December 20, 2016
Today I spent 2 hours after school working on wrapping presents for some children who may not have gotten presents otherwise. In particular I wrapped some presents for a 17 year old boy that goes to my school. All he asked for were some pants, jacket, soap, lotion, and headphones. Mostly necessities which I definitely take for granted. This opened my mind to be more considerate of my peers home-life situations at school. In this case I used the IB traits of caring and open-mindedness. I wrapped presents with the NHS organization I am in at my high school. I hope these gifts make this boys Christmas and life a little better and cheerier. This Christmas being my last one at home I am becoming much more thankful for everything I have.
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Saturday, December 10, 2016
December 10
Today I ran a 5K race for the first time in about 7 years. I ran in the running of the balls and was triggering my active part of CAS. This race was particularly important for me because it was the beginning of the training for the school soccer season this spring. This year because I am a senior my goal is to be one of the most fit people on the team. I have this goal because I want people to look up to me as a hard worker. I ran this race with my friend and we ran it in supposedly 32 minutes. I think we ran faster than that and they started the clock earlier than they told us to start running. I think this because I felt like my friend and I were running at an 8 or 9 minute mile pace. If this is true I think we actually ran the race in like 28 minutes or so. It was cold and dark but exhilarating because there were so many people and lots of music. They had music stations set up along the run which I enjoyed because it made the running more interesting. I really hope I can run in another race soon because the presence of others pushed me to run faster. Also, I think my friend and I are a good pair to run together because when I got tired she seemed to catch some wind and vice a versa. This really helped us keep a steady pace as we were always trying to keep the same pace as the other.
Today I ran a 5K race for the first time in about 7 years. I ran in the running of the balls and was triggering my active part of CAS. This race was particularly important for me because it was the beginning of the training for the school soccer season this spring. This year because I am a senior my goal is to be one of the most fit people on the team. I have this goal because I want people to look up to me as a hard worker. I ran this race with my friend and we ran it in supposedly 32 minutes. I think we ran faster than that and they started the clock earlier than they told us to start running. I think this because I felt like my friend and I were running at an 8 or 9 minute mile pace. If this is true I think we actually ran the race in like 28 minutes or so. It was cold and dark but exhilarating because there were so many people and lots of music. They had music stations set up along the run which I enjoyed because it made the running more interesting. I really hope I can run in another race soon because the presence of others pushed me to run faster. Also, I think my friend and I are a good pair to run together because when I got tired she seemed to catch some wind and vice a versa. This really helped us keep a steady pace as we were always trying to keep the same pace as the other.
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| After we finished running the 5K. |
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
November 30
Today in Key Club we decorated golf ball ornaments to be sold in the Grimsley holiday market. We are raising money for our key club to do more service. Also, for the eliminate project. This projects goal is to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus that kills one baby every 11 minutes. This money is going to provide the necessary materials such as vaccines, syringes, safe storage, transportation, and thousands of skilled staff. At the market we are, also, selling ornaments with the Grimsley Whirlie on it and clothes pins that have cute decorations on them. For food we will have home made brownies, cake pops, and Russian tea mix. We are hoping for a big turnout to raise as much money as we can for impactful causes.
Today in Key Club we decorated golf ball ornaments to be sold in the Grimsley holiday market. We are raising money for our key club to do more service. Also, for the eliminate project. This projects goal is to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus that kills one baby every 11 minutes. This money is going to provide the necessary materials such as vaccines, syringes, safe storage, transportation, and thousands of skilled staff. At the market we are, also, selling ornaments with the Grimsley Whirlie on it and clothes pins that have cute decorations on them. For food we will have home made brownies, cake pops, and Russian tea mix. We are hoping for a big turnout to raise as much money as we can for impactful causes.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
November 2
Today in Key club we made yarn pumpkins and little goody bags with sweets for people in hospice care. While the vibe in the club was cheery, I did think about the people in hospice care and the pain the families must be going through. Especially with the beginning of the holiday season this time of year is especially difficult for some people. I feel like I practiced the IB learner trait of caring because I feel very compassionate for the families in this difficult situation. I am glad I could do something to hopefully brighten up people days in possible their last days. I hope I did impact someone positively.
Today in Key club we made yarn pumpkins and little goody bags with sweets for people in hospice care. While the vibe in the club was cheery, I did think about the people in hospice care and the pain the families must be going through. Especially with the beginning of the holiday season this time of year is especially difficult for some people. I feel like I practiced the IB learner trait of caring because I feel very compassionate for the families in this difficult situation. I am glad I could do something to hopefully brighten up people days in possible their last days. I hope I did impact someone positively.
