Grade 12 - CAS goals

Major objectives for the year and goals for the 1st Semester

 
This post marks the beginning of the CAS programme for my final IB Diploma year. Returning from a refreshing summer break, I now plan to broaden the horizon for co-curricular activities by taking the previous year’s activities one step further.

 

Creativity:       

My main goal is to further develop my Guitar skills through continued lessons, learn new techniques to enhance and develop my music playing range, and increase my performance experience. 

Thus, I am going to continue learning to play the Guitar by attending hourly classes every weekend with my teacher Mr. Netaji and practicing on a regular basis. In this, I will:

• Be punctual - Attend classes regularly.
• Practice regularly.
• Enjoy the learning process!

To become a confident player, I will start recording some of the music I learn to play. For the first semester, I will upload at least 5 such videos onto my CAS blog. In addition, I will take part in at least two performances, either inside or outside (or both) of school. Both these tasks will be new challenges and shall help me to achieve my main objective.

Action:
The main goal I aim to achieve is improving my physical fitness level by increasing my stamina and improving my physique through Badminton, swimming, and regular exercises at home.
  

Hence, I am going to continue to attend Badminton sessions at the D.S. Senanayake twice every weekend. This activity has helped me to improve as a player as well as a sportsperson. Thus, I wish to continue these sessions as they provide a nice exercise environment between busy school days. They will also help me to fulfill my ‘Action’ criteria comfortably. By attending these sessions, I will become a more tactical and physically capable 'skilled' badminton player. The timings for these badminton sessions will be:

• Saturday – 7:00 am to 8:00 am
• Sunday – 7:00 am to 9:00 am 

For this activity, I will:

• Be punctual - attend class regularly.
• Utilize free time to do light exercises.
• Participate actively.
• Learn more and enjoy.

In addition, I will take part in at least one competition inside or outside school or attempt to represent my school in SAISA badminton.

Also, I plan to attend hourly sessions at the Thurstan College Swimming Complex at least twice every month. This program will continue to help me to improve my swimming as well as achieve my goal, i.e. to improve my physical fitness. I will always:

• Be focused.
• Be active.
• Raise the bar, i.e. try to do better every time.
• Work hard and have fun!

Service:        

My main objective for this domain of the CAS programme is to be well-involved with a particular service program at OSC and give my best efforts. I will achieve this by initially understanding the ethical implications and global importance of my actions, and subsequently taking responsibility, helping my peers, and planning and initiating activities in collaboration with them. 

Therefore, I will take part in the school’s Recycling service activity supervised by Mr. Ian Lockwood. The following tasks must be accomplished in order to succeed in accomplishing my goals:

• Be punctual and committed.
• Be focused.
• Participate actively.
• Help my peers.
• Take up new tasks and challenges.
• Learn and develop new skills.
• Enjoy!

In addition to these tasks, I will post monthly reflections with constant updates about my CAS related activities.

I look forward to a busy final year with lots of new experiences!

Action continues actively - Badminton (April, 2012)

April has been an action packed month for me. I have been able to continue my swimming practice along with Badminton during weekends.

Badminton continued as usual. However, the speciality was that this month was an even blend of singles competitions and doubles matches. I played in collaboration and with persistence and commitment with the other players. As my brother was the only person of my age group playing, while the remaining were experienced adults, I got many opportunities to implement my playing strategies, while also to learn new techniques by becoming aware of some of my weaknesses. For example, I tend to hit drop shots repeatedly even if the opponent is standing near the net, thus, making it easy for my opponent to 'read my game plan'. Thus, I developed the skill of using this understanding of my opponent to my own use by surprising them with corner to corner overhead shots and occasional body smashes. I would say that this month has motivated me to become more spontaneous and less planned in game play, while also smart and clever by understanding my opponents' mindset. I will continue my badminton sessions next month in the same consistent manner as in the past year while balancing my study time for the approaching exams.

Below are a few photographs and a video taken at a session that was shifted to the Royal College badminton courts.

Me at the end of a sweaty session.

"We will learn of books and men, and learn to play the game" - Outside the Royal College badminton complex.

Me successfully reaching for a backhand shot.

Good communication led to no accidents and a successful game.

Hitting a overhead clear.

Being a part of a long rally.

Hitting a smash against my brother.

Playing a backhand shot in a singles match against my brother.

A video of the instance where I learnt that being predictable can be used to one's advantage with a surprise shot.

Swimming was a special delight in the hot weather of this month. I visited the Thurstan College swimming pool for two single-hour sessions. I noted that my breath holding duration had decreased since I had not visited the pool for a few months. Thus, I started by doing some breath holding practice and underwater swimming. Later, I followed this with continuous swimming laps. I alternately did freestyle and breaststroke while also adding the backstroke at intervals. My speed was not that impressive as I lacked consistency, however, I was happy to be able to do 10 continuous laps without any breaks in the first go. These swimming sessions were really useful as they taught me about the importance of consistency and the consequences of a 'long gap' in practice. 

Below are a few photographs of mine from these sessions.

Me (in the center), doing freestyle swimming.

Underwater swimming practice.

Me (at the back in the picture), starting a new lap.

Completing lap with breastroke.

Now, my aim is to be more consistent with swimming. However, due to the exams coming up next week, I feel that missing it can be excused. Thus, my sports practice will increase over the summer break. I also intend to start regular jogging and exercises in the morning at the beautiful independence square avenue park during the summer.

I am looking forward to the next few highly 'Action' packed months.

"Action" - Swimming

As I had not attended the badminton session today, I decided to attend my second swimming session of the month as a replacement 'Action' activity. This initiative has helped me to be continue following my CAS goals for physical fitness. Hence, in the afternoon I went to the Thurstan College Swimming Pool to attend a one hour swimming session. I followed my usual plans today and practiced swimming continuously in order to improve my stamina. The swimming strokes/styles that I practiced were freestyle, breastroke, backstroke, and backstroke with 'breastroke kick'. I also did underwater swimming practice in order to increase my breathing period underwater. 

