TEDxKidsBC

I currently am a committee member for TEDxKidsBC. This year we are hosting to specific TEDx events that are held in Vancouver. One event is going to be held on April 4th at the Telus World of Science called TEDxChange and another event, which is our main event, called TEDxKidsBC. Each event will host different speakers who have applied and have been selected based on the fact that they have something worth sharing to an audience. After the event is over, the speakers and attendees maintain connections with each other in order to encourage and spark more initiative as a community. Overall, this strong community to make change in the world got me attracted to being involved with this organization.

The learning outcomes I accomplished involve me planning and initiating activities, working collaboratively with others, shown perseverance and commitment in my activity and engaging with issues of global importance. I planned and initiated activities by participating in the planning process for the TEDxChange event, which includes the speaker selection, presentation slides for TED and the video implementation for the event. I also showed perseverance and commitment in my engagement with TEDxKidsBC because I attended almost every meeting that was scheduled on the calendar. I also engaged with issues of global importance because the event is about hosting speakers that are going to speak about change ranging locally to globally.

What I hoped to accomplish prior to engaging with TEDxKidsBC included my hope to meeting new people, be able to be involved in planning an event as well as gaining experience by working for a particular assigned duty. I achieved all the goals that I hoped to achieve by staying committed to the organization.

Some difficulties I had while I am at TEDxKidsBC was communication. Some of the team members including me had trouble communicating with one other which slowed down our progress. We overcame that obstacle by telling one another to check emails more often and communication among team members began to improve.

I interacted with others by speaking out in group discussions about the event. As well I had to go into different duty groups in order to receive powerpoint slides and information so that I am able to synchronize the slides in order to be successful at the day of the event.

What I learnt about myself with TEDxKidsBC is me, as a youth, can take action with motivation and inspiration. A great majority of the TEDx team consists of passionate youth who want to provide a platform where change can be initiated and that is where I was able to learn this about myself as one of them.

While at TEDxKidsBC so far, I have gained the skills of working independently on a task that contributes to the greater whole. I also gained the social skills to converse and collaborate with adults which was unusual for me because I usually work with people my age. I also gained inspiration in general for being a founder for a platform that encourages action and change to a young audience.

Others will benefit from what I do because I provided them a platform where inspiration is shared and it allows the attendees and speakers to have the space and environment to work together and initiate projects locally and globally.

I would never change what I would do in terms of being involved with TEDxKidsBC except for improving electronic communication amongst team members.

My social skills gained from TEDxKidsBC and my organization skills can be applied to other life situations especially when dealing with adults in the future. Organization is also a vital attribute to have especially in university.

Violin

Violin has been an ongoing part of my life since I was 6. Therefore, I have committed to the activity for over 10 years. Currently, I have just completed and passed my Grade 10 RCM violin exam. Now I am beginning my ARCT repertoire and plan to continue pursue it after I graduate.

The learning outcomes that I accomplished through this activity involves me increasing my awareness of my own strengths and areas for growth, undertaking new challenges, showing perseverance and commitment in their activities and developing new skills. I increased my awareness of my own strengths and areas of growth because I receive feedback from my violin teacher and listen to my own recordings. I am currently aware that my strengths are being able to be rhythmical and colourful in my music; however, my areas for growth involve my intonation. I undertook new challenges by attempting to play Mendelssohn's Concerto in E Minor, one of the hardest concertos ever composed. The concerto demands agile fingers as well as virtuosic technique in order to perform it well. I showed perseverance and commitment to my activity by continuing it for more than 10 years. I developed new skills by practicing at home and learning new pieces.

What I hoped to achieve before approaching the violin was to be able to have an instrument that I would be interested in as I grew older and it is apparent that I have achieved what I hoped for.

Some difficulties I had while playing violin was that fact that I almost had no time to practice when I started the IB Diploma Programme. I overcame this difficulty by participating in the Academy Symphony Orchestra in order to solidify my commitment to violin every week.