Monday, October 31, 2016
Second October Post 2016
This past Saturday October 29, 2016, I volunteered for 3 hours at the Halloween on Lake Townsend Regatta. I helped set up the shelter where the participants eat breakfast and then after the regatta come back to eat dinner and have an auction where the money supports breast cancer. I got to learn a lot about boats because the lady in charge gave us a little tour and description of the boats people would be racing. There was one sailboat that was a mixture of a kayak, paddle boat, and sailboat. It was so cool and the man that was sailing it told us about all the special features it had. I did not get to stay for the races but I wish I did because I have never seen a regatta in person. Instead I hung up posters and set up the items for the auction. I got to talk to some of the participants and found out they come from different sailing clubs around NC. I had no idea there was such a large community for sailing in greensboro. A few summers ago I took a beginners sailing class at Lake Townsend and learned to sail a basic sunfish sailboat. It was a lot of fun. I am glad I had the opportunity to participate in this event because I want to join this sailboating community now.
Coincidentally, I met a girl that goes to Brooks Global and happens to be in the same class as my Brooks Buddy. I thought that was cool because when I go to visit my buddy I am bound to see her too. All in all, I feel like I practiced my IB character trait of an inquirer because I ask people a lot of questions about sailboats and I learned a lot. I hope I get the opportunity to participate in a regatta, if I do I definitely will.
This past Saturday October 29, 2016, I volunteered for 3 hours at the Halloween on Lake Townsend Regatta. I helped set up the shelter where the participants eat breakfast and then after the regatta come back to eat dinner and have an auction where the money supports breast cancer. I got to learn a lot about boats because the lady in charge gave us a little tour and description of the boats people would be racing. There was one sailboat that was a mixture of a kayak, paddle boat, and sailboat. It was so cool and the man that was sailing it told us about all the special features it had. I did not get to stay for the races but I wish I did because I have never seen a regatta in person. Instead I hung up posters and set up the items for the auction. I got to talk to some of the participants and found out they come from different sailing clubs around NC. I had no idea there was such a large community for sailing in greensboro. A few summers ago I took a beginners sailing class at Lake Townsend and learned to sail a basic sunfish sailboat. It was a lot of fun. I am glad I had the opportunity to participate in this event because I want to join this sailboating community now.
Coincidentally, I met a girl that goes to Brooks Global and happens to be in the same class as my Brooks Buddy. I thought that was cool because when I go to visit my buddy I am bound to see her too. All in all, I feel like I practiced my IB character trait of an inquirer because I ask people a lot of questions about sailboats and I learned a lot. I hope I get the opportunity to participate in a regatta, if I do I definitely will.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
1st October Post 2016
Yesterday, October 8th, Greensboro had the JDRF walk fundraiser for a cure for type 1 diabetes. With Grimsley's Key Club, I volunteered for the walk that lasted 3 hours from the time I got there to the time I left. It was much shorter than normal because it was raining the whole entire time so they shortened the length of the walk to just 2 miles instead of having the optional 3.8 mile walk too. As a volunteer I was assigned to be a person that helped guide people in the right direction and give encouragement. I had a lot of fun giving encouragement to all the people that walked by and many people were thankful for my encouragement as they walked in the cold rain. Others were focused on finishing I think and ignored me. Either way I enjoyed the experience and feel like I practiced the IB learner profile characteristic of caring. I felt like I showed empathy for the people walking in the rain respect to all those that were walking even if they ignored my encouragement. I sad to say this will probably be my last JDRF walk I will participate in Greensboro for a while because I plan on being away at college for the next few years. It is a bit sad for me to think about that because I grew up as a walker in the JDRF walk because I have 2 good friends with type 1 diabetes. 3 people in my elementary school, including one of my friends, had diabetes so it was a school event to an extent to walk in the JDRF walk.
Yesterday, October 8th, Greensboro had the JDRF walk fundraiser for a cure for type 1 diabetes. With Grimsley's Key Club, I volunteered for the walk that lasted 3 hours from the time I got there to the time I left. It was much shorter than normal because it was raining the whole entire time so they shortened the length of the walk to just 2 miles instead of having the optional 3.8 mile walk too. As a volunteer I was assigned to be a person that helped guide people in the right direction and give encouragement. I had a lot of fun giving encouragement to all the people that walked by and many people were thankful for my encouragement as they walked in the cold rain. Others were focused on finishing I think and ignored me. Either way I enjoyed the experience and feel like I practiced the IB learner profile characteristic of caring. I felt like I showed empathy for the people walking in the rain respect to all those that were walking even if they ignored my encouragement. I sad to say this will probably be my last JDRF walk I will participate in Greensboro for a while because I plan on being away at college for the next few years. It is a bit sad for me to think about that because I grew up as a walker in the JDRF walk because I have 2 good friends with type 1 diabetes. 3 people in my elementary school, including one of my friends, had diabetes so it was a school event to an extent to walk in the JDRF walk.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Second September Post
Well I take the SAT for the last time on Saturday October 1st. I really want to get a good score to be eligible for some scholarships. Also, I learned I got into Auburn University the other day. I am very excited because Auburn has a great Industrial Design program making it one of my top two choices. My other choice would be the University of Cincinnati, but I don't hear back until February and the early application isn't due until December.
