IB CAS Journal

My 2018-2020 IB CAS experience

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Project Reflection #3

After having completed this project and having more time to reflect on what I had done I discovered some more parts about myself and the project and learning outcomes that I had done. For example, at the moment (as we are quarantined) I can’t go the studio and give the CD’s to them, however after some discussion we found that we could hold some type of fundraising event after things get better as well, which allowed realizing that planning and initiating activities was a learning outcome. I think a big CAS learning outcome that I was able to incorporate into my project was that I was eng engaged with issues of global importance. Originally, I didn’t think I was going to be able to use this learning outcome, but I realized that my entire project centered on a global pandemic. I was extremely engaged and educated about the issues that the community and businesses were facing because of this pandemic and so I used what I could and I used my skills to try, even just a little bit, to try and change that. I also have shown perseverance and commitment in my activities because even when the project got hard, or early in the CAS project stage when they all got canceled I still persevered and continued what it was that I was doing because I knew that the community could use the help. Additionally, I developed new skills. As with new challenges, I was required to develop new skills and was able to increase my expertise in video editing, and such as I had little to no previous experience. Overall, this experience was very beneficial to both me and the studio that I dance for and I am glad to have got the opportunity to help them out, especially before I go away to college.

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Project Reflection #2

Throughout working on this project, I have found it to be rather enjoyable and I also am super glad about the cause that this will be helping. However, as I have been working I have found out some more things about myself and different ways that I have met CAS Learning Outcomes. For example, increased awareness of my own strengths and areas for growth. I think that dancing takes constant growth and understanding that you are never the best you can be. The entire time you keep improving yourself and your technique as well as your group as a whole. And to go off of this, I also had to learn new skills to complete the project, and I am also aware that while I may not be the best person for the project and it is taken me longer to complete because I didn’t originally have the skills, at least I am trying and I know I can get better. Another CAS learning outcome I have completed is that I have undertaken new challenges. When I first thought of the idea I was excited, but as I started to work on it, I found that it was more difficult than I had thought it would be, and I feel like this entire experience was a challenge. I think the biggest outcome that I worked within this project so far is that I have had to work collaboratively with others. From people at the dance studio, who worked with me in the beginning on the details, to a friend from school that takes video tech and helped explain to me how to use a video editing site, I worked with many different people. I think this was also a challenge in the fact that seeing people at the moment is hard so there were challenges, such as trying to figure out how to edit a video by what someone is telling you over the phone.

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Project Reflection #1

The planning for this project I found fairly easy after I had called and talked to the people involved in the details and if doing the project would become a reality. I also took the time to think about the fact that this project will encompass all areas of CAS, creativity, action, and service. This project obviously encompasses the service aspect because I am helping out a local business and helping them fundraise. I think that it has to do with action because while there isn’t immediate action, the result of doing this will allow myself and fellow dancers of the studio to continue and enjoy the art of movement. And finally, I think that it had to do with creativity as well because I am putting a DVD together and working with a video editor, which is a type of creativity. I would also I like to touch on the fact that even though this is the project I ended up doing, I had three projects before this suddenly canceled which added to the difficulty of finding something to do. But instead of giving up on CAS altogether, I persevere through it all and managed to find something that would work, even in hard times like these.

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Project Overveiw

For my CAS Project, I decided that I would help out a small business since COVID-19 has made earning money and keeping their businesses open hard. I am helping out a local dance studio that I dance at that is run by a single artist. Being that the studio is small, having to close for months, and having few funds took a toll. Additionally, the studio shares a space with a preschool that happens to be moving to a different location, which will result in the rent for the space of the studio to almost double in price per month. Because of this, I decided to help out the studio by creating something to help them raise money, and I can continue to do it in the future to continue the fundraiser. To do this, I have 5 or 6 years’ worth of past dance recitals that my mom had recorded for her, but nothing was ever done with these recordings. I worked to edit these videos and burn the videos onto DVD’s that I am giving to the studio they can sell them. Since most of the students have been attending since the beginning and there are two recitals a year, selling these recordings for even $5-10 apiece will really benefit the studio and help keep it up and running, as well as expanding it and making it better. Additionally, in the future when we have performances my mom can continue to record them and I can turn those into DVDs to sell and continue the project on as well.

