Final CAS Reflection

Throughout the course of my IB years, CAS followed me every step of the way. I was able to take huge steps outside of my comfort zone and participate in activities I wouldn’t have thought I’d be able to do. Normally, I am not keen on exiting my safe bubble and taking risks. CAS held my hand and encouraged me to take those steps to help me grow as an individual.


The first area CAS helped me improve on was my self-confidence. I participated in activities that require a certain degree of self-confidence in order to be successful. Jazz band, for example, definitely pushed my boundaries because I prefer being in the background, but the music that we covered required me to not only have a substantial role in the band but also to improvise, which is hard enough without the added pressure of an audience. Artsco as well helped me grow as an artist. Since I am interested in art but have had no art classes throughout high school, I was able to improve my skills without scrutiny and with students who were equally passionate about art as I am. My involvement in yoga really helped me accept myself for who I am. Yoga is all about finding peace and love with oneself as well as one’s body. I began to look forward to every Friday meeting because it became the only time I could devote time for myself to focus on inner tranquility with my busy and stressful lifestyle. Now that I’ve been introduced to these activities, I will definitely continue them throughout my life.


The second area CAS pushed me into was a sense of adventure. The IC trips in particular definitely brought out my adventurous side. In 11th grade, I went on a water-sport based camping trip to Hell’s Gate and Sagana. During my senior trip, I went to climb a giant plateau in Samburu and camp at the summit. There are two things I fear most in life: water and heights. Each IC trip allowed me to face one of said phobias. I would not have pushed myself to face up to my fears if it weren’t for the encouragement of my friends and camp supervisors. I was ready to throw up the white flag several times throughout those trips, but they helped me stick with it and I am extremely grateful I did. I learned that sometimes a little bit of determination and perseverance is all it takes to climb mountains.


Finally, CAS enabled me to make a difference in our community. My involvement in service activities helped me better work in teams to reach a common goal. I prefer working individually, but I learned the merit and advantages of having people to rely on as well as share ideas. Community involvement makes me feel a part of something much bigger than myself and that I am able to really make a difference in someone’s life, whether it is distributing food, playing with orphaned children, or raising money to support girls forced to abandon their education for an early marriage. Nothing can compare to making someone’s face light up with a smile.


Because of CAS, I was able to be an active participant instead of a spectator.

Photography: Final Reflection

This year has been very useful in developing my skills and interest in photography. I have learned a lot throughout the duration of my time involved in photography club, both about the camera itself and other aspects to create artistic pictures. We recently went to Naivasha on a photography trip to further enhance our abilities, and the experience was extremely gratifying. We were able to walk around on Crescent Island to capture magnificent landscapes by adjusting our depth of field and choosing a well-framed image. Though we had to grudgingly roll out of our sleeping bags at five in the morning for a boat ride along the pristine waters (minus the hippos), I captured some breath-taking pictures of the sunrise mirrored by the lake. Getting up early was definitely worth it, and I would never have rolled myself out of bed if it weren't for Ms. Bock.

Though I wasn't able to get a clear shot of the fish eagles swooping in for fish, I was able to adjust my shutter speed to suit the environment instead of relying on auto. Later, we visited the owl orphanage, a rehabilitation center for injured birds of prey, run by a dedicated woman from her own home. Here, I was able to adjust both the aperture and shutter sped to snap some up close and personal shots of some magnificent birds. Though a lot of my pictures turned out dark, I was able to fix them post-processing though I would like to be able to figure out how to adjust my settings so as to avoid retouching my pictures later.




 

I've learned that taking pictures can be stressful, especially when trying to find the perfect shot. Sometimes only one or two pictures turn out from a collection of over a hundred, but most of the time, those shots are definitely worth the effort. I will continue taking pictures, and hopefully improve enough to be able to manipulate settings to capture the perfect picture.