REFLECTIONS
1. Girls Varsity Soccer Team - SAAC SOCCER
One of the biggest challenges I ever faced when I went back to soccer in 9th grade where the SAAC Soccer tryouts. I wanted to join the varsity girls soccer team and be able to represent the school in the competition. I remember the coaches saying that everyone would be participating in the tryouts and that we should never give up. I would always go to the trainings and I remember just how much I had to suffer in the tryouts: running nonstop around the field, jogging, kicking the ball, avoid losing my balance, and making sure I would “master” each technique learned in class. After the results came out, I had, unfortunately, not made it to the team. However, I didn’t let this put me down. Instead, I started working hard: going out for runs, always going to the trainings, and making sure I understood the skills we would learn and apply them in the activities we had. The next school year came by and soon we were already trying out for SAAC, again. I felt ready, I had mastered so many skills in one whole year and I felt good about myself after my tryout, and I did make it to the team. If it hadn't been for the new skills I developed in this process, I probably wouldn’t have made it.
I feel very proud of myself because this has been my second SAAC since I became a high school student and I feel good about myself for having achieved one of my biggest goals for my extracurricular activities. Something important I learned on my first trip was the importance of working as a team with others, not just in the field but also out of the field by supporting each other. When I went to Brazil, I got to know everyone in the team and this made me realize just how important this is in order to have clearer communications with each other. This was challenging because I had to work along with girls older than me and girls younger than me. Having to work with someone that’s not close to you and that’s not even in your grade was extremely hard, which is why going to SAAC and experiencing it was the perfect opportunity to get to know everyone and work together as a team to achieve our goal.
I feel very proud of myself because this has been my second SAAC since I became a high school student and I feel good about myself for having achieved one of my biggest goals for my extracurricular activities. Something important I learned on my first trip was the importance of working as a team with others, not just in the field but also out of the field by supporting each other. When I went to Brazil, I got to know everyone in the team and this made me realize just how important this is in order to have clearer communications with each other. This was challenging because I had to work along with girls older than me and girls younger than me. Having to work with someone that’s not close to you and that’s not even in your grade was extremely hard, which is why going to SAAC and experiencing it was the perfect opportunity to get to know everyone and work together as a team to achieve our goal.
2. GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER TEAM - MIA AWARD, CAPTAIN'S AWARD
I’ve been playing soccer since I was 12 years old. For the next 5 years, I’ve dedicated most of my afternoons to this sport. One of the many things that made me proud of myself was the day I received the “Most Improved Athlete” Award by my coach and the “Captain’s Award” by the captain of the girls varsity soccer team. I won the MIA Award two years ago after I became part of the Varsity Team. Receiving this award from my coach made me realize just how much I had improved and the dedication I’ve been giving to this sport has been worth it. Thanks to this sport, I’ve been having a healthier lifestyle because I get to exercise 3 times in a school week and I’m always encouraged to give my 100% in the soccer trainings. However, having received this award doesn’t mean that I the best player because that certainly isn’t truth. This award taught me how much I had improved ever since I started playing soccer and it allows me to always keep on giving my 100% effort because I know I can always keep improving.
Just last semester, in 2018, I won the “Captain's Award.” This award shows how much leadership you have in the team, and who you are as a player not just in the field but also as a teammate who helps people out. This shows my commitment and perseverance in CAS experiences because I’ve always shown a lot of commitment to the practices and I always try to keep the team together by encouraging one another and making sure we stick together. Having won this award made me feel proud of myself because it also shows others who I am as a person and what I try to do for others. I feel very lucky to be part of the team because I know that I can always count on them for anything and also because many people see me as their example or as their “role model.”
Just last semester, in 2018, I won the “Captain's Award.” This award shows how much leadership you have in the team, and who you are as a player not just in the field but also as a teammate who helps people out. This shows my commitment and perseverance in CAS experiences because I’ve always shown a lot of commitment to the practices and I always try to keep the team together by encouraging one another and making sure we stick together. Having won this award made me feel proud of myself because it also shows others who I am as a person and what I try to do for others. I feel very lucky to be part of the team because I know that I can always count on them for anything and also because many people see me as their example or as their “role model.”