Anyways, this month I have continued to work on my CAS project of my jaw surgery blog that will be shared with the community. I am adding pictures and editing what I wrote back in June to make it a little clearer and detailed. Hopefully, I will be finished with it soon so I can share it. Reflecting on the process of blogging though, somedays it was a lot easier to write than others. Somedays I felt lazy and didn't have much to say but others I couldn't stop typing. Especially the night before my surgery. I was very anxious and when I am nervous I can get talkative and start talking about everything to keep my mind off what I am nervous about. You will see soon in the blog. :)
Well I take the SAT for the last time on Saturday October 1st. I really want to get a good score to be eligible for some scholarships. Also, I learned I got into Auburn University the other day. I am very excited because Auburn has a great Industrial Design program making it one of my top two choices. My other choice would be the University of Cincinnati, but I don't hear back until February and the early application isn't due until December.
Anyways, this month I have continued to work on my CAS project of my jaw surgery blog that will be shared with the community. I am adding pictures and editing what I wrote back in June to make it a little clearer and detailed. Hopefully, I will be finished with it soon so I can share it. Reflecting on the process of blogging though, somedays it was a lot easier to write than others. Somedays I felt lazy and didn't have much to say but others I couldn't stop typing. Especially the night before my surgery. I was very anxious and when I am nervous I can get talkative and start talking about everything to keep my mind off what I am nervous about. You will see soon in the blog. :)
Monday, September 26, 2016
1st September Post
Wow! This month has been crazy looking back on everything I have accomplished so far it been a lot, but the largest thing was turning in my extended essay. I worked really hard on it and hopefully I get a good grade on it. If not, I certainly learned a lot about time-management and just breaking down something big into little tasks to make it so I felt like I could accomplish it. I feel like I have grown in the IB learner characteristic of being a learner. I have signed up for Brooks Buddies and Key Club again this year. I will be helping in the JDRF walk in October.
This month I have played a ton of soccer. I have had 2 games for the past 3 weeks. My team played the best teams in the league first so we had a long losing streak. But, this past weekend we won both our games! Especially on Sunday, we played a very good team and I could feel a changing point in our season. Everyone worked so hard and well together. Even if we weren't at our best everyone was trying hard so we managed to win 2-0. I am excited for the rest of the season because I feel like we are at our peak performance. Also, this year I am a senior leader on Grimsley's womens soccer team. I am so excited because I have been on the varsity team since freshman year and have been waiting for my year to be a leader. We had a senior meeting with the senior players that want to be leaders and the coach and have started planning what we want our season to look like. I am very excited and there will definitely be updates through out the year because it all fits under Action.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Summer Reflective Blog and C.A.S hour Chart
This summer I had upper jaw surgery. While I do not consider that to be"fun" it was definitely worth it. Not only do I have my C.A.S project from it, I can chew meat again, which was a problem I had prior to the surgery. When I was not recovering from surgery: I volunteered at Cone Elementary as a teachers assistant, volunteered at my church music camp for children, began my last club soccer season, practiced my drawing skills, and worked on my summer reading and extended essay assignments. Ultimately, I learned patience this summer. Not just from recovering from jaw surgery but with the children at the elementary school and at the music camp. All the children were in 2nd grade or younger, thus they always had an infinite amount of energy and definitely tested my patience. Ultimately, I feel like doing consistent C.A.S time this summer has added up quickly and was definitely a good use of my time where I had opportunities to practice I.B. Characteristics.
This summer I had upper jaw surgery. While I do not consider that to be"fun" it was definitely worth it. Not only do I have my C.A.S project from it, I can chew meat again, which was a problem I had prior to the surgery. When I was not recovering from surgery: I volunteered at Cone Elementary as a teachers assistant, volunteered at my church music camp for children, began my last club soccer season, practiced my drawing skills, and worked on my summer reading and extended essay assignments. Ultimately, I learned patience this summer. Not just from recovering from jaw surgery but with the children at the elementary school and at the music camp. All the children were in 2nd grade or younger, thus they always had an infinite amount of energy and definitely tested my patience. Ultimately, I feel like doing consistent C.A.S time this summer has added up quickly and was definitely a good use of my time where I had opportunities to practice I.B. Characteristics.
Experience
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Creativity (hours)
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Activity (hours)
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Service (hours)
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Total Hours Overall: 169.5 hours
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Total Creativity:15 hour
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Total Activity: 102 hours
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Total Service: 52.5 hours
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Sunday, August 21, 2016
August 21, 2016
This past weekend my days have been filled with lots of activity. My team played in the PTFC Furniture City Classic Tournament. It was so hot in the afternoon games, but with team work we learned that if we pass the ball more we do not have to run as much. We played four games before we claimed our victory. Winning this tournament has been my teams goal for many years and we finally accomplished it on our last try. I learned to never give up because you never know what will happen each time you try. While this is cliche, it is so true.
This past weekend my days have been filled with lots of activity. My team played in the PTFC Furniture City Classic Tournament. It was so hot in the afternoon games, but with team work we learned that if we pass the ball more we do not have to run as much. We played four games before we claimed our victory. Winning this tournament has been my teams goal for many years and we finally accomplished it on our last try. I learned to never give up because you never know what will happen each time you try. While this is cliche, it is so true.
