Initial CAS Goals

Creativity:
Last year for my Personal Project I published a book of poems. I have been writing poetry most of my life and really enjoy it and before last year I'd never shared my poetry with people other than my family and close friends so I underwent a large risk in publishing that book. I'd like to work on my poetry as an aspect of creativity in my last two years of high school. In the end of 10th grade I was debating publishing another book including poetry that were directly linked to my own life as the ones in the other book were based on the theme of poverty. However, this year I'm of a different opinion. To publish my book in 10th grade I had to pay a sum of money but in the next two years I want to publish at least one poem without paying money but by entering a competition or some other method. This would allow me to undertake a new challenge, as I've never published a poem on my own before.
I'm playing the role of Golde in the Secondary Production of Fiddler on the Roof. This production is required for HL Drama students and although it does not truly constitute as CAS I will be putting in much effort not expected by Drama class. The production is a musical and in this fact alone it allows me to undertake a completely new challenge because I’ve never been in a musical as well as increase my awareness of my own strengths. I realize that a large part of the reason as to why I got this part is the fact that I am in HL Drama and she must give priority to us. I feel like by being given the opportunity to play Golde I’m able to see how I approach a singing role even though I’ve never been considered a particularly strong singer. I had rehearsal on Monday where Giorgio and I practiced the song, ‘Do You Love Me’. He is my husband and throughout our marriage we’ve never truly said ‘I love you’ and in this song we finally establish a sort of love for one another. I think this song is adorable; you gain an insight to not only this couple’s marriage but to a whole other culture overall. You see a sort of tentative love and affection shared between those in an arranged marriage. I’ve seen this in my grandparents’ relationship. Their marriage was arranged and although they don’t openly display their love you can tell they’ve grown to love one another.

Action:

Volleyball and Basketball--
I want to fit in as many SAISAs as possible before I move from Sri Lanka so I'm going to do both these seasons. I did the Volleyball last year when it was still in its trial phase because I simply wanted to have something to do. I decided to do it this year because it's another way to stay fit and I relatively enjoy it. I've found that although I've played sports all my life I hate competition, it takes the fun out for me and adds stress to a once fun game. However overall I believe that being on a team is important for me. I like the bonding that takes place between teammates produced by collaborative work and am able to learn a lot about the sport I compete in, developing new skills. Last year I participated in Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball and Badminton. As mentioned Volleyball was not an actual SAISA and neither was Badminton however we played games against the local schools for Badminton. I don't know yet if I've made the Volleyball team but I've been to enough practices to know what I need to work on. I want to 'perfect' my spike and work on my blocking. We had a game last Saturday and I was assigned the position of liberro. Essentially I substituted in for certain people, only remaining in the back row, and doing everything I could to try not to let the ball hit the ground. In Basketball I hope to make the team as I did last year and be able to travel one last time before I move. I wanted to do Basketball this year especially since I did it last year and I want to persevere in this sport.

Service:
I’m currently involved in a project called Bethlehem Creche, which I initiated last year as a result of my Personal Project. I have a series of goals I’d really like to accomplish before I move in December of this year. I’d like to purchase a DVD player for the Creche. To do this we need to do a fundraiser at the school. We could do a bake sale, sell drinks at a function or sell some sort of souvenir/trinket, as the Alzheimer group did last year. DVD players are not outrageously expensive and I really believe that through one or two fundraisers we’ll be able to buy one. Although a DVD player may seem trivial I think this purchase is important because it’ s a tool the Creche uses to entertain the children and they’ve been asking for one ever since the building was flooded last year. During the summer I remained involved with the Creche, inviting the children to come visit the American Center as I had an internship at the library there. They had a great time and had the opportunity to both experience a different environment as well as watch a movie, which they don’t get to do very often. If we were to buy them a DVD player they’d easily be able to enjoy this at the Creche rather than go through the formalities of visiting the American Center.
I also made a goal to paint the playground, tables and chairs there, a goal we’ve established within the service group. As I mentioned in another reflection we plan on visiting the Creche one Sunday to paint the murals and perhaps part of the playground. I really believe this will brighten the whole building and atmosphere there. Previously I thought we’d have to raise money for the paints however I found out that Ms. Shameela will provide us with paints using the C&S funds which will be very helpful.
I also want to begin reading to an orphanage near my house called the Fathima Welfare Center. While working for the US Embassy over the summer I visited the orphanage twice and was able to make an impression on the girls there. I really enjoyed the visits and genuinely want to return. I recently donated some items and was able to see some of the girls and they were very excited to see me. I promised I’d come back and by reading to them I’d be undertaking a new activity, as I’ve never really had so much attention focused upon me before. I believe my reading to the girls is will be a good thing to do because it is important to be able to connect with someone not within the community who is of the same age group and gender. It’s wonderful because they are able to relate to me in a way they cannot to the teachers and administrators there. I hope to get involved soon; I’ve gotten the number but have not yet called to see if I can begin reading as I’ve become so busy. My goal is to begin reading by October.