Creativity: Origami Club

Joining Origami club was a risk itself. I was never proficient with my hands, and therefore this was a big risk joining origami club. Over the course I learnt from the CAS supervisors to be caring in general, patient and how to excercise open-mindness as most of the time I required EXTRA help, and at times I required complete guidance in order to build a decent origami.

Furthermore by joining origami club it has also helped me to be knowledgeable in being able to recognize different types of folds, paper sizes, and other specifications which can be adapted to other origami instructions.

As each session went by, I learnt to be more of a thinker, and less reliant on help as I felt I needed to put worth and effort into my origamis in order to feel acknowledged and worthy.

ACTION: SELF-INITIATED CAS - Frisbee

Sports has always been a passion so after some consideration I decided to begin a self-initiated action based CAS. For a long time i believe frisbee to be unrecognized and just a hobby-type sport. So after some research and previous experience, i learnt the complexties and also the fame of ultimate frisbee! So this sport has really challenged me to be more knowledgeable.

As a coach, I also learnt how to be a risk-taker as it required me to take control of the game or players, and at times to be stern and serious despite most of the CAS members being my friends. Simultaneously it also helped me to be open-minded and listen to some of the more experienced frisbee players who had been having P.E. classes on frisbee.

Our term ended with a smashing game agaisnt JIS, and even in our defeat, after the game i learnt how to improve by being better communicators, thinkers, and reflective, trusting in the future for improving our skills as a team and countless victories.

Kota Kinabalu Trip: Creativity, Service, Action

The year 12 K.K. trip involved a variety of activities that involved all aspects of C.A.S. During our stay in the city, most of our activities; geography field work, counted as part of our action. On the other hand, when we were in the interior, we embraced a range of activities from mountain biking & white water rafting, to renovating a community village hall.

Over the week I personally learnt few “life lessons”. In the beginning the obvious moral that I encountered was to be punctual. In addition this also meant that I have to learn how to pay special care and attention to notices that are crucial i.e. being more accountable and principled. Moreover the warning of the consequences allowed me to realize the importance of teamwork, to be caring and sensitive to each others burdens. Although there were rules that did not facilitate our needs, I soon learnt that they were beneficial, i.e. sleeping on time and therefore waking up fresh. i.e. being knowledgeable. Overall I believe that the main focal point of this trip for me would have to be self-evaluation, criticism, and the development of practical skills (fieldwork). Essentially I would say the biggest challenge for me would be criticism and self-evaluation instead of being “spoon-fed” all the time and accepting whatever is presented to us. i.e. being responsible.

In conclusion I would have to say that all these acquired skills and lessons still require more attention and practice in order to see the enhancement of our studies. They stay in the forest first taught me to live under harsh circumstances – cold water, sleeping in the open. The next challenge involved creative work as well as the physical labourous work. Despite all this I have to admit I enjoyed these obstacles and miss the sentimental moments in K.K.

ACTION: KK Mountain Climbing Training

For the past 3 months some of the IB students have been training for their upcoming mountainous ascend. Seeing this as an opportunity to gain Action hours I willingly joined the team. The first weeks involved trekking in Tasek Lama Park, a course that demanded less. However as the weeks continued we moved to a much more challenging course of 9 hills located in Bukit Shabandar Forest Reserve. Over time I grew to be more knowledgeable as much of time it involved us running through the forest ourselves and this required us to remember the course. During some of our treks it also involved some risk-taking climbs as the weather had proved to be fairly horrible with heavy thundershowers. Large pieces of hillsides had been eroded leaving dangerous precipitous sides. This consequently lead to the development of being able to communicate with each other and learning how to care for each other, ensuring everyone would reach the end safely.

CREATIVITY & SERVICE: BGIC VII

Every year ISB hosts it’s prestigious, model UN conference – ISB Global Borneo Global Issues Conference. This year would be the 7th BGIC ISB has held. As usual, all events too place at the ICC, the International Convention Centre and as usual I participated as a helper but also as a performer. At the opening ceremony my key role was to perform with the rest of ISB’s choir and sing songs for Her Highness Princess Sarah. It was a frightening experience on the whole and initially I refused to perform. Eventually I managed to pull up my socks and go for this risk-taking experience. Another one of my roles was as an assistant to the operating and managing team. Most of the work was heavy labour which comprised of the setting up of 2 major halls and 6 more committee rooms. Other jobs consisted of running errands, passing on messages and ushering the delegates. Overall I enjoyed this year’s event as the strong message conducted by Nathan Chasing Horse has allowed me to think more open-mindedly and with greater concerns for the environment.

SERVICE: Valentines' Disco

Every year in ISB the tradition in respective to valentines day would be to have a Valentine's Disco. Being a unskilled dancer as well as not a big fan of disco's I decided to help out as security.

As securtiy my main job was to guard the gates, and check bags for anything illegal: weapons, cigarettes, etc. Furthermore I was also on shift so my other job was to patrol around the entire school, ensuring there were no students wandering off on any school ground besides the main hall.

I believe that from that experience I learnt how to be a risk-taker, in the sense of taking on bigger people and questioning them about what their pockets contained. I learned to be confident and be principled, not allowing anything illegal enter the school premises under any circumstance.

Overall I would say being security can be quite tedious but being part of the organizing committee has taught me to how it feels to carry great responsibility, to be more alert, as well as being able to communicate with other people I don't know very well.

SERVICE: H.M.S. Pinafore

H.M.S. Pinafore was our schools 2008 musical. I offered my service at the front desk, collecting tickets, holding doors, ushering people and running other errands. I found that I worked well with people, being interactive and helpful. I was a very caring helper making sure all guests were comfortable. I was very open-minded towards people’s comments on the show and was a fairly good communicator.