I have always had a lot of different interests. From a young age, I was really into sports. My activities include athletics, windsurfing, skiing, ice skating, and many more other activities that I, unfortunately, get to do only occasionally. When it comes to creativity, I mostly take on painting, baking, drawing, and photography. For the service aspect of CAS, I choose to work with an organization called 7cups which offers emotional support to those who feel like they need it. I also chose to occasionally work with SciStarter which is an organization that uses science to address local and global problems and helps you to contribute to all types of scientific research. Some of the goals of my CAS are to get stronger, learn to manage my time better, and improve my skills with talking to people, and hopefully many more.
Creativity
Painting
Investigation: In my free time, I've always enjoyed painting. It really helps me bring out my creative side and helps me relieve stress. I mostly do abstract paintings but I would also like to challenge myself and try to do realism soon. I plan to paint at least 3 times a month. Not much can go wrong in this activity as long as I make sure to use proper techniques for the medium I'm using. CAS Learning Outcomes I plan to achieve through this activity are:
LO 1. Identify my own strengths and develop areas for personal growth- I will do this by practicing painting things I usually find hard to paint, so I can improve more and more in those areas until I will one day be able to paint them with ease.
LO 2. Demonstrate that I have undertaken challenges and developed new skills in the process- I will do this by taking on technically challenging painting projects so I can work and learn more on my technique.
LO 3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience- I will do this by making detailed plans about the direction I want the painting to go, but also all the materials and techniques I plan on using, and also writing about the whole experience after the painting is done.
LO 4. Show commitment to and perseverance in my CAS experiences- I will do this by working on my paintings every week and never quitting on them, even if I realize I don't like something, I will do my best to fix that and keep on making the painting because it's the experience that's important and I will learn more from fixing the painting than from just quitting on it.
LO 5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively- I will do this by talking with some other people who paint in order for us to exchange the techniques and tricks we use while painting as we can both benefit from it and make our paintings better by working together and giving each other helpful advice.
LO 6. Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance- I will do this by making sure to paint some pictures raising awareness about some global issues.
LO 7. Recognize and consider the ethics of my own choices and actions- I will do this by making sure that everything that I'm painting is appropriate and that if I'm painting someone's portrait or someone's property that it's always consensual.
Preparation: I will choose a time to do this and prepare a little station with everything I need for the medium I want to paint with.
Action: I will use my imagination to paint something.
Reflection: Sometimes at the end of every month, I am going to write about everything I did while painting including my experiences, thoughts, and opinions.
Demonstration: I will post a picture of the progress of my work on this website each month.
Photography
Investigation: When given the chance, I also like to do photography. I mostly enjoy doing landscape pictures. I'm looking forward to spending some more time doing it as I really enjoy it but never really had much time to do it. I hope it will help me get more focused and practice my creative skills. I will make sure to always be careful not to drop the camera or my phone when taking photos and that all my settings are suitable for the situation in which I'm taking the photo. I plan to do photography 4-5 times a month. CAS Learning Outcomes I plan to achieve through this activity are:
LO 1. Identify my own strengths and develop areas for personal growth- I will do this by doing my best to leave my comfort zone and take the kind of photos I usually don't take much, also y experience with different lighting, views, objects, and so on.
LO 2. Demonstrate that I have undertaken challenges and developed new skills in the process- I will do this by playing and experimenting with camera settings and positions of objects I'm taking the picture of.
LO 3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience- I will do this by planning trips in order to take some pictures ahead, also by planing the process of taking any pictures I already had a clear idea about, and writing about the whole experience after.
LO 4. Show commitment to and perseverance in my CAS experiences- I will do this by writing down my every experience while photographing.
LO 5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively- I will do this by joining internet forums about photography where photographers share their pictures, but also tips and tricks they use.
LO 6. Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance- I will do this by taking pictures raising awareness about global issues.
LO 7. Recognize and consider the ethics of my own choices and actions- I will do this by always being mindful of what I'm taking photos of is appropriate and if I'm taking a photo of someone or someone's property that it's always consensual.
Preparation: I will choose a time to do this and plan a trip or just a short photoshoot.
Action: I will use my ideas to take a photo I find inspiring and beautiful.
Reflection: Sometimes at the end of every month, I am going to write about everything I did regarding photography if I had a chance to do it that month including my experiences, thoughts, and opinions.
Demonstration: I will post the pictures I take on this website.
Activity:
Athletics
Investigation: Three to five times a week I will be training athletics in a sports club called AK Sloboda. I will mainly focus on training to gain endurance and strength for long-distance running, specifically for a 3000 m steeplechase. With this activity, I plan to practice discipline and persistence by always working my hardest and not missing my already planned training plans, but also by keeping up with the needed high protein diet and consult with my trainer on a weakly basis. I can only hope everything is going to go as planned and that I won't get injured which often sets me back weeks. I plan to prevent this from happening by always warming up and stretching well, as well as by using appropriate equipment and by being more careful. CAS Learning Outcomes I plan to achieve through this activity are:
LO 1. Identify my own strengths and develop areas for personal growth- I will do this by often collaborating with my trainer and listening to his advice, also by working more in the areas I find more difficult.