3. PHOTOGRAPHY
This school year, in the Innovation Academy, I’ve been working on photography for the independent project. This is one of my hobbies and I took the opportunity to try it out even more through this project. I started off not knowing anything about photography such as the skills, the parts of the camera, and the different tools one can use. The first semester I focused on landscape and architecture photography and I had a total of 5-6 prototypes. In each prototype I would seek for feedback from an expert. To show improvement from each prototype, I would go out, take pictures, and have a presentation where I would show my photographs and show the feedback I’ve been given. At the end of the semester, to show my overall progress and growth, I made a photo album with pictures from my first prototype all the way to the last prototype so that my audience can also identify and see how I’ve grown as a photographer.
This semester, I sticked to photography but I decided to challenge myself even more. I decided to work on street photography and focus on this type of photography and the many ways a photographer can show a person’s life through various photographs. So far, I’ve done three prototypes with different types of photographs where I focus on different aspects and I’m currently working on my fourth prototype. In order to grow as a photographer and show progress, I still work on my process journal where I gather research from videos and different websites as well as analyzing pictures so that I can get ideas of how I want my pictures to look like.
This semester, I sticked to photography but I decided to challenge myself even more. I decided to work on street photography and focus on this type of photography and the many ways a photographer can show a person’s life through various photographs. So far, I’ve done three prototypes with different types of photographs where I focus on different aspects and I’m currently working on my fourth prototype. In order to grow as a photographer and show progress, I still work on my process journal where I gather research from videos and different websites as well as analyzing pictures so that I can get ideas of how I want my pictures to look like.
4. ICC CHEER (GRADES 9-12)
During my entire high school years, I’ve been a part of the ICC cheer. Although I haven’t been a captain where I come up with the dance moves or steps, there were many times in which I volunteered to help the captains, teaching those who still don’t know how to do the dance moves correctly or making sure everyone is playing close attention in the cheer practices. In a way, I feel like I’m showing leadership because I take this cheer practices very serious because, as a team, we want to show we are a very powerful class, and for this I always make sure that we all know what we’re doing and we’re doing it the right way to reach our goals.
I was also part of the ICC Cheer this final high school year as a senior. Senior year was very important because, as a team, we wanted to make sure we start in a competitive way and that we’re here to win one last time. During the practices we had, I talked with the captains and I worked with them to create new steps four our dance. This shows the commitment I had to this activity because it was one of the most engaging and entertaining activities of ICC where we got to introduce ourselves one last time and introduce the theme we had chosen, as a grade, for our final high school year.
Working collaboratively is massive, especially during ICC and the many activities going on in this week. In these last four years, we’ve been adapting to how to work and progress in the cheer practices. Instead of sticking to one same routine for all years, we started working on a routine that would fit best for us. It was important for all girls to work together as a team for this cheer because the way we presented would affect the way the judges rated the cheer. If one didn’t do it the right way, it affected the whole presentation so we had to make sure that everyone knew how to do it and we always helped each other out in order to show improvement and do a great job
I was also part of the ICC Cheer this final high school year as a senior. Senior year was very important because, as a team, we wanted to make sure we start in a competitive way and that we’re here to win one last time. During the practices we had, I talked with the captains and I worked with them to create new steps four our dance. This shows the commitment I had to this activity because it was one of the most engaging and entertaining activities of ICC where we got to introduce ourselves one last time and introduce the theme we had chosen, as a grade, for our final high school year.
Working collaboratively is massive, especially during ICC and the many activities going on in this week. In these last four years, we’ve been adapting to how to work and progress in the cheer practices. Instead of sticking to one same routine for all years, we started working on a routine that would fit best for us. It was important for all girls to work together as a team for this cheer because the way we presented would affect the way the judges rated the cheer. If one didn’t do it the right way, it affected the whole presentation so we had to make sure that everyone knew how to do it and we always helped each other out in order to show improvement and do a great job
5. ICC SOCCER COMPETITION
Another challenge that is faced in ICC Week is the soccer competition. In this, the captain has to make a team of their own. A massive challenge is having enough people for the team that could play soccer. In my grade, only 6 of us play soccer and we need at least 11 players. I remember the first year of ICC, I was mad that most of the girls in the team didn’t know how to play but throughout the years I had to accept that not everyone plays soccer and that not everyone would have joined the team so I actually had to be thankful that some girls had volunteered to be part of the ICC Soccer team. This is a skill I adapted throughout the years and this past year, instead of getting frustrated, I told the team that we should just enjoy the game and see it as a new experience.
