don't yet know if I was successful. Even if I don't get this position I will actively engage in discussions and volunteer myself when necessary.

3. Plan and initiate activities - I have planned out the groups that I'm joining and will try to continue keeping myself organised and working with others to do this.

4. Working collaboratively with others - I will aim to work well both with my ISK peers in the school groups I'm joining and outside campus with street children, rescue dogs, etc.

5. Show perseverance and commitment in activities - I'm going to attend all meetings in my groups and try to tackle problems that arise (while at the same time finding confidence in myself and being more comfortable speaking out and stating my opinions).

6. Engage with issues of global importance - I feel that I will do this in this school year as I will be a part of GIN, interact, and save the rhino (among others). The fact that we live in Kenya makes this less difficult as I recognise global issues each day as I go about my normal activities. I only hope to bring them one step closer to being solved.

7. Consider the ethical implications of my actions - When we lead such privileged lives it's easy to forget the implications of our actions. CAS will hopefully keep reminding me of what's happening in the world today and how we should act around one another.

8. Develop new skills - CAS definitely exposes us to new experiences, therefore letting us gain more knowledge and experience in various areas. I am sure that challenges will arise in many of these activities and that I will grow as a person as I tackle them. For example, last year I decided to take up guitar and learnt a lot (especially since I had never played an instrument beforehand).

I will try and make time to do all of these activities but I may have to drop some throughout the year to keep up with the IB. I am very excited for this coming year of CAS and I can't wait to start participating in all of these groups! I