rou!

click for the table of contents.

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Introduction to the Blog

Hello! This is Ruth Ballena’s Capstone Project in the form of a website blog! I hope you will find it in your heart to be understanding if there is anything wonky or glitchy with the website. It is not my coding, but I edited the colour scheme, links, photos, and tags. I also had to be mindful of the order I posted things so that certain sections would not intertwine with the other.

Core sections will be highlighted with BOLD font in the title as [ . . . Core Section ] or in body text. Choice Sections will ALSO be highlighted with BOLD font in their respective title posts. It will also be noted in the tags as #core section or #choice section beneath the post if that helps.

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Introduction to Student

Hello! My name is Ruth Ballena and I am a graduating student coming from VCS. I have been a part of this community for the whole of my life so both Carver and VCS hold a special place in my heart.

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Tips on Navigating Blog

The purple box in the corner of my grad photo will navigate you to different sections of the project. A majority of the posts will say Click Keep Reading. You can either click the link or right click and open the post in a new tab.

You will need to magnify your screen as the photos will not respond to being clicked on. The description box also has a link that says table of contents; it is a masterlist full of all of the links to this project. They are organised by their sections and whether they are core or choice.

If any problems occur as you go through this blog, please contact me at my school email!

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Presentation of Achievements [Core Section]

Academic & Athletic Certificates

Awards & Trophies

Writing

Accomplishments & Achievements:

As much as I complain about exercising and walking up multiple flights of stairs, I’ve received much more athletic certificates than I expected. I was very active in my younger years and actually enjoyed running; it was one of my best sports. I participated in long jump and high jump as well, getting 1st place in long jump and 2nd place in high jump with Hanna Truong. As for academic achievements; I’m not the brightest of the bunch. I did okay in most classes, but loved English because reading was fun. I eventually lost interest in books as I progressed through school because I was told that I was advanced in my studies and the thought of not meeting those expectations again was terrifying. I tried not to excel anymore because I was scared of failure and not meeting expectations.

Goals:

For sports, my goal was to get a gold medal in volleyball. I was told a lot that I wasn’t good or my team would lose, so I wanted to experience that feeling of winning just once. Turns out that we won twice! As for future goals, I just want to live a decent and comfortable life. I don’t need to be rich nor do I need everything in the world to be happy; I just want to be around people I feel comfortable with and live with no terrible struggles. It’s all I ask for.

Work & Effort:

I wasn’t very confident in my abilities and thought that I had no chance of graduating. My brothers had dropped out of Carver and so I was the only child left who would be able to receive a real high school diploma. I had a heavy weight on my shoulders, and I worried that I was going to end up the same. I’ve been putting a lot of effort into my studies this time and only began thinking seriously about my future this year. My mom said she wants to retire once I’m finished college and so I told myself that I need to complete school in order for my mom to retire comfortably. My grades have been great this year, and I hope I can only give the same results in post-secondary. 

Developed Skills:

One very important skill I developed was social interaction. Talking to people and holding a conversation is terribly difficult for me, and I am not able to formulate spoken words as well as I can through writing or typing. People may not believe me when I say I am terrible at talking, but my mind races and I struggle with words and I don’t know what else to talk about. I’m only able to keep a conversation going because I talk in an excited voice or because I pretend that I know the topic the other person is talking about. 

Gifts & Talents:

I am very proud of my writing. I write to forget about the things that are worrying me in the present, and it helps me immerse myself into a world that I may want to live in. I have been writing stories ever since 6th grade, but have only taken it seriously this year. Hopefully you have clicked on the link that says ‘Writing’ and took the time to carefully read through what I wrote. All of those works mean something to me; they hold a little piece of me in them. I’m a romantic, I’m a deeply flawed person, I’m lonely, and I go through things, but take them in stride. I use words to convey my emotions to a larger audience, hoping that they’ll be able to connect to me and me to them. I am currently writing a chapter story, but it’s a bit on the explicit side (gang violence, swearing, gore) and is more for me and my reader’s enjoyment. If I ever feel brave enough and see you guys again, I’ll share it with you.

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Work Experience [Core Section]

Proof of Work

I’ve learned very valuable skills such as comfortable social interaction and patience. I get different types of customers every shift I work, and sometimes they’re great to talk to and other times they’re extremely rude. I have to be amicable at all times and smile, living by the motto of the customer is always right.

I have been conditioned to properly work under stress and running time, and keep my own emotions separate from work so that I do not feed into problems that may occur. I have to study and properly understand our different types of coffees and how important it is to practice cleanliness and proper food making processes.

I transit to work, so I have to manage my time to make sure I am not late. I live about 20 minutes away by transit, and have to leave earlier just in case the trains or busses are late. I also have to be diligent to make sure the workplace is always clean and that the customers are happy when they leave.

Many coworkers of mine are around my age, so it is easy to interact with them. I am one of the main employees on weekends so I’m usually the supervisor (not really, but I am normally the most experienced). I have to work in the morning with only two other people, so I have to be fast, switching between making food items and taking till for people who want coffee or pastries.

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Identification of Support Networks [Core Section]

I do not have a very big support network, honestly. Of course, my family is good support, but they’re not people that can help me connect to things that I want to obtain. All of us have significantly different jobs; my mother is a care-home worker, my brother is a hard labourer, and I would like to work in a school community or pursue my writing career.

I belong to Worship Council, and the volleyball team at school, and have very few friends at my church’s youth. A lot of the people I know from these communities are planning on pursuing sciences instead of arts, and if they are studying arts, it’s either musical or visual.