Working collaboratively is important because this affects performance, in any situation. Prior to our game, we always get together to practice a few times and also talk with everyone in the team to improve our communication and make sure that our teamwork seems awkward or doesn’t seem to work. In order for us to give our best in the field, we must work together. If one doesn’t put their whole effort, it affects the whole team because we will all feel like this game is not working and therefore impact the performance negatively.
Working collaboratively is important because this affects performance, in any situation. Prior to our game, we always get together to practice a few times and also talk with everyone in the team to improve our communication and make sure that our teamwork seems awkward or doesn’t seem to work. In order for us to give our best in the field, we must work together. If one doesn’t put their whole effort, it affects the whole team because we will all feel like this game is not working and therefore impact the performance negatively.
6. LUNAHUANÁ
Back in 10th grade, we went to Lunahuana as our CWW Trip, in which we were being graded on our PE performances out of school. In this trip, we had to prepare ourselves to go camping for 5 days where we would have to bring our own food, prepare our own food, build a tent, and be part of a variety of activities such as: repelling, cycling, zip lining, kayaking, and a few others. From this trip, I became way more independent because I had to work with my group and if we needed anything, we couldn’t depend on the teacher, but instead we had to look for our own answers and if we faced a problem, in terms of our meals, it was up to us to come up with a solution.
Prior to doing the activities, I had my mind stuck with my fear of heights because most of these required me to climb and be at a high height. I didn’t want to back down and miss out on these activities, which is why I tried not to think about this fear nor think about it as something I have to do but I rather viewed it as something that I would probably won’t get to do ever again and that this was the opportunity to try them out. I was able to face my fears, more specifically during the rappelling and zip lining activities because although I felt very insecure, I was capable of facing them and I actually felt good about myself and this led me to having a new perspective on these activities and what I learned overall from this trip.
Prior to doing the activities, I had my mind stuck with my fear of heights because most of these required me to climb and be at a high height. I didn’t want to back down and miss out on these activities, which is why I tried not to think about this fear nor think about it as something I have to do but I rather viewed it as something that I would probably won’t get to do ever again and that this was the opportunity to try them out. I was able to face my fears, more specifically during the rappelling and zip lining activities because although I felt very insecure, I was capable of facing them and I actually felt good about myself and this led me to having a new perspective on these activities and what I learned overall from this trip.
7. INNOVATION ACADEMY - CREATING A BUSINESS
Last year, in the Innovation Academy, we all worked on the business unit. Here, we had to seek for a problem in school and try to find a way to solve this problem through the many concepts we learned through our book, “The Personal MBA.” After learning the concepts needed for one to be successful in business, we started working on potential business that could be useful on campus. There were many prototypes that had to be done prior to the official business we wanted to launch. This was a very challenging semester because everyone had to adapt to a system that would fit with each group member and we had to work in a group and follow a process that would lead us to having a successful business. It was important to communicate with everyone in our group because we all needed to work together in order to get everything done and follow our calendar so that our plan would work perfectly.
Although our business may not have worked out, as a student, I was able to learn about the different aspects from our main resource which was the book and I was also able to connect this aspects to the process of our own business. Something that was very useful to me were the socratic seminars because these allowed us to have important takeaways from the book to us and it would also allow us to make connections with our personal lives. Not only did we learn about business in a workplace, but we also learned about the different ways in which these concepts or aspects can be used in our day to day lives to solve a problem.