What I learned about myself when I play the violin is that I am able to be creative. I am able to extract the emotions out of a piece of music and interpret the feelings in my own way. This lets me be able to be original with the composed piece of music when I play it. I also learnt that I am able to commit to something because I enjoy doing it which taught me a lesson that will benefit me long-term.

The skills and abilities that I have gained from violin include my ability to be precise with my fingers. I am also ambidextrous because I developed skills on both the left and right hand. I also gained perfect pitch from engaging in violin for a long time as well as gained an appreciation for classical music as a genre. Playing the violin enabled me to have an appreciative attitude towards the geniuses who composed these phenomenal works.

I would not do anything differently in terms of playing the violin; however, I will definitely dedicate more time to play the instrument once I have more time after I complete the IB.

I am able to apply my skills from the violin to real life, for example: I am able to apply my dedication and commitment to violin and apply it to my academics and other activities. This natural dedicated attitude I gained from by playing violin enabled me to benefit in other activities.

Badminton

Badminton involves a lot of agility and reflex training when returning the bird. Every Wednesday and Friday I would go to the Arbutus Club to play recreational badminton. I usually play doubles because of the large amount of people. It is both exciting and an excellent way to exercise especially when you are limited by the academics that the Diploma Programme entails.
The learning outcomes that came out of this experience include my increased awareness of my own strengths and areas for growth, worked collaboratively with others, shown perseverance and commitment in my activities and developed new skills. I increased my awareness of my own strengths and areas for growth by being able to see my successes and mistakes when playing matches. After i see those point winning shots or mistakes, I am aware of what I am good at and what I still need to work on. For example, my drop shots are usually the kind of shots that I use to score points; however, my smashes tend to be easy to return because they are not hitting the bird fast enough. I also work collaboratively with others because of the nature of a doubles match in badminton where you work collaboratively with a partner. I also show perseverance and commitment in my activities because I attend badminton on a weekly basis and finally I develop new skills by being able to practice playing matches and create new game strategies.

What I hoped to accomplish prior to participating in badminton was to gain agility, speed and exercise. I am happy to say that my three aspects that I wanted to gain from this experience have been met.

There were no difficulties encountered with badminton other than minor injuries such as sprained ankles.

I interacted with others by playing games against or with them. Working collaboratively in a doubles match is important because there is always a person who would need to get the deep clear shots and another at the net to return the soft shots. There are numerous badminton formations that are required in order to cover the court effectively and therefore my team skills were enhanced from this experience.

What I learnt about myself is that I am able to be competitive in a positive environment where both sides benefit from going out and exercising. I also learned how to exemplify sportsmanship in this game which also carries through to how I deal with other situations outside badminton.

The skills I obtained from doing badminton include my drop shots being able to drop sharper and closer to the net, my smashes being more angular, my clears being more deep and my net shots sticking close to the net. As well I gained team skills which include my ability to anticipate where the bird will land and adjust our form based on that. As well as said previously, I developed an attitude of sportsmanship which fed to my humble and easygoing personality I possess today.

What I would do next time would apply to after I graduate. I would definitely play more badminton per week but since the IB makes a student extremely busy I wouldn't get as much free time to exercise.

I can apply my sportsmanship skills to other situations when interacting with people as well as playing other sports. As well, badminton has also enhanced my peripheral vision and reflexes which are helpful when trying to maintain my safety when driving for instance.

Karate

For over 8 years I have been practicing Karate. It involves a great amount of discipline as well as dedication to improving the basics and skills that comprise of the martial art. Recently, I have just received my black belt from last summer's karate exam and that shows my dedication in a sport that I enjoy doing. It involved hours of practice each week in order to memorize and perfect the katas that are going to be assessed in the exam. As well the form is extremely important in terms of where one's arms are positioned and how the legs form a stance. If the stance is not there, then the upper body is unable to generate any power in the punches and offensive attacks.