Friday, August 5, 2016
August 5, 2016
This week I have been volunteering at my church's music camp. I did it last year and had a blast. I am an assistant leader for the rising 1st and 2nd graders. They are so adorable, but very crazy. This week my patience has been tested to its limits. We have recorder class and chimes class where the children do not understand what it means to listen to the teacher and not constantly play the instruments. Ultimately, it was worth it because we had a final performance where the parents and office staff from the church came to watch. I could tell everyone in the audience loved the show.
Also, I have been cleared to eat anything and do any activities by my doctor. I feel great and am excited about my last club soccer season. I can feel all my face and feel comfortable chewing food. My smile is still different than before which I will have to get used to. I am so glad this experience has included minimal pain. I will return with updates on how my blog is going.
This week I have been volunteering at my church's music camp. I did it last year and had a blast. I am an assistant leader for the rising 1st and 2nd graders. They are so adorable, but very crazy. This week my patience has been tested to its limits. We have recorder class and chimes class where the children do not understand what it means to listen to the teacher and not constantly play the instruments. Ultimately, it was worth it because we had a final performance where the parents and office staff from the church came to watch. I could tell everyone in the audience loved the show.
Also, I have been cleared to eat anything and do any activities by my doctor. I feel great and am excited about my last club soccer season. I can feel all my face and feel comfortable chewing food. My smile is still different than before which I will have to get used to. I am so glad this experience has included minimal pain. I will return with updates on how my blog is going.
Friday, July 29, 2016
July 29, 2016
I am at the beach right now. Because I had jaw surgery I can not get into the water until I am cleared. This is because if water gets up my nose it will spread throughout my face causing me lots of pain. So, instead of swimming, I have started running every morning here. My doctor says it is okay as long as I do not fall on my face. Fortunately, it is very flat here, thus easy to run safely. Additionally, I can feel my face much more! Only the upper lip area is still a little numb, but my cheeks are back. I am eating soft foods but more solid-like soft foods like dumplings. Unfortunately, I still have to wait to eat sushi because my mom is concerned about its rawness. Still I am much happier than before because I am at least eating decently now. I am not forced to eat jello, yogurt, and applesauce anymore. I go to the doctor soon and hopefully I will be cleared. I feel great and am ready to be cleared to eat and do anything.
I am at the beach right now. Because I had jaw surgery I can not get into the water until I am cleared. This is because if water gets up my nose it will spread throughout my face causing me lots of pain. So, instead of swimming, I have started running every morning here. My doctor says it is okay as long as I do not fall on my face. Fortunately, it is very flat here, thus easy to run safely. Additionally, I can feel my face much more! Only the upper lip area is still a little numb, but my cheeks are back. I am eating soft foods but more solid-like soft foods like dumplings. Unfortunately, I still have to wait to eat sushi because my mom is concerned about its rawness. Still I am much happier than before because I am at least eating decently now. I am not forced to eat jello, yogurt, and applesauce anymore. I go to the doctor soon and hopefully I will be cleared. I feel great and am ready to be cleared to eat and do anything.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
July 6, 2016
Today was my mother's birthday. It is a special day because she turned 50! We went painting at the mad platter to celebrate. They had stencils we could use to create beautiful paintings. It took a really long time, but was definitely worth it. Additionally, I am continuing working on my Jaw Surgery blog. At this point I feel much better than I did two weeks ago, but my whole face is still numb and swollen, but I can definitely tell it is improving. When I am in the shower and the water is on my face it feels so weird because I know the water is hitting gym face but I can barely feel it. Also, I can still only eat really soft foods like soup, jello, yogurt. I am craving crunchy chips, but I know I have to be patient. I have some pictures of the way I looked today, my smile is still really stiff and a little embarrassing.
Today was my mother's birthday. It is a special day because she turned 50! We went painting at the mad platter to celebrate. They had stencils we could use to create beautiful paintings. It took a really long time, but was definitely worth it. Additionally, I am continuing working on my Jaw Surgery blog. At this point I feel much better than I did two weeks ago, but my whole face is still numb and swollen, but I can definitely tell it is improving. When I am in the shower and the water is on my face it feels so weird because I know the water is hitting gym face but I can barely feel it. Also, I can still only eat really soft foods like soup, jello, yogurt. I am craving crunchy chips, but I know I have to be patient. I have some pictures of the way I looked today, my smile is still really stiff and a little embarrassing.
Monday, June 20, 2016
June 20, 2016
This is the first post about my CAS Project. I will be writing a "blog" about some Jaw Surgery I am having tomorrow (June 21). My doctor has agreed to share it on his website. I want to do this so that anyone else that has to get Jaw Surgery similar to mine will be able to feel more comfortable and prepared for it. Most importantly, I want them to know they are not alone. At this point I am very anxious and have been drinking a lot of water because I can't drink any water after 12:00 a.m. The most important part of this surgery to me is that I am asleep. I know I will be but I fear I will wake up in the middle of it and feel lots of pain. I have started my blog and it is written in a very "chatty" form because I get chatty when I am anxious. I really hope this "blog" I am making will be of great service to others going through the same situation.