Although our business may not have worked out, as a student, I was able to learn about the different aspects from our main resource which was the book and I was also able to connect this aspects to the process of our own business. Something that was very useful to me were the socratic seminars because these allowed us to have important takeaways from the book to us and it would also allow us to make connections with our personal lives. Not only did we learn about business in a workplace, but we also learned about the different ways in which these concepts or aspects can be used in our day to day lives to solve a problem.
8. innovation academy - making a book
In semester 2 of my junior year, in the Innovation Academy, we worked on the philosophy unit. We started off by stating a dysfunctional belief in which we felt had become a habit to us. We then seeked out a truth from this dysfunctional belief that would allow us to work and improve on these belief. Through the truth, we started prototyping our lives and in a way find an answer based on how we want to live by tackling our truth. In this process of creating prototypes, as a class, we came up with an idea for a final project we wanted to do in this unit: making and writing a book.
Everyone in the class got a role such as editors, those who work on art, layout, finance, and a few other roles. Besides having our own roles, each student had to create a chapter that would be park of the book. The chapter would be based on our truth and we would use a specific anecdote that would allow us to explain a story that connect with our truth and what we have learned so far from this truth and how it has affected us into the people we are today. This has been a project I enjoyed a lot because I was able to tackle a truth and at the same time learn way more about it through many resources such as books, movies and podcasts, and this has allowed me to stick to this one truth which will lead me to answer the question: How do I want to live my life?
The fact that we have created a book also shows just how much we’ve learned from this unit and how much we’ve been able to take away from these resources. The book allowed me to show to others what I’ve taken away from the unit and how I’ve been learning to adapt to philosophy and apply it on my day to day life.
Everyone in the class got a role such as editors, those who work on art, layout, finance, and a few other roles. Besides having our own roles, each student had to create a chapter that would be park of the book. The chapter would be based on our truth and we would use a specific anecdote that would allow us to explain a story that connect with our truth and what we have learned so far from this truth and how it has affected us into the people we are today. This has been a project I enjoyed a lot because I was able to tackle a truth and at the same time learn way more about it through many resources such as books, movies and podcasts, and this has allowed me to stick to this one truth which will lead me to answer the question: How do I want to live my life?
The fact that we have created a book also shows just how much we’ve learned from this unit and how much we’ve been able to take away from these resources. The book allowed me to show to others what I’ve taken away from the unit and how I’ve been learning to adapt to philosophy and apply it on my day to day life.
9. Moncho berry's photographer
A few months ago, back in July, I started taking pictures of Moncho Berry. Moncho Berry is a recent peruvian artist, singer and songwriter, who began with Music during his last years of school. Over time, he’s been creating new music and has been recognized by many people, showing a growth in his audience. I got the opportunity to photograph him in many sessions during the month of July and August. Some of these sessions consisted of: regular photo sessions, music studio photo sessions and concert photography.
The regular photo sessions were done to capture the essence of Moncho Berry and show who the artist is. These pictures would then be used on social media platforms that would allow the artist to keep promoting the new music that’s yet to come as well as having content that could be used to interact with the audience with new posts being made over time as well as promoting future events. Music studio photo session was made to capture a “behind the scenes” of what is yet to come. The artist is currently working on his album and this would show snippets in images of what the audience should expect. These would also be posted on social media platforms in order to show the audience what the artist has been working on. Lastly, I was able to apply my photography skills on the concert he had. I had the opportunity to capture the audience on stage and being himself while playing music for his audience. The footage was then used by the artist and the images were posted on his instagram account to thank the audience for attending as well as using the images to make a recap of the night and show how the event went and how the place looked like.
This opportunity is big because it has allowed me to go beyond working by myself and learning to work with a bigger team where I’m able to contribute by using my skills and the passion I have for photography. I am still working for the artist and I am planning on doing so for my CAS project and as an out of school activity for both semesters.