The learning outcomes that I have gained from this experience involved me increasing my awareness of my own strengths and areas for growth, undertaken new challenges, worked collaboratively with others, shown perseverance and commitment in my activity, considered ethical implications of my actions and developed new skills. When practicing Karate I am aware that I am strong in transitions and hip movement; however, my stances and form are areas for growth. I undertook a new challenge by participating in the Shito-Ryu Karate-do Kai International 2011 Championships where I was able to showcase my abilities and my handwork. Karate also requires me to apply your techniques to another person's attack; therefore, I not only work collaboratively with others but I also have to control the amount of power I apply to the person, showing my consideration of the ethical implications of my actions. Everytime I complete a kata there is always another one to learn which shows the development of my skills. Overall, practicing Karate for 8 years and receiving my black belt strongly shows my perseverance and commitment in my activity.

Before I practiced Karate I was a lazy child who did not enjoy any sports. My mother brought me to a karate class one day and it somehow made me like it. My goal when I was in Grade 4 was to work towards a black belt and I am happy to say that I have accomplished that after 8 years of solid effort.

The difficulties while practicing Karate was my frustration with my teacher's criticism. However, I realized that they were going to help shape me into a better karate practitioner and I took the advice. The advice helped prepare me for the black belt test.

I interacted with numerous people at the start of Karate. Within the dojo, we grew up together over the years and developed solid friendships. We had a common goal we were trying to accomplish; therefore, the support from peers inspired me to put more energy into practicing.

A thing that I learned from Karate was that no matter whether if you are quiet or introverted, anyone can practice it. It will help build your confidence and be more assure of yourself. It also brings you great discipline and exercise. 

The skills, attitudes and abilities that I developed from engaging in the activity would be that I got more flexible. As well, before I did Karate I was unable to do a push-up; however, I eventually got to do one once the teacher made us do push-ups every week while we warmed up. It also gave me a hard-working attitude which, I think, benefitted me academically.

I would not change my experience in terms of Karate, I put an extraordinary amount of effort into obtaining that black belt and I feel extremely proud to accomplish that.

Again, my hard-working attitude and discipline that comes form Karate, can be applied to my school work where I can diligently work in the Diploma Programme.

Shad Valley

Last summer I attended a summer enrichment program called Shad Valley. Shad Valley helps students around Canada explore the interesting areas of science as well as provide a university feel to the graduating students. Not only is it an academic experience; however, it is also a program where you can make everlasting friendships with the other Shads that attend your campus.

The learning outcomes that I achieved at Shad Valley include being aware of my strengths and areas for growth, undertaking new challenges, planning and initiating activities, working collaboratively with others, showing perseverance and commitment in my activities, engaging with issues of global importance, considering the ethical implications of my actions and developing new skills. I am aware of my strengths and weaknesses by being able to see the strength of my knowledge in science compared to business when Shad Valley embodies both disciplines in its program. I undertook new challenges, which include presenting myself in front of CEOs of companies. I planned and initiated activities for the other Shads by coming up with games and fun icebreakers. I worked collaboratively with other Shads on projects such as the Shad Cup and the Marketing Challenge. I showed perseverance and commitment by staying up until 6:00 am working on the Shad Cup Business Plan due the next morning. I engaged with issues of global importance by developing products that alleviate barriers associated with disabled Canadian children. I considered the ethical implications of my actions by acknowledging the fact that the product that will be designed for Shad Cup will help break down barriers that hold back disabled Canadian children. Finally, I developed new skills by being able to present myself in a business-like fashion.

What I hoped to accomplish before going to Shad Valley was to get as much as I could within the one month and make close friends and I am happy to say that I have accomplished both. Now, I wish I had another opportunity to go back to Shad Valley like many Shad alumni. I also wanted to improve on my social skills because naturally I am introverted. Once I attended Shad Valley, I personally felt more outgoing amongst my friends and I gained more motivation to go outside and meet more people. Overall Shad Valley shaped me as a more mature person.