This is the first post about my CAS Project. I will be writing a "blog" about some Jaw Surgery I am having tomorrow (June 21). My doctor has agreed to share it on his website. I want to do this so that anyone else that has to get Jaw Surgery similar to mine will be able to feel more comfortable and prepared for it. Most importantly, I want them to know they are not alone. At this point I am very anxious and have been drinking a lot of water because I can't drink any water after 12:00 a.m. The most important part of this surgery to me is that I am asleep. I know I will be but I fear I will wake up in the middle of it and feel lots of pain. I have started my blog and it is written in a very "chatty" form because I get chatty when I am anxious. I really hope this "blog" I am making will be of great service to others going through the same situation.
Monday, June 13, 2016
June 13, 2016
Today I volunteered as a teaching assistant to my friends mother who teaches at Cone elementary. It was an experience I will always remember. My friends mother teaches first graders. Many of the students had ADD which makes if difficult for them to stay focused. I was amazed at how easily children get distracted. Additionally, I saw a full on fight between two 6 year old boys and it broke my heart. They were kicking each other and had to be pulled apart. It was awards day too. Of course every child got an award, but not every child's parents showed up. I sat next to a girl who was bawling because her parents were not coming. I felt bad for her, but there was nothing I could do. It made me thankful for the support I have from my parents in everything I do. During the "stations" time I helped children learn how to tell time. Some children really understood it and others were very confused. I remember learning how to tell time and how frustrated I got, so I was able to be very patient with the children who did not understand. I think I used the IB learner trait of being a leader. The children really looked up to me and I tried to be a good influence on them.
Today I volunteered as a teaching assistant to my friends mother who teaches at Cone elementary. It was an experience I will always remember. My friends mother teaches first graders. Many of the students had ADD which makes if difficult for them to stay focused. I was amazed at how easily children get distracted. Additionally, I saw a full on fight between two 6 year old boys and it broke my heart. They were kicking each other and had to be pulled apart. It was awards day too. Of course every child got an award, but not every child's parents showed up. I sat next to a girl who was bawling because her parents were not coming. I felt bad for her, but there was nothing I could do. It made me thankful for the support I have from my parents in everything I do. During the "stations" time I helped children learn how to tell time. Some children really understood it and others were very confused. I remember learning how to tell time and how frustrated I got, so I was able to be very patient with the children who did not understand. I think I used the IB learner trait of being a leader. The children really looked up to me and I tried to be a good influence on them.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
June 1, 2016
Reflection
This school year has gone by so fast it is crazy to think it has come to an end. I am slightly surprised but impressed that I have survived. CAS has been a great addition to my school year because it has allowed me to share and gain IB learner characteristics outside of school. My favorite CAS activity I did was Brooks Buddies. I enjoyed it the most because it was an activity I could continuously look forward to doing every week. I felt like I was a risk-taker this year by trying lots of new clubs. I found I did not like Ashton woods as much as Brooks Buddies because it was not in a controlled setting. The children were more wild and overwhelmed me. I learned from CAS that we have successes in life like doing well academically for me and downfalls were we don't meet our goals like in school soccer this year. I learned that whether successful or not life goes on and you just have to keep trying and doing your best. Also, while I am reflecting on this year I am looking forward to the future. This summer I want to volunteer in the food warehouse again and I want to help with the music camp of volunteered at last year. I am going to be working on making an art portfolio to put in college applications too. Next year I will be very busy, especially in the fall. I will have my club soccer, CAS activities, college applications, I will be putting the final touches on my extended essay, and I will hopefully be doing my best in all the classes I am taking. Next year I want to continue being in food pantry club, key club, and Brooks Buddies. I plan to play school soccer in the spring too which will put a cap on my soccer career of 14 years because I will probably not play in college. Ultimately, CAS has benefitted me by making me have a balanced life styles of creativity, being active, and serving.
Reflection
This school year has gone by so fast it is crazy to think it has come to an end. I am slightly surprised but impressed that I have survived. CAS has been a great addition to my school year because it has allowed me to share and gain IB learner characteristics outside of school. My favorite CAS activity I did was Brooks Buddies. I enjoyed it the most because it was an activity I could continuously look forward to doing every week. I felt like I was a risk-taker this year by trying lots of new clubs. I found I did not like Ashton woods as much as Brooks Buddies because it was not in a controlled setting. The children were more wild and overwhelmed me. I learned from CAS that we have successes in life like doing well academically for me and downfalls were we don't meet our goals like in school soccer this year. I learned that whether successful or not life goes on and you just have to keep trying and doing your best. Also, while I am reflecting on this year I am looking forward to the future. This summer I want to volunteer in the food warehouse again and I want to help with the music camp of volunteered at last year. I am going to be working on making an art portfolio to put in college applications too. Next year I will be very busy, especially in the fall. I will have my club soccer, CAS activities, college applications, I will be putting the final touches on my extended essay, and I will hopefully be doing my best in all the classes I am taking. Next year I want to continue being in food pantry club, key club, and Brooks Buddies. I plan to play school soccer in the spring too which will put a cap on my soccer career of 14 years because I will probably not play in college. Ultimately, CAS has benefitted me by making me have a balanced life styles of creativity, being active, and serving.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
May 24, 2016
Today I had the National Honors Society induction ceremony. It was very nice. The senior members of the National Honors Society did some traditional ceremony things like lighting candles and saying what it means to be a member of the Society. Then, each of us, the juniors, were called one by one to walk across the stage and sign the National Honors Society book. We got a certificate and a little card that had the National Honors Society pledge on it. After all 94 students went through the procedure, we said the pledge together as a group. While I have not done any service yet, I have set myself up to be able to do service next year. Also, I achieved by goal of getting into he society. I am very happy and proud.