The regular photo sessions were done to capture the essence of Moncho Berry and show who the artist is. These pictures would then be used on social media platforms that would allow the artist to keep promoting the new music that’s yet to come as well as having content that could be used to interact with the audience with new posts being made over time as well as promoting future events. Music studio photo session was made to capture a “behind the scenes” of what is yet to come. The artist is currently working on his album and this would show snippets in images of what the audience should expect. These would also be posted on social media platforms in order to show the audience what the artist has been working on. Lastly, I was able to apply my photography skills on the concert he had. I had the opportunity to capture the audience on stage and being himself while playing music for his audience. The footage was then used by the artist and the images were posted on his instagram account to thank the audience for attending as well as using the images to make a recap of the night and show how the event went and how the place looked like.
This opportunity is big because it has allowed me to go beyond working by myself and learning to work with a bigger team where I’m able to contribute by using my skills and the passion I have for photography. I am still working for the artist and I am planning on doing so for my CAS project and as an out of school activity for both semesters.
10. Wish Factory visits
I’ve been part of the Wish Factory Club since 9th grade. I joined this group because I’ve always felt like I’m capable of giving without having someone ask for something and without expecting something in return. I feel like this club allows me to do this because, during the visits to El Hospital Rebagliati, I am able to empathize with the kids there, play with them, give them activities that distract them for a few hours and that allow them to collaborate and interact with us. After each visit I feel like I contributed part of myself to a community that doesn’t have the same opportunities as we do and it makes me happy to know that I made someone else’s day by giving just 2 hours of my whole week to these kids and playing with them.
Ever since I joined the club, I’ve been to various visits where I met new kids and I played with them and got to know them a little more. I feel that by being part of this club for quite some time now I have been able to interact more with others and learn the importance of giving without expecting something in return. It makes me feel good about myself and it makes me feel proud to see how much I’ve grown and learnt from this service club.
Ever since I joined the club, I’ve been to various visits where I met new kids and I played with them and got to know them a little more. I feel that by being part of this club for quite some time now I have been able to interact more with others and learn the importance of giving without expecting something in return. It makes me feel good about myself and it makes me feel proud to see how much I’ve grown and learnt from this service club.
11. innovation academy - The making of a video
This year, in the Innovation Academy, we worked on a marketing unit, which consisted of us, students, showing people something they don't see. This was the main idea and this is how we came up with marketing the IA since it's a program that has been misjudged by the FDR community. We wanted to show the FDR community what they don't see about the IA. We agreed on making a video that would show different key ideas that we want people to stick with. Through this video making process, I took the role of being the Director of Photography. We met up with experts from DocuPerú, who would teach us the basic skills we need to film a video.
This product made me feel like a professional since the shots and scenes were in my hands. I felt the pressure of having great shots that would be used for the video. Since I had been working on photography, I didn't feel that challenged since I could apply similar skills on video making. However, I found it really helpful to meet up with experts since they taught me new techniques that I was able to successfully apply throughout the process of making this video.
This product made me feel like a professional since the shots and scenes were in my hands. I felt the pressure of having great shots that would be used for the video. Since I had been working on photography, I didn't feel that challenged since I could apply similar skills on video making. However, I found it really helpful to meet up with experts since they taught me new techniques that I was able to successfully apply throughout the process of making this video.
12. Last SAAC SOCCEr - winning the sportsmanship award
This past November, I travelled with the school soccer team to my last SAAC Soccer competition, which took place in Uruguay. Although we didn't get the results we wanted, as a team we made sure to show our best, not only in the field but outside as well by helping others, making new friends, being nice to each other, and cheering for other teams as well.
On the last day, during the awards ceremony, I was called on stage along with other people from different schools to receive the sportsmanship award. I felt proud of myself because this made me realize that soccer is not just about winning, but also about being a true player: one who is respectful towards other teams, and what that always keeps her head up at all times, no matter what.
Having received this on my last SAAC soccer competition made me feel accomplished because I was able to see how much I had changed over the past years ever since I was invited to join the varsity team.
On the last day, during the awards ceremony, I was called on stage along with other people from different schools to receive the sportsmanship award. I felt proud of myself because this made me realize that soccer is not just about winning, but also about being a true player: one who is respectful towards other teams, and what that always keeps her head up at all times, no matter what.
Having received this on my last SAAC soccer competition made me feel accomplished because I was able to see how much I had changed over the past years ever since I was invited to join the varsity team.