Knitting:)

My friend asked me to knit her a scarf since I told her I knit and I'm glad she did because now I've gotten back into it. I'm starting with this scarf that you can see in the photo to the left but I hope to knit some more things. I want to learn more stitches and designs too. I know knit and purl stitch and for this scarf I'm only using knit because purl stitch would not show up with the wool I'm using but I want to learn some new stitches to expand my knowledge. Also I've only made scarves and hats before and I've only made hats when my Grandma is here to help me. I want to be able to do this all on my own and learn how to make other things, like gloves and sweaters. In this way I shall develop new skills and undertake new challenges. 

JV Volleyball in ISK

We had our first match in Volleyball last week and we also voted for captains and I was voted co-captain along with Shivy. This was exciting because I'm able to take on a leadership position at ISK. Also I'm undertaking a new challenge because I've never been captain of any team before. It's a whole new experience being on the JV team because I'm one of the better players. I've always been on Varsity and one of the worse players, except for Soccer, in which I was on the starting line up. I think it'll be really interesting because I'll get a lot more playing time and I will have the opportunity to be a leader on the team, trying to motivate them when we're not doing so well as well as learning a lot more about the game.

Final Performance: You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown

Our final performance of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown was on last Saturday, March 31st. I think this was the most exciting production I've ever been in. While I've been doing Drama my whole life I think the Drama department is of a far higher standard than that in OSC and ACS. Because of this we were able to have more props, better costumes, lighting, stagehands, etc. I've never worked in such a large-scale production before, even The Fiddler on the Roof was smaller because our budget was not as large so we lacked the resources available here in Kenya. Since we had more resources here a lot more work went into this production. I found myself staying at school till 9 pm everyday for the last two weeks before opening night. I think this demonstrates my perseverance and commitment to theatre, as despite the long hours and stress, along with other schoolwork, I stayed committed and pulled off this performance. The photo above is from one of my solos titled Schroeder as I'm singing to Schroeder, imagining us getting married.
I don't sing often in front of crowds, my first time doing so was in The Fiddler on the Roof and I only had one duet and three solo lines. Here I had two solo songs, one duet and countless solo lines in other songs. This on its own was terrifying but to do it in a new school made it especially difficult but it allowed me to come out of my shell, develop new skills and undertake a new challenge. I have learned so much about singing in a musical and about theatre, as I've never worked with a directorial concept before. I think this is really important because it gives me more experience since I'm taking IB HL Theatre. I'm so glad I did this show because it really helped me to settle in here at ISK. A lot more people know me now and I really bonded with the people in the cast. Also this show helped me fulfill one of my New Year's Resolutions, which was to become actively involved in an extracurricular activity in Kenya. I'd say I was pretty actively involved as this production took up most of my time from January to March, a good three months.
I worked collaboratively with not only the cast but also with the stage crew, Ms. Hargreaves, Ms. Lillis and Mr. Liggon. I think this helped me increase my awareness about my strengths and areas of weakness, as I have a short temper and at times I let it get the best of me, particularly with the stage crew. I hope to improve this about myself in next year's production because I think it creates an awful dynamic backstage if the actors and stage crew don't get on. Additionally, in regards to weakness, I doubt I'll be doing another musical, because although this helped me build confidence I know my strong suit is acting. Many people complimented me on what a strong actor I was in this show and this increased my awareness about my strengths and to be honest, I really want to focus on acting. 

Operation Smile Concert

Yesterday night we had our first event for Operation Smile, a concert in which we collaborated with the Composers Club. It was an incredible concert, the Composers Club is filled with talented people and Operation Smile raised over 95000 shillings, enough for at least four surgeries. I baked cupcakes to sell during intermission for my contribution to this concert. I hope to contribute even more in our next event. Four people are going to benefit so greatly from planned and initiated activity and hopefully we, as a service, can organize more events like so in order to raise even more money, as we've already reached our previously established goal of raising money for solely one surgery. I'm happy to have begun engaging with issues of global importance once again, as its been too long since I've been involved in a service since I moved to Kenya. Now that I'm done with Charlie Brown I really hope to put in more effort in regards to service.