Also, I got an award for Academic Excellence with Highest Distinction. I am so happy that I got this award because I achieved my goal of having academic excellence. Also, I got an award for being a scholarly athlete. I feel like the scholarly athlete award would make me have the balanced IB learner trait. Ultimately, I achieved my goal of getting better grades than I did last year. At this point I will set the same goal for my senior year. I want to have the best grades I have ever had next year. It will be difficult but if I apply myself I think I can do it.
Today I had the National Honors Society induction ceremony. It was very nice. The senior members of the National Honors Society did some traditional ceremony things like lighting candles and saying what it means to be a member of the Society. Then, each of us, the juniors, were called one by one to walk across the stage and sign the National Honors Society book. We got a certificate and a little card that had the National Honors Society pledge on it. After all 94 students went through the procedure, we said the pledge together as a group. While I have not done any service yet, I have set myself up to be able to do service next year. Also, I achieved by goal of getting into he society. I am very happy and proud.
Also, I got an award for Academic Excellence with Highest Distinction. I am so happy that I got this award because I achieved my goal of having academic excellence. Also, I got an award for being a scholarly athlete. I feel like the scholarly athlete award would make me have the balanced IB learner trait. Ultimately, I achieved my goal of getting better grades than I did last year. At this point I will set the same goal for my senior year. I want to have the best grades I have ever had next year. It will be difficult but if I apply myself I think I can do it.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
May 21, 2016
Today my school soccer team had our second round playoff game at Lake Norman. We lost. This means that we did not achieve our goal of being state champions. I have learned from not achieving our goal that it feels really bad, but I know that next year we will just have to work harder. The good part about not achieving goals is it should inspire you and make you work harder to achieve your goal the next time. Also, I do not think are soccer team has to be too hard on ourselves because Lake Norman is a very good team. While we are good I could tell that Lake Norman was more fit than our team which I think made the difference in the game. So, we now know that we need to work on our fitness next year. Hopefully we will maker it farther in the playoffs next year. Also, I would like to set the goal of beating our rival team next year. A good think about he season being over is it gives us more time to study and do homework because we won't have to spend 2 1/2 hours everyday going to practice, practicing, then coming back from practice. I definitely have the reflective IB personality trait at this point.
Today my school soccer team had our second round playoff game at Lake Norman. We lost. This means that we did not achieve our goal of being state champions. I have learned from not achieving our goal that it feels really bad, but I know that next year we will just have to work harder. The good part about not achieving goals is it should inspire you and make you work harder to achieve your goal the next time. Also, I do not think are soccer team has to be too hard on ourselves because Lake Norman is a very good team. While we are good I could tell that Lake Norman was more fit than our team which I think made the difference in the game. So, we now know that we need to work on our fitness next year. Hopefully we will maker it farther in the playoffs next year. Also, I would like to set the goal of beating our rival team next year. A good think about he season being over is it gives us more time to study and do homework because we won't have to spend 2 1/2 hours everyday going to practice, practicing, then coming back from practice. I definitely have the reflective IB personality trait at this point.
Friday, April 29, 2016
April 29, 2016
So I have been visiting my Brooks Buddy Bailey once a week for the last few months. When I go over to Brooks during lunch it is their lunch time too. Every time I walk into the cafeteria I look around for my buddy and when she sees me her face lights up and she waves her hand high in the air. It is so cute. I get to talk to her and read with her sometimes. Usually when we have a conversation it is about this new dog she got. She was very excited and she said her brother just brought it home one day without her mom knowing. She told me that they lost the dog but she found it under a bed. If we are not talking about her dog or an event going not that day we talk about the book she is reading. I always ask her to summarize it for me. She only reads book from this one series called the Dork Diaries. She loves them and she told me she has every book in the series. everyone in her grade reads them too, even the boys which I think is funny because, I am not trying to stereotype the books, they are very girly. She likes it a lot when I read to her, but sometimes I make her read aloud to me. She has improved in reading so much since I first met her a few months ago I am very proud of her.