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #13 (August 2019)

Youth Commission Retreat

August 20th-22nd, 2019

CAS Element: Creativity and Service

Hours: 25 hours

Content and Reflection

During the length of the retreat, I started to work on the policy assignment that will be delved into greater depth later on, with the help of some former, and some new, commissioners. Our policy assignment for this year is working to help youth mental health and homelessness in our community. As well as working to help to the community on this trip I also met new people and worked on common skills that are helpful as an adult, such as researching, giving presentations, and even how to properly shake someone's hand.

After going on this retreat I felt great, knowing that I had gone in trying to talk to new people and really get a head start on helping the community. I didn’t just stay in my normal bubble of friends, and I went out of my comfort zone and pushed myself a bit and I feel I have become better because of it.

Doing all of the research on youth mental health and youth experiencing homelessness, it really changed my perspective on what is going on in my community that I have absolutely no idea about. I realize that I am very fortunate and I want to do everything I can to make peoples lives easier and even change them completely.

I have gone on another retreat like this before, but this time I made an effort to try new things and push myself. Doing these things made my experience better and I even made new friends and developed stronger relationships with those that I already knew. Overall, I would do the same things again and I will push myself to do these things, at my last winter retreat in March.

CAS Learning Outcomes

1. Increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth I feel like I have completed this learning outcome with this experience, as I pushed myself to do things I would normally stay away from. I pushed myself to speak more during presentations, and I went out of my way to be more social, showing that I had places where I did improve, and could improve still.

4. Worked collaboratively with others Throughout the course of the retreat I was put in random teams with people I had never met to people I have known for years. I had to work with them to research topics, and present on them, as well as doing fun activities such as building sandcastles and winning Jeopardy.

6. Engaged with issues of global importance I was extremely engaged and educated about issues facing my community and even facing issues around the world, such as mental health and homelessness, but particularly youth facing these issues. Learning about these topics spurred me on to learn more and make an even larger difference in my community.

7. Considered the ethical implications of their actions While learning about all of the things going on in the world, we had to make decisions on things of whether or not it would be a good idea, many times playing into ethics. In one of the activities we did, building sandcastles, we found a bunch of fish that we debated putting into our art, but decided against it for the reason that it wouldn't be great for the fish.

Hours

Total: 218

Creativity: 65

Action: 57

Service: 96

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #12 (July 2019)

Girl Scout Camp Counselor

July 22nd-26th, 2019

CAS Element: Creativity, Action, and Service

Hours: 30

Content and Reflection

At girl scout camp this year, I was a counselor who worked at craft shack, which like it sounds, is a place that gets to see every single of of the campers at some point during the week. I choose to apply for this position since it was my last year at camp and I would be able to see all the campers that I had in previous years one last time.

This experience was amazing, just like the past four years where I had done the same thing. I always dread having to get up in the morning to go, but the energy of camp is not like any other and I love it a lot. I make so many new and lasting friends each year and the camp allows me to use my time for something that first all three of the CAS elements, which I think is special.

Something else about camp is that you are always working with someone else and it is never individual. Whether it be a camper, another counselor, or an adult helping run it, you’re never alone. This team building was really beneficial to me, as someone who mostly prefers to work alone. 

I think overall, my last year at camp changed me as a person as one of the first things that I would be having my last of. And it definitely changed my perspective on some things, some by the campers doing, but many by my friends that I made with the other counselors.

CAS Learning Outcomes

3. Planned and initiated activities We started meeting in may about the planning for our individual units that we would run by ourselves, in my case ropes, and other fun parts of camp.

5. Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities I have been going to this camp since I was in second grade and have been a camp counselor for the past four years.

8. Developed new skills Each year when you take on something new, you have to develop those skills to teach the kids.

Hours

Total: 193

Creativity: 60

Action: 57

Service: 76

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #11 (June 2019)

Dance Camp Counselor

June 24th-28th, 2019

CAS Element: Action, Creativity, and Service

Hours: 30 

Content and Reflection

Each year, the dance studio I am a part of holds a summer camp for small dancers, around the ages of 3 to 7. I have helped out at this camp for the past 4 years or so and continue to do so. I work with the smaller dancers on fun things such as crafts, but most of all we dance together and form wonderful connections, which I love.

I think doing this each year really changes me as a person because I get to work with children, which I don’t do very often, and that difference in life style makes me realize things I hadn’t known before. It definitely makes me want to engage in similar activities and help out with other children, but I could never be solely in charge of them ever.