POETRY:)

I submitted three different poems to the Leonard L. Milberg '53 Secondary School Poetry Prize on March 30th. Two of them I wrote prior to hearing about this contest and the third, The Truth Behind the Curtains, I wrote specifically for this contest. I hope to gain some recognition for this contest, as it would be very beneficial for me to succeed so much in something I'm truly passionate about before I even graduate. I also submitted the first one, Protection, to ISK's Just Write competition. I didn't place in this competition but I hope I still have a chance in the Leonard L. Milberg '53 Secondary School Poetry Prize. The poem I submitted to the Young Writers competition, Fairytale, is being published in the book this May, which means I have already fulfilled one of my CAS goals from the beginning of this year: to publish a poem without paying for publication as I did in my Personal Project, when I self-published a book. To win this poetry prize, or place, would be an incredible opportunity, surpassing my dreams and expectations:)

Protection

Knights in shining armor

Fairytale bliss

He defends my honor

By twilight we kiss.

Cradling my hand

He holds it close to his heart

Promising me land

Time to never spend apart

Sitting on a shelf.

Beyond all but his grasp

No longer am I myself

Upon my soul is a clasp.

Castles, jewels, stability.

What I believed to be perfection

But I’ve lost the ability

To live in this protection.

Trapped within a bubble

A snow globe in his eyes

It is now filled with rubble

A prison in disguise.

He vowed to protect me

Keep me from harm’s way

Never did I see

Through freedom I would pay.

He made me a promise

Which he intends to keep.

My snow globe begins to fill

As I continue to weep.

The Truth Behind the Curtains

No more broken sighs

Rip tears from tired eyes.

Keep it all inside.

Stomach curls up tight.

Insides come out each night

Slowly losing sight.

Breathing to satisfy

Inherent will to survive.

When living is a lie.

Escape this world

Hatred has unfurled.

Just a girl.

Pound these fists.

Cut these wrists.

Reality twists.

Cannot be found

When there is no sound

Doomed to drown.

Thoughts keep spinning

In desire there is sinning.

Identity; it is thinning.

Caged in expectations.

Decimated nation.

Awaiting cremation.

Falling

Falling

Falling

She awakens.

Ghosts of the Past

Crumbling in the darkness

Lost with no way out

Voice, long departed

No longer able to shout.

Within this forsaken graveyard

She is left to wither

So who is there to turn to?

They are dead to her.

Crawling from their graves

They cry as they’re beaten back.

She doesn’t need their help.

So she continues the attack.

Despite their desperate claws

She wants to be alone

Immune to her surroundings.

She doesn’t have a home.

She weeps in silent tremors.

Masked by strength within illusions

She wants to be brave

But she’s lost in this delusion.

Vision, misconstrued

She craves this passing time

Hoping it will bring to light,

All she left behind.

Yet these corpses continue to haunt her

Daring to come close

They have more substance than

Her irretrievable ghosts.

Volleyball in ISK

So I tried out for the Volleyball team here in Kenya and I didn't make the Varsity but Ms. Heisler said I have potential so she allowed me to be on JV. Ms. Thompson is the JV coach and they said that I have a good serve and a lot of enthusiasm, I'm not afraid to dive for the ball. I'd already discovered that I'm not afraid to dive for the ball in Sri Lanka but I didn't realize I had a good serve. I recently started serving overhand, as Ms. Heisler requested that we do so and I found that I can actually serve overhand. Also when it is done correctly it is far more effective and controlled than an underhand serve. I'm having a little difficulty being on JV because I'm the only junior, which makes it uncomfortable for me. I'm a bit embarrassed that I did not make Varsity, however this is simply a new challenge that I need to overcome and I'm sure that I will be able to do so. Looking at it in a positive light, I'm the oldest so I have more experience than some of the other girls, which means I'll be able to get a lot of time on the court. Furthermore, I hope to develop new skills during my time on JV, hopefully I can improve my attack and block, as well as my knowledge of the positioning on court. Being on JV allows me to demonstrate perseverance and commitment for this sport, one that I only began this year and have thoroughly enjoyed. Despite being benched during SAISA and not making Varsity I'm determined to keep playing and perhaps even make ISSEA next year.