Everyone of these people have supported me by accepting my career choice. At first, I was told to study to become a nurse, but I’m not great at these academic courses, and I love writing stories for people to enjoy. I’ve shared multiple works with my friends and they enjoy reading them, so it makes me happy and want to create more worlds for people to immerse themselves in.

I plan on staying good friends with everyone! I love them all too much to let them go, but I will definitely miss them after high school because we won’t be able to see each other as much and I am going to a different college than most of the others.

And I suppose my family members and community help me keep my head above the water. I tend to sink deep into negative emotions when I’m left alone for too long during a difficult day. I talk to them when I feel like socialising, but they understand when I need to be left alone. All of us hate exercising (despite playing sports before) which is funny, but they remind me to take walks around the park to get some fresh air. I’m not the most spiritual person in the group, but my friends always remind me and help me when I am at my lowest, and send me bible verses when they feel it should resonate with me.

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Projects/Assignments [Choice Section]

Social Justice Poem Assignment: I am From

Book of Job One Pager / Pg. 1

Book of Job One Pager / Pg. 2

Macbeth Final Essay / Pg. 1

Macbeth Final Essay / Pg. 2

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Graduation Transition Plan [Core Section]

Grad Transition Plan / Google Slides

Grad Transition Plan w/ College Acceptance / Document

Financial Plan

Resume

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Reference Letters

I can’t find the reference letters I received in the past two years.

I have tried to ask for a digital copy, but have not received them yet.

Those who have written me these letters are Mrs. Gonzalez and Mr. Findlay. You may contact them for proof or confirmation!

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Additional Work Experience [Choice Section]

Please click ‘Keep Reading’

Training videos for new items and basic procedures like washing hands, taking care of equipment, etc.

Just the dates I’ve received my pay. I’ve been working at Tim Hortons for nearly 3 years, around 16+ hours a week depending.

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Talents & Interests: Painting [Choice Section]

Please click ‘Keep Reading’

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PEAK Week 2019, Documentation of Participation [Core Section]

Please click ‘Keep Reading’

No other source of proof for core & choice

I have probably accumulated at least 10 hours of service during the PEAK Week of 2019.

I was in the Downtown Eastside and Surrey, Whalley, assisting churches and an organisation called Jacob’s Well. We served food and clothing to those who needed it most in Surrey, organising and unloading trucks of necessities for the church. In Downtown, we held bible studies and a community dinner at the end of the week, interacting with people who have struggled much more than we can even fathom.

It was a very fun time as I was with friends that I was comfortable talking to. The people we interacted with were kind and wise, and they gave us a little bit of advice to help us move on in life. PEAK Week 2019 helped me alleviate some of the pain from old memories that held me back, and the group I was with were so loving and comforting and empathised with me when I was at my lowest point.

Although as a group we do not interact as much anymore, I appreciate them so much and am thankful for PEAK Week, 2019.

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After School Care Hours [Core Section]

Please click ‘Keep Reading’

Will update when an official letter comes in.

I take care of the children of the school’s teachers with a few other classmates once the school day has ended. We supervise them, let them do their own activities: playing with lego, eating snacks, reading books, or watching Veggie Tales.

We do this to help teachers who have meetings after school or need to finish things up. Their children are very energetic and may distract them from finishing their tasks so we make sure they are well-behaved and distracted before they can go home.

I’ve accumulated nearly 20 hours of service through After School Care.

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Carver/VCS Service [Core Section]

Please click ‘Keep Reading’

Will update when an official letter comes in.

Since my time in Carver up until now at VCS, I have accumulated up to at least 30+ hours of service with Mr. Chung.

I have helped with the Grad Store during sports tournaments, and on many occasions have helped with score keeping and reffing for both the volleyball and basketball seasons. Many times I have helped with back-to-back games, which results in around 4-6 hours a night. I have also helped with coaching junior teams for volleyball when Chung and Moes-Pel were not available.

I guide students on how to keep track of score and do paperwork, as well as teach them how to use certain sports devices. I guide players on how to stay confident in themselves and their talents, and give them tips on how to move and react faster, EG: how to dive properly.

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Talents & Interests: Writing [Choice Section]

The Stars in Your Eyes [Short Story]

This Heart That Trembles [Short Story]

The Calm of This Lullaby [Short Story]

Monotony [Poem]

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Monotony [Poem]

The pitter-patter of rain plays a rhythm against the windowpane, grey skies are somber.

The year starts off thunderous and lonely, so it seemed.

The lounge room, normally teeming with life, was empty. Silent, dark.

Endless thoughts of worry, panic, helplessness. They rattle, and rattle, and rattle.

The noise is deafening, but there is nothing.

It’s black and white. Hues are nonexistent. It feels like it’ll stay like that.

Time flies by and it feels as if there is only misery and slow days.

Incident, after incident.

A trip to the ER. Leering men. Being followed home.

It is only black and white, with a pinch of fear, and a dollop of resignation.

Vulnerability comes with sadness, and closure comes with vulnerability.

Curious eyes, staring quietly in wonder at a story that most could never imagine.

A comforting hug, with a kind smile that shows loyalty.

Thank you and I’m sorry, gratefulness and condolences.

This heart trembles in sadness, and joy.

Splotches of slate blue, and dashes of subdued pink colour the sky, and grey clouds turn to white.

The sun is a blinding white, but it is warm on chilled skin.

It is still black and white, even grey, but the monotony is broken.

Pain still prickles each inch of skin, and sadness still pushes down on sagging shoulders.

But with a confident chin up and a smile pointed to the sky.

Struggling isn’t forever, and it won’t be so black and white anymore.

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Academic Achievement [Core Section]

Please click ‘Keep Reading’. 

I am very proud of my grades this year. I’ve been able to maintain my A’s and B unlike my grades in the past years.