So I have been visiting my Brooks Buddy Bailey once a week for the last few months. When I go over to Brooks during lunch it is their lunch time too. Every time I walk into the cafeteria I look around for my buddy and when she sees me her face lights up and she waves her hand high in the air. It is so cute. I get to talk to her and read with her sometimes. Usually when we have a conversation it is about this new dog she got. She was very excited and she said her brother just brought it home one day without her mom knowing. She told me that they lost the dog but she found it under a bed. If we are not talking about her dog or an event going not that day we talk about the book she is reading. I always ask her to summarize it for me. She only reads book from this one series called the Dork Diaries. She loves them and she told me she has every book in the series. everyone in her grade reads them too, even the boys which I think is funny because, I am not trying to stereotype the books, they are very girly. She likes it a lot when I read to her, but sometimes I make her read aloud to me. She has improved in reading so much since I first met her a few months ago I am very proud of her.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
April 10, 2016
This month I did some service by going to a giant warehouse that collects and stores canned food to give out for free to those that cannot afford food. I sorted food for 5 hours! It was actually a lot of fun for me. They had labeled boxes to sort the food. Some of the labels were: corn, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, fruit, tuna, meat sauce, etc. Note that some of the labels were specific. This is because they get so much of that one kind of food. Tuna is definitely a very popular donation and so is corn. I liked to sort the food as fast as I could, it kinda seemed like a game. I met a very young couple that was volunteering too. They seemed to have just gotten out of college. The guy only had one arm, so I was very impressed by how he was able to sort food so well. Also, his girlfriend was an English major. We had a great conversation about books I have been reading in my English class. Also, she did the IB program in Florida, so we compared our experiences. Overall, it was a great time because I met knew people and got to help sort food that will go to a good cause. I definitely want to go back.
This month I did some service by going to a giant warehouse that collects and stores canned food to give out for free to those that cannot afford food. I sorted food for 5 hours! It was actually a lot of fun for me. They had labeled boxes to sort the food. Some of the labels were: corn, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, fruit, tuna, meat sauce, etc. Note that some of the labels were specific. This is because they get so much of that one kind of food. Tuna is definitely a very popular donation and so is corn. I liked to sort the food as fast as I could, it kinda seemed like a game. I met a very young couple that was volunteering too. They seemed to have just gotten out of college. The guy only had one arm, so I was very impressed by how he was able to sort food so well. Also, his girlfriend was an English major. We had a great conversation about books I have been reading in my English class. Also, she did the IB program in Florida, so we compared our experiences. Overall, it was a great time because I met knew people and got to help sort food that will go to a good cause. I definitely want to go back.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
March 30, 2016
During Spring Break I got to go do a photoshoot with my friends at Lake Brandt. I would say I was practicing the IB learner trait of an inquirer. I really am interested in learning all the different kinds of visual arts. I learned that pictures are cooler when they are not posed and you get the person in action. Also, I learned about taking pictures from different angles to get different points of view. So here are some of my pictures I took of my friends as I learned how the camera works and how editing can make a difference.
During Spring Break I got to go do a photoshoot with my friends at Lake Brandt. I would say I was practicing the IB learner trait of an inquirer. I really am interested in learning all the different kinds of visual arts. I learned that pictures are cooler when they are not posed and you get the person in action. Also, I learned about taking pictures from different angles to get different points of view. So here are some of my pictures I took of my friends as I learned how the camera works and how editing can make a difference.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
March 23, 2016
During march I have officially started school soccer. It takes up a lot of time and has made doing homework more challenging because by the time I get home from soccer I am so tired I just want to go to sleep. This has brought a lot of effort out of me to get all my work done in time. So far I have succeeded. My team has set a realistic goal to win the state playoffs. We call it ring-chasing. We have only lost one game so far in overtime. After losing that one game we realized that there is more to soccer than just skill and speed. It calls for desire and pure passion. After losing my team has given the seniors the opportunity to really step up and lead us out of the downfall we were in. I have been watching them closely and have already been planning for next year on how I can be the best senior leader. As a junior that has been on the team for 3 years, I have gained some respect and I have tried to be a good role-model to the many younger players by staying positive and reminding them that it is just a game. I think my team has showed a lot of character and I think we will come out of this one loss with many more wins.
During march I have officially started school soccer. It takes up a lot of time and has made doing homework more challenging because by the time I get home from soccer I am so tired I just want to go to sleep. This has brought a lot of effort out of me to get all my work done in time. So far I have succeeded. My team has set a realistic goal to win the state playoffs. We call it ring-chasing. We have only lost one game so far in overtime. After losing that one game we realized that there is more to soccer than just skill and speed. It calls for desire and pure passion. After losing my team has given the seniors the opportunity to really step up and lead us out of the downfall we were in. I have been watching them closely and have already been planning for next year on how I can be the best senior leader. As a junior that has been on the team for 3 years, I have gained some respect and I have tried to be a good role-model to the many younger players by staying positive and reminding them that it is just a game. I think my team has showed a lot of character and I think we will come out of this one loss with many more wins.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
February 21, 2016
Every Sunday this month I have volunteered for an organization called TopSoccer. It is an organization where teenagers help young kids with disabilities play soccer. The disabilities range from ADHD to Autism to everything else. Every teenager volunteer is paired with a child and they become "buddies". I had a 7th grade girl help me and we had an adorable 4 year old boy. He had trouble speaking and his mother told us he was not able to run when he was younger, but he can now. He had braces on both of his ankles, but he could sure run fast and for a long time. He was not very interested in the activities or soccer. He just liked to run back and forth on the turf field we played on. After his mom told us he was not able to run at one point in his life it made me realize how much I take for granted the little things in life, like walking/running. Although running is tiring and I complain about it a lot, I am very grateful for my healthy legs.