I like this experience because although you are working with many people, little campers as well as other counselors, you still have that sense of individuality that you always do while dancing and I love sharing the space with so many different dancers to make one big piece of movement.

CAS Learning Outcomes

1. Increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth I had to work though different things throughout the week, both with others and individually, and I think being at the camp this week really showed me places in my life that I need to work on and others that I am very strong at.

2. Undertaken new challenges Working with children has always been a struggle for me, and while it may not have been very new it was still a challenge.

3. Planned and initiated activities I worked with the camp director, along with other counselors to help plan activities.

Hours

Total: 163

Creativity: 46

Action: 41

Service: 76

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #10 (May 2019)

Youth Achievement Ceremony

June 2nd, 2019

CAS Element: Creativity and Service

Hours: 36

Content and Reflection

This is the largest event of the year that is put on by Clark County and it is run almost entirely by youth. Although the actual event took place in June, it was early June and all of the planning happened before then. 

For this, I was nominated and voted to be one of the two Masters of Ceremonies, which included the tasks of writing a script and then being on stage for two hours to award various youth throughout Clark County of many different achievements. When I first took the task on I had no idea it would be so difficult, but it rally pushed me and I love everything I gained from the experience.

After doing this, I felt extremely good. I had done something for the betterment of many, many youth, who otherwise would have no idea that what they were doing is so phenomenal. Seeing almost 300 youth and shake their hands as they walked across the stage really changed my perspective on things and the world in general.

Throughout the process I worked closely with my other MC, as we wrote the scrip together and planned much of the event. I spent over 14 hours, writing the script with him along, but there were also larger meetings with around 30 youth also putting input that I had to work with to make this event possible. I loved this experience and although I don’t think I will qualify for the Master of Ceremonies role again I am sure to do a different speech (or a few).

CAS Learning Outcomes

2. Undertaken new challenges A new challenge in this was writing a script and also the public speaking piece, as I had spoken to large audiences before but new almost 1000 people while on stage for almost two hours.

3. Planned and initiated activities I worked with others to plan the entire event, from getting nomination forms to the public, to theme, pin, and catchphrase generation.

8. Developed new skills I really developed and honed my skills of writing, especially for public speaking and the public speaking portion itself.

Hours

Total: 133

Creativity: 46

Action: 11

Service: 76

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #9 (April 2019)

Lobby Day

April 17th, 2019

CAS Element: Service

Hours: 8

Content and Reflection

This is the second year in a row that I have participated in lobby day. Today we went up to Olympia to speak with some of our representatives about issues we see in the community and what we wish would change. This year we talked to them about a few main things, such as vaping and tobacco use in minors and that we would like the tobacco age to be raised to 21, and also gun control. 

After participating in this, I feel like it changed my perspective on a few things as I got to hear their responses to our suggestions in person and not over a radio or television. I think this experience was beneficial to me as a person and hope to do the same next year with different issues, or the same if not much has changes.

To complete this, I had to work with the other representatives from La Center United who came to speak as well and we had to prepare a short presentation on what we were going to talk about and who would say what. There were a few let downs in those who didn’t follow through with their parts, but that was part of the learning curve and was overall, beneficial to my experience.

CAS Learning Outcomes

3. Planned and initiated activities I had to plan the event to go up to Olympia with my group as well as the presentation we would be giving the representatives.

6. Engaged with issues of global importance We spoke to our representatives about current substance abuse in minors, gun control, and environmental factors and the earth.

7. Considered the ethical implications of their actions Throughout this entire process we had to think about what the ethical implications were of what we were asking of the Washington State Legislature.

Hours

Total: 97

Creativity: 21

Action: 11

Service: 65

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #8 (March 2019)

Youth House Art Show

March 21st, 2019

CAS Element: Creativity

Hours: 6

Content and Reflection

For the Youth House Art Show, there was much planning that went into the event ahead of time, that is not included in the March hours here. For this event, the members of all of the programs at the Youth House, including the Youth Commission that I’m in, join together to plan and host an art show with art made solely by the youth that go there, for anything. Before the event, art labs are hosted where youth from the house can come in and make art to have in the art show, or if they make art at home then they submit that as well.

Participating in the art show is a unique experience, especially regarding planning because it involves so many people with so many good ideas and not just the usual 30 people on the youth commission that I get to work with. I also had to work in a team and not individually, so that was a good thing about this experience as well.