LO 2. Demonstrate that I have undertaken challenges and developed new skills in the process- I will do this by documenting my progress with skills I'm working on improving.
LO 3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience- I will do this by always making sure to prepare and to plan the whole training in advance.
LO 4. Show commitment to and perseverance in my CAS experiences- I will do this by not missing training and will write about the experiences and preparations I went through.
LO 5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively- I will closely collaborate with my trainer and teammates for the best results.
LO 7. Recognize and consider the ethics of my own choices and actions- I will make sure I always follow rules when competing.
Preparation: I will get ready by wearing appropriate clothes, shoes and also making sure to bring other and energy bars.
Action: I will follow the training plan made by my trainer.
Reflection: Sometimes at the end of every month, I am going to write about everything I did while training athletics including my experiences, thoughts, and opinions.
Demonstration: I will post a picture of me training athletics, doing an exercise, or running on this website each month.
Windsurfing
Investigation: On the warm, windy days. and through the summer I plan to practice my windsurfing. This is a fun hobby me and my dad share and he's been surfing since he's been a child so I can say I'm lucky I get to learn everything from him and It's also much safer for me to practice it when I have someone as experienced with me. This will help me prevent possible dangerous situations that I could face like for example getting stuck in the open sea. CAS Learning Outcomes I plan to achieve through this activity Identify are:
LO 1. Identify my own strengths and develop areas for personal growth- I will do this by listening to my dad's (instructors) advice and by working on things he feels like I need more work on to better my technique.
LO 2. Demonstrate that I have undertaken challenges and developed new skills in the process- I will do this by always challenging myself by trying out new skills and tricks and documenting the experience.
LO 3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience- I will do this by always planning my trips to go windsurfing ahead, as well as always preparing all the equipment I need.
LO 4. Show commitment to and perseverance in my CAS experiences- I will do this by actively planning and documenting my experiences while windsurfing.
LO 5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively- I will do this by closely collaborating with my dad who has been surfing for years in order to better my technique.
LO 7. Recognize and consider the ethics of my own choices and actions-I will do this by always making sure I'm not surfing on busy beaches where I could possibly harm someone, and by always making sure I'm surfing in areas it's allowed to do so.
Preparation: First I will choose a time and place to do this and then carefully plan the whole trip to that location. Next, I will make sure to prepare all the equipment I need including all the parts I need to assemble my board and sail if it will be needed, but also a bathing suit or a wetsuit depending on the weather and the temperature of the water.
Action: I will get my board and sail in the water, connect them, and continue by practicing my surfing with the help of my dad (instructor).
Reflection: Sometimes at the end of every month, I am going to write about everything I did while windsurfing if I had a chance to do it that month including my experiences, thoughts, and opinions.
Demonstration: I will post pictures of me windsurfing when I get a chance to do it on this website.
Skiing and ice-skating
Investigation: Through the winter I plan to ski and ice-skate. This year I'm hoping to get as much ski time as I can as I really, truly enjoy it. I've been going skiing every season since I was three years old so I'm really familiar with it, but I still make sure to always have my phone on me and ski on marked paths in case I have an accident and need assistance. My mom and dad are also really good skiers, so they are always available to act as my supervisors when I'm on the trail. I've also been doing ice-skating for a really long time. My favorite thing to do is risk-taking by always trying out new tricks and steep paths. CAS Learning Outcomes I plan to achieve through this activity are:
LO 1. Identify my own strengths and develop areas for personal growth- I will do this by collaborating with a trainer and always following his advice on how to improve my skills.
LO 2. Demonstrate that I have undertaken challenges and developed new skills in the process- I will do this by challenging myself by not quitting on tricks and skills I find hard to do, and working on them until I am able to do them with ease, also by actively documenting my experience while doing so.
LO 3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience- I will do this by always carefully planning the trips I will make and preparing all the equipment I will need in order to do these activities, as well as documenting my experiences when doing so.
LO 4. Show commitment to and perseverance in my CAS experiences- I will do this by actively planning and documenting my experiences when doing these activities.
LO 5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively- I will do this by always making sure I'm collaborating with a trainer while trying out new tricks and skills to ensure maximal progress and safety.
LO 7. Recognize and consider the ethics of my own choices and actions- I will do this by always making sure I'm following the rules provided by the certain track I'm skiing/ ice-skating on and by always being careful around and considerate of other people using the same track.