Below are some photographs of me swimming today:

Me practicing freestyle swimming.

Breastroke is fun!

It is important for one to be able to breathe properly while swimming for every style/stroke.

The backstroke with the 'breastroke kick' is a style that helps me to relax while swimming!

It was an active session today. I believe that I have been able to become a comfortable swimmer now as I practice on a quite regular basis. I will continue my 'Action' next weekend by attending my badminton sessions!

"Action" - Swimming :D

I attended my first swimming session of this month today! It was quite a refreshing experience as well as a challenging one. As planned after my previous session, I decided to complete at least 15 sets of 30 metre lengths today in which I would start with freestyle and then return with an alternate stroke which would be either breastroke or backstroke. It was a really challenging task for me as I got tired after about 30-40 minutes only. Then, I took a short 5 minute break in which I attempted to float on the surface of the water by paddling with my legs and while also keeping both my hands above the water. After this, I continued swimming with a few short breaks and finally succeeded to accomplish my goal for the day. I felt that this session has helped me to learn that with practice I will be able to increase my number of laps without taking a break and also that I need to prolong my breathing durations by practicing underwater swimming. Overall, this was a fun session. 

Below are some photographs from today's swimming session :)

Me (in the center) doing freestyle swimming!

I spent some time practicing underwater swimming today! (I am in the third lane.)

Me (in the third lane) practicing breastroke.

I feel that breastroke is a soothing and relaxing swimming style.

Me doing freestyle swimming!

In the future swimming sessions, I will continue the same practice routine and slowly increase the number of laps with my improvement in order to accomplish my final goal, i.e. to steadily improve my stamina. I hope to attend my next swimming session soon!!!

"Action" - Lets go swimming :)

I attented a swimming session today morning. This was my second swimming session this month linked to my "Action - Swimming" goals. Adhering to my aim for this session (which I had planned after the swimming session on 17th October, 2011), today I practiced all the swimming styles I knew, i.e. freestyle, breastroke, sidestroke, and backstroke. I swam in alternate styles. However, I did take a few breaks in between. In between, I challenged myself quite a few times by swimming even though my body was tired. From this experience, I increased my awareness about my own strengths and areas of growth. I learnt that my body had now adjusted with this activity, however, the main goal of enhancing my stamina would require lots of practice.

I feel that I have been quite dedicated about fulfilling my CAS goals this quarter. However, I believe that fulfilling my goals is only the beginning. I will only be able to declare this activity successful on the basis of its results, i.e. my physical fitness at the end of each session. Hence, my aim is to keep fulfilling my CAS goals while also keeping in mind the main purpose of this activity, i.e. to raise my stamina and fitness level. In order to enhance my stamina, from the next session onwards I will decide the number of laps to be done in the session, and swim with focus to fulfill the challenge.

Below are a few photos from the swimming session today:

I find breastroke to be a really soothing as well as relaxed swimming style.

While swimming, breathing in a proper manner is very crucial :)

Swimming requires one to be physically fit.

Freestyle swimming will help me increase my stamina!

Swimming can be fun!!!

"Action" - 1st Swimming session!

It was my first swimming session today morning. I went to the Thurstan College Swimming pool and started by doing breathing exercises. As I was swimming after a few months, I was not able to do more than 2 continuous lengths without taking a break. Hence, I decided to practice freestyle, back stroke and breast stroke swimming for the remaining time. While swimming, I realised that I needed to practice more in order to improve my stamina. I feel that by continuing this activity in the future while following my goals, I will be able to improve my physcial fitness by challenging my body. Hence, in the next session, I will continue the same excercise and attempt to challenge myself physically.

The following are some photographs of me swimming :)

 

Me at the Thurstan College swimming pool.

Me doing freestyle swimming.

 

Me practicing breast stroke.

I found it hard to do more than two continuos lengths today.

"Action" - Badminton

Badminton was very exciting for me on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. I was able to play singles and doubles matches on both days and they were all full of action! 

In badminton this weekend, I used my badminton skills and knowledge in matches and played mini-tournaments (tri-series) with Onkar (my friend) and my brother (an intermediate player). I was able to win most of the matches I played. However, I did lose some matches too but while still gave my opponents a good fight till the end. My strengths were playing shots of any variety (both orthodox and unorthodox). However, I found out that I needed to work on my consistency in playing strong shots. I will be able to do this by increasing my stamina, which will require consistent practice. The following are some photos of me playing against my opponents:
  

Physical fitness in the form of agility, reflexes and stamina is crucial for playing good badminton.

Serving requires a balance of technique and placement which is a result of mind-body coordination.

Playing a drop shot.

Backhand shot is as important as every forehand shot in badminton.

One should be able to 'read' a serve or shot and predict whether it will land in the correct area or not!

The 'scorpion posture' helps one to changeover from one shot to another quickly.

Playing a backhand clear shot.

Smashes are my favourite element in a match other than drop shots.

To be a successful player, one should be able to use placement in such a way that the opponent has to run in order to hit the shuttle.

The drop shots should be executed cleverly so that the opponent does not take advantage of the player's position.

Badminton was fun this weekend. I will learn from my weaknesses so that I play better next weekend. :)

"Action" - Swimming!

I intend to start my regular sessions of swimming (i.e. at least two swimming sessions per month), from this month, i.e. October. I will adhere to my goals and will also challenge myself physically in order to gain from this task. Hence, to challenge myself physically, I will not take the swimming sessions lightly and I will spend most of the time swimming properly like an athlete.