As well as planning, I also made art to go in the art show and I tried new mediums, such as watercolor painting, which I fell in love with. The art show really expanded my horizons because I found things I love to do that I never would have realized otherwise.

CAS Learning Outcomes

3. Planned and initiated activities For this I worked with many other youth to plan and put on a huge art show for the rest of Clark County to attend.

4. Worked collaboratively with others To make this happen I worked with about 80 different youth and we had to work together to make our dream of what the art show would look like become a reality.

8. Developed new skills I learned of different materials and methods that I could create art with, which I thought was very powerful.

Hours

Total: 89

Creativity: 21

Action: 11

Service: 57

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #7 (February 2019)

Youth Commission Retreat (Spring)

February 22nd-24th, 2019

CAS Element: Creativity and Service

Hours: 25 hours

Content and Reflection

During the length of the retreat, I started to work on the policy assignment that will be delved into greater depth later on, with the help of some former, and some new, commissioners. Our policy assignment for this year is working to help youth mental health and homelessness in our community. As well as working to help to the community on this trip I also met new people and worked on common skills that are helpful as an adult, such as researching, giving presentations, and even how to properly shake someone's hand.

After going on this retreat I felt great, I was able to form deeper and more meaningful relationships with those that I hadn’t gotten much time to talk to before. I didn’t just stay in my normal bubble of friends, and I went out of my comfort zone and pushed myself a bit and I feel I have become better because of it.

Doing all of the research on youth mental health and youth experiencing homelessness, it really changed my perspective on what is going on in my community that I have absolutely no idea about. I realize that I am very fortunate and I want to do everything I can to make peoples lives easier and even change them completely.

I have gone on another retreat like this before, but this time I made an effort to try new things and push myself. Doing these things made my experience better and I even made new friends and developed stronger relationships with those that I already knew. Overall, I would do the same things again and I will push myself to do these things, at my final two retreats next year.

CAS Learning Outcomes

1. Increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth I feel like I have completed this learning outcome with this experience, as I pushed myself to do things I would normally stay away from. I pushed myself to speak more during presentations, and I went out of my way to be more social, showing that I had places where I did improve, and could improve still.

4. Worked collaboratively with others Throughout the course of the retreat I was put in random teams with people I had never met to people I have known for years. I had to work with them to research topics, and present on them, as well as doing fun activities such as building sandcastles and winning Jeopardy.

6. Engaged with issues of global importance I was extremely engaged and educated about issues facing my community and even facing issues around the world, such as mental health and homelessness, but particularly youth facing these issues. Learning about these topics spurred me on to learn more and make an even larger difference in my community.

7. Considered the ethical implications of their actions While learning about all of the things going on in the world, we had to make decisions on things of whether or not it would be a good idea, many times playing into ethics. 

Hours

Total: 83 hours

Creativity: 15 hours

Action: 11 hours

Service: 57 hours

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #6 (January 2019)

La Center United

January 3rd & 17th, 2019

CAS Element: Service

Hours: 5

Content and Reflection

I am a part of the La Center community coalition, La Center United, and have mentioned it briefly in some of my previous reflections. I have worked with them since I have been in middle school and I am their youth sector representative. I have done many things with them from going to training's in Washington D.C. to lobbying in Olympia, but I also just work with them and the City of La Center closely on simple things such as mental health awareness, drug abuse prevention and other sorts of things to better the community.

This month I choose to focus on La Center United as my CAS experience because it has changed me as a person and has altered my perspective on many things. I know so many things from this experience that I wouldn’t of known before and I love being able to take that knowledge and spread it to others who need it.

I have also gained other things from this experience, such as life skills like public speaking and research, and also simple life things like making friends. All in all, being a part of La Center United has been a vital part of my life the past few years and I continue to do the same for years to come.

CAS Learning Outcomes

2. Undertaken new challenges All of my experiences that I have gone through with La Center United have been one big new challenge. I am constantly learning and adapting to new things and circumstances.

5. Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities I have been a part of La Center United for many previous years and I continue to stay working with them for a while to come.

7. Considered the ethical implications of their actions With all of the different ideas and topics that are discussed, we always have to stop and consider the ethical implications of what we are talking about or what we are fighting for, such as tobacco 21 and what the implications of that was.