Preparation: I will plan a time and place to do these activities. When this is finished I will plan the trip and prepare all the equipment needed for this activity.
Action: I will put on all the equipment I need for the activity I will be doing ( skis, ski boots, helmet.../ ice skates, gloves, hat...). When this is finished I will make sure I take my phone with me so I can contact my parents or help if needed and continue by starting with the activity.
Reflection: Sometimes at the end of every month, I am going to write about everything I did while skiing or ice-skating if I had a chance to do it that month including my experiences, thoughts, and opinions.
Demonstration: I will post a picture of me skiing or ice-skating when I get a chance to do it on this website.
Service:
7Cups
Investigation: 7 Cups is a website (also an app) that provides online therapy and emotional support to people experiencing emotional distress by connecting them with trained listeners. I plan to work with this website 2 times a week. I really like the idea and the message this website sends to other people, I also really like that you can't just sign up and start, first you have to take a full-on course on being a listener and it's filled with really useful information and even ted talks about certain problems. I hope that this app will help me better my skills with talking to people, but also help me be the best listener I can and actually make me educated enough on certain themes that I can actually really help someone and make them feel better. Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection, Demonstration
CAS Learning Outcomes I plan to achieve through this activity are:
LO 1. Identify my own strengths and develop areas for personal growth- I will do this by educating myself on a lot of different problems people often struggle with and learning more and more about how to make them feel better through conversation.
LO 2. Demonstrate that I have undertaken challenges and developed new skills in the process- I will do this by doing my best to educate myself on as many different problems as I can so I can learn how to help more people deal with them.
LO 3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience- I will do this by planning and documenting my experiences with the 7Cups webpage.
LO 4. Show commitment to and perseverance in my CAS experiences-I will do this by making sure to document everything I'm doing on the webpage, and by spending my time on it regularly.
LO 5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively-I will do this by taking part in group support chats which includes both support for certain users facing problems, but also for listeners.
LO 6. Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance- This whole webpage is helping people deal with mental problems, and being a part of its support group (listeners) includes engagement with issues of global significance.
LO 7. Recognize and consider the ethics of my own choices and actions- I will do this by making sure I'm always qualified to talk about a certain problem a person is having and to always be as understanding and helpful as I possibly can.
Preparation: First I will choose a time of the week to do this. Then I will check if there are any general requests to chat on the website. I will also check if any people from my previous conversations provided a follow-up on their situation we already talked about. If there aren't any general requests or follow-ups I will work on getting my certifications.
Action: If there are any general requests, I will choose one in which the person requires help with a problem I'm the most educated on and I think I can help with the best. I will also make sure to answer any messages from people I already talked with recently providing me with a follow-up on their situation. If there aren't any general requests or messages from people I already talked with, I will choose a course on a problem I'm interested in and know people often struggle with and work on getting educated on it and thus getting my certification for it.
Reflection: Sometimes at the end of every month, I am going to write about everything I did on the 7Cups website including my experiences, thoughts, and opinions.
Demonstration: I will post a picture of my progress on the 7Cups to this website.
SciStarter
Investigation: SciStarter is the place to find, join, and contribute to science through more than 3,000 formal and informal research projects, events, and tools. This website enables discovery, organization, and greater participation in science. I plan to take on a project at least 3 times a month and I'm really looking forward to getting to know a little bit more about different scientific fields. CAS Learning Outcomes I plan to achieve through this activity Identify are:
LO 1. Identify my own strengths and develop areas for personal growth- I will do this by taking on many different projects in order to educate myself more on lots of different themes.
LO 2. Demonstrate that I have undertaken challenges and developed new skills in the process- I will do this by always doing my best conducting these researches, so I can learn as much as I can from the process of doing so making me able to do it better each time I undertake a project.
LO 3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience- I will do this by actively planning and documenting my experience on the SciStarter webpage.
LO 4. Show commitment to and perseverance in my CAS experiences- I will do this by actively undertaking projects to do and always finishing them.
LO 5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively- I will do this by exchanging information I gather while working on these projects with other people on the site doing the same.
LO 6. Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance- I will do this by taking part in projects raising awareness about issues of global significance.
LO 7. Recognize and consider the ethics of my own choices and actions- I will do this by making sure to only take part in projects that are appropriate.
Preparation: First I will choose a time of the week to do this. Next, I will choose and do some research on the research I find interesting and know I can do. When I find one I really like, I will continue by once again reading all the instructions and gathering everything I need to conduct the research.
Action: After choosing the research I like and gathering everything I need to conduct it I will continue by carefully following the instructions provided to help successfully conduct the research, and when finished providing the SciStarter webpage with my results if needed.
Reflection: Sometimes at the end of every month, I am going to write about everything I did on the SciStarter website including my experiences, thoughts, and opinions.
Demonstration: I will post a picture of the project I'm doing on the SciStarter on this website.