Every Sunday this month I have volunteered for an organization called TopSoccer. It is an organization where teenagers help young kids with disabilities play soccer. The disabilities range from ADHD to Autism to everything else. Every teenager volunteer is paired with a child and they become "buddies". I had a 7th grade girl help me and we had an adorable 4 year old boy. He had trouble speaking and his mother told us he was not able to run when he was younger, but he can now. He had braces on both of his ankles, but he could sure run fast and for a long time. He was not very interested in the activities or soccer. He just liked to run back and forth on the turf field we played on. After his mom told us he was not able to run at one point in his life it made me realize how much I take for granted the little things in life, like walking/running. Although running is tiring and I complain about it a lot, I am very grateful for my healthy legs.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
I am super excited because I have finished the first "real" assignment I have had for art. I have been collaborating with Mr.Bunch who has been teaching me and assigning me art projects. This piece has taken a long time (almost 3 months), but I have thoroughly enjoyed the process. I cannot wait for my next assignment. I have noticed that when you enjoy doing something time goes by super fast and it does not seem like work. I am working on making an art portfolio for college applications. I want to study design and work in a studio. I am one tiny step closer now! Working on art definitely increases my creativity. It challenges me to think differently, use my imagination, and persevere when I make a mistake. I have discovered that when working on a serious art piece it is a very methodical procedure. While I work, I have lots of time to reflect not only on my art, but I think about the day and the good and bad thats happen in my life. I am super excited to continue expanding my mind by making art.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
January 28, 2016
All during the fall, I played club soccer. I practiced 3 times a week for a little more than 3 months and played games on most weekends. This is a very time consuming sport, but it definitely makes me happy and helps me clear my head from the stress of school. It has taught me how important time management is. Also, being on a team sport really helps me be a better person because I learn that it is okay to let other people help you. I will have tryouts for my school team in a few weeks. I have been and will continue to work to be prepared to do my best at tryouts. I have been playing indoor soccer this winter. If I make the team I will have to work really hard at time management. If I make the team I will have practice or games every day of the week. It is a lot of time, but it is worth it because it is my main/basically only, source of exercise other than running. I mostly run so I can play soccer. From soccer I have gained and am gaining many of the IB learner profiles including: inquirer, communicator, well balanced, reflective and thinker. I learned to become and inquirer by wanting to know how to improve at soccer. I have become a communicator because it is a necessity for success on the field. Also, well balanced because I am playing soccer, going to school, working on an art portfolio and doing service learning. I have become a thinker and reflective from soccer because with soccer the mental game is just as important as the physical part. Ultimately, much of my time has been spent playing soccer and thats okay with me because it does make me truly happy. It is a great Action to participate in because I learn and grow from it all the time.
All during the fall, I played club soccer. I practiced 3 times a week for a little more than 3 months and played games on most weekends. This is a very time consuming sport, but it definitely makes me happy and helps me clear my head from the stress of school. It has taught me how important time management is. Also, being on a team sport really helps me be a better person because I learn that it is okay to let other people help you. I will have tryouts for my school team in a few weeks. I have been and will continue to work to be prepared to do my best at tryouts. I have been playing indoor soccer this winter. If I make the team I will have to work really hard at time management. If I make the team I will have practice or games every day of the week. It is a lot of time, but it is worth it because it is my main/basically only, source of exercise other than running. I mostly run so I can play soccer. From soccer I have gained and am gaining many of the IB learner profiles including: inquirer, communicator, well balanced, reflective and thinker. I learned to become and inquirer by wanting to know how to improve at soccer. I have become a communicator because it is a necessity for success on the field. Also, well balanced because I am playing soccer, going to school, working on an art portfolio and doing service learning. I have become a thinker and reflective from soccer because with soccer the mental game is just as important as the physical part. Ultimately, much of my time has been spent playing soccer and thats okay with me because it does make me truly happy. It is a great Action to participate in because I learn and grow from it all the time.
Monday, January 25, 2016
January 25, 2016
This past week I worked with the Grimsley Key Club to prepare advertisement and boxes for a Book Drive at Grimsley. The book drive will go through February and all the books collected will go to Wiley Elementary. This was a very hands on activity and I enjoyed making posters and boxes. During this time we got to distribute the boxes and posters throughout Grimsley. This activity showed me that the more people work together the faster activities can get done.
This past week I worked with the Grimsley Key Club to prepare advertisement and boxes for a Book Drive at Grimsley. The book drive will go through February and all the books collected will go to Wiley Elementary. This was a very hands on activity and I enjoyed making posters and boxes. During this time we got to distribute the boxes and posters throughout Grimsley. This activity showed me that the more people work together the faster activities can get done.
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