Hours

Total: 58

Creativity: 10

Action: 11

Service: 37

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #5 (December 2018)

Modern Dance & Recital

December 3rd, 10th, & 17th, 2018

CAS Element: Action and Creativity

Hours: 12

Content and Reflection

This month in dance we had our final rehearsals before our winter recital and we also performed the recital this month as well. After preparing for something large like that for such a long time, it feel great to be done and also proud of yourself for completing it. Especially for me, as I was having trouble learning the dance, to know that I accomplished that and performed it in front of people feels amazing.

For this activity, it was mostly myself and the people I surround myself with that motivated me to keep going. I have danced since I was very small, probable around four or so, and I continue to push myself and strive to be better in every way possible when it comes to my dance.

In this circumstance I worked with a team in the sense of making the piece look beautiful and presentable when on the stage, but I had to work with myself to get my modern piece memorized as well as our company one. I think it was a very important time to be able to rely heavily on my fellow dancers though as there are things in the piece where you have to be absolutely trusting of one another.

CAS Learning Outcomes

2. Undertaken new challenges Although I have danced for years before this, each year there are still new things to learn and new challenges to tackle, many of which I faced this month.

5. Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities I dance once or twice a week for the months out of the school year.

8. Developed new skills As with new challenges, I was required to develop new skills and was able to increase my expertise dance.

Hours

Total: 53

Creativity: 10

Action: 11

Service: 32

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #4 (November 2018)

Washington State Prevention Summit

November 6th, 2018

CAS Element: Service

Hours: 10

Content and Reflection

During this trip to Yakima to be a part of the Washington State Prevention Summit, I learned many things, a lot of which I know I can bring to my communities to better them. I feel that this experience definitely changed me as a person because of all the new people I met and all the different experiences I had, along with interesting and important knowledge that I gained. 

During the course of the summit, we chose different workshops that we could go to, with smaller sized classes to learn about topics that interested us specifically. Some of the ones I chose to attend were on the brain, slam poetry, and the 21 day challenge, as well as others. Attending workshops such as these gave me motivation to apply what I learned to my personaly life and to possibly bring it back to La Center United, the community coalition that I am an active part in.

I think one of the coolest parts about attending is meeting different youth from all over the state. I made friends with a few and found different people who shared the same interests as me and I loved that. It also allowed me practice in working in teams both with people I know and people I don’t know and I think it was a very valuable experience for that reason.

Overall, attending the Washington State Prevention Summit was a wonderful experience and I feel like it shifted my perspective on things I had not considered before, especially regarding mental health and substance abuse and prevention. 

CAS Learning Outcomes

4. Worked collaboratively with others During this experience I had to work with groups of people from La Center United, as well as groups of people from all around the state that I didn’t know.

5. Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities This was the second or third consecutive Washington State Prevention Summit that I had attended, as well as the fact that I attended as a member of the community coalition, La Center United, in which I am an active member.

6. Engaged with issues of global importance The main issues covered at this prevention summit were mental health and substance abuse prevention (tobacco, alcohol, vaping and other substances) that are affection large parts of the world.

Hours: 41

Creativity: 7

Action: 2

Service: 32

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #3 (October 2018)

MOTUS

September 8th & 22nd, 2018

CAS Element: Creativity and Action

Hours: 4

Content and Reflection

MOTUS is the dance company I am a part of. MOTUS is a Greek Word meaning movement. MOTUS stands for Movement Outreach Together Understanding Sharing. Our dance company puts together pieces and goes and shares them with the community, free of charge. This year in MOTUS we are working toward being more comfortable with each other as dancers and really start to use out relationships for more sharing and intense dance pieces with weight sharing and lifts.

After this first dance session and some improvisation we did, I feel like this year is going to a big one for advancing my dance and relationships with others who I have danced with for many years. It is also one of my last years on this company, so I want to get the most out of this experience that I can. One class has not changed me dramatically, but over the course of the year, I feel I will be.

One thing I have noticed through the years while dancing with others and being more comfortable with trusting others is that you really can get to know someone without even speaking, just by the way they dance and move their body. This really changed my perspective on humans and if you really know people as well as you think you do. Additionally, throughout dance, there are many times where you are dancing individually as a person, while still relying on everyone around you as they rely on you as well. It is an amazing experience and wish everyone could experience it as well. Overall, I have enjoyed this experience and I will continue to do activities like these.

CAS Learning Outcomes

1. Increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth Dancing takes constant growth and understanding that you are never the best you can be. The entire time you keep improving yourself and your technique as well as your group as a whole.