The difficulties that I faced in Shad Valley was in the beginning where I felt extremely nervous about leaving my home for a month. In the first two days I felt home sick; however, the people that I was staying with made it all easier for me. As the weeks progressed I grew extremely close to the other Shads and my view about my home changed. I did not want to go back!

I interacted with 64 other Shads in my campus as well as the program assistants and managers. All 64 of them had inspiring stories to tell about how they got here and what their future aspirations are. We all found common goals as a group and we continue to support each other even after the program has ended. As well I was able to engage with experts in orthopaedics, cardiology and entrepreneurship. These individuals I engaged with gave me the inspiration and enabled me to solidify my aspirations for university.

Through my activity I was able to learn more about myself and what I am capable of. In Shad Valley, I learnt that I was able to sell a product well in front of an audience, I was able to develop a business plan for a product and I was able to be myself and still be accepted by my peers. What I learnt about others when engaging in this program is that there are other people with the same drive as me all across Canada. Now I realize that there are plenty of amazing students around our nation that I would love to meet in the future. This common drive with others made me learn that similar motivations lead to quicker friendships.

In summary, the skills, abilities and attitudes that I have gained from this experience improved my ability to socialize, my abilities to perform in the realm of business and entrepreneurship and I became more inspired to pursue my aspirations in the future.

Every Shad within the Shad Valley program was able to benefit from every other Shad. We mutually all gave each other support which enhanced our motivation to achieve our dreams.

I would never change my experience at Shad Valley because every single moment within that month of July was perfect and unforgettable. I wish I was able to go back.

I can easily apply what I have learned from this activity into other life situations. I now have the confidence to speak with people and meet new individuals. I am able to understand the business aspect of the world which could benefit me in my pursuit of science. Possibly embodying business in the realm of science. I also now have more motivation to perform well in my academics from this program and my contribution as a prefect was affected by this experience as well.

Kipevu Bottle Drive as Prefect of Environments

Kipevu Primary School's most pressing concern is security. Within school grounds, students are prone to harassment by trespassers. In order to solve this issue, a wall was needed to enclose their campus. In order to support the cause, I organized two bottle drives held in December and January. The bottle drive involved the entire Stratford Hall school community bringing in recyclables from home. Altogether, I raised $700 for the wall.

The learning outcomes taken away from this initiative include planning and initiating activities, working collaboratively with others, showing perseverance and commitment in my activities, engage in issues of global importance and considering ethical implications of my actions. First of all, I planned the bottle drive myself. I also had many other volunteers, especially the Roots and Shoots Club, helping sort bottles for collection I showed perseverance and commitment in my activities by waking up early every morning and staying late after school to sort recyclables. I engaged in issues of global importance by directly the funds to a school on the opposite side of the planet. I also considered the ethical implications of my actions by being able to contribute to providing a healthy learning environment for these students.

What I hoped to accomplish before I did the bottle drive was to raise about $1000. I was unable to attain that goal; however, when I raised $700, I realized that it was quite an accomplishment. Considering that each can was worth five cents, it was quite hard to believe that they accumulated to a total of that much. I then recognized that our school community is so supportive.

Some difficulties I encountered with this initiative was my initial doubts of anyone supporting my bottle drive. That was overcome by the recyclables flooding in each morning giving me more hope and confidence in what I planned.

I interacted with numerous other individuals, including teachers and students. We were able to function as a team and the Roots and Shoots Club began to know each other more.

Some values I developed from this initiative is moral satisfaction. I know that I contributed towards making a difference in another part of the world. I helped provide a safe learning environment for the students at Kipevu. As well, I am also satisfied because I was also promoting recycling which falls under the realm of my prefect position. I also developed a more optimistic attitude towards everything I currently do because my doubts were overcome with the number of recyclables that came in those two weeks.

What I would do differently next time would be to set up a system where the sorting could be more efficient and have more volunteers helping me after school. I was the only student who stayed after school on Friday for the collection day.

I can apply what I learned from this activity by being more optimistic in engaging and planning more activities.