2. Undertaken new challenges Improve dance is much harder than having a path set out for you and it is something I find quite challenging, but I always take the opportunity to try it out and see what I come up with.

4. Worked collaboratively with others Unless it is a solo dance, you are always collaborating with your peers, constantly figuring out how to work together to make a piece seem as seamless as possible and look the best it can be, as well as helping each other especially with improvisational dance.

5. Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities I must be committed to the work I do at the studio as I am a crucial [art to every piece, as is every dancer. I must make the most effort to show up to every session and try my hardest as a dance group has to look good as a whole, not only certain people.

7. Considered the ethical implications of their actions While dancing you think about what these actions might have for the people you are going to showing them to. This only spurs me on more to try my best.

8. Developed new skills Throughout the course of this session I tried new things and continued to push myself at old ones helping me to develop new skills and get better at old ones.

Hours

Total: 31

Creativity: 7

Action: 2

Service: 22

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #2 (September 2018)

Youth Commission Meetings

September 6th & 20th, 2018

CAS Element: Service

Hours: 4

Content and Reflection

At this meeting, we went over what we would be doing for the rest of the year at our meetings. After that, we broke into smaller groups and read the Clark County Homelessness Action Plan. We went over things we thought were good and would work and things we thought were the best ideas or could be better. We then created a list of questions for people who worked with these types of things and would be able to ask them at future meetings. 

I feel like this meeting was a good start for a basis of all the work to come, and it will definitely be worth it to see out county change for the better and hopefully the world will follow suit.

CAS Learning Outcomes

4. Worked collaboratively with others At all of my youth commission meetings I am going to have to work with many other peers. During this meeting, I collaborated with others and brainstormed and we made decisions as a group.

5. Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities This is only one of many meetings I am going to go to throughout the year. I am going to make as many of the meetings as possible. Doing so will show my commitment to helping this group and consequently, my community.

6. Engaged with issues of global importance Once again, the issues of global importance here is homelessness and mental health, specifically in youth.

Hours

Total: 29

Creativity: 5

Action: 0

Service: 24

[creativity-action-service]

CAS Experience #1 (August 2018)

Youth Commission Retreat

August 21st-23rd, 2018

CAS Element: Creativity and Service

Hours: 25 hours

Content and Reflection

During the length of the retreat, I started to work on the policy assignment that will be delved into greater depth later on, with the help of some former, and some new, commissioners. Our policy assignment for this year is working to help youth mental health and homelessness in our community. As well as working to help to the community on this trip I also met new people and worked on common skills that are helpful as an adult, such as researching, giving presentations, and even how to properly shake someone's hand.

After going on this retreat I felt great, knowing that I had gone in trying to talk to new people and really get a head start on helping the community. I didn’t just stay in my normal bubble of friends, and I went out of my comfort zone and pushed myself a bit and I feel I have become better because of it. 

Doing all of the research on youth mental health and youth experiencing homelessness, it really changed my perspective on what is going on in my community that I have absolutely no idea about. I realize that I am very fortunate and I want to do everything I can to make peoples lives easier and even change them completely.

I have gone on another retreat like this before, but this time I made an effort to try new things and push myself. Doing these things made my experience better and I even made new friends and developed stronger relationships with those that I already knew. Overall, I would do the same things again and I will push myself to do these things, both at our winter retreat in March and the next summer retreat.

CAS Learning Outcomes

1. Increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth I feel like I have completed this learning outcome with this experience, as I pushed myself to do things I would normally stay away from. I pushed myself to speak more during presentations, and I went out of my way to be more social, showing that I had places where I did improve, and could improve still.

4. Worked collaboratively with others Throughout the course of the retreat I was put in random teams with people I had never met to people I have known for years. I had to work with them to research topics, and present on them, as well as doing fun activities such as building sandcastles and winning Jeopardy. 

6. Engaged with issues of global importance I was extremely engaged and educated about issues facing my community and even facing issues around the world, such as mental health and homelessness, but particularly youth facing these issues. Learning about these topics spurred me on to learn more and make an even larger difference in my community.

7. Considered the ethical implications of their actions While learning about all of the things going on in the world, we had to make decisions on things of whether or not it would be a good idea, many times playing into ethics. In one of the activities we did, building sandcastles, we found a bunch of fish that we debated putting into our art, but decided against it for the reason that it wouldn't be great for the fish. 

Hours

Total: 25 hours

Creativity: 5 hours

Action: 0 hours

Service: 20 hours