Yoga – Reflection for LO4

LO4: Show commitment and perseverance in CAS experiences.

While I could go (before getting hurt), I made sure to go to the activity every week. Additionally, I made sure to try all of the moves and activities we were assigned to do, no matter how hard they were, to the best of my abilities. I really enjoyed pushing my boundaries and testing my limits, even if sometimes I had to accept that I couldn’t to it.

Yoga – Reflection for LO1

LO1: Identify their own strengths and develop areas for growth.

Whilst I wasn’t able to complete this experience, it has made me aware of how fit I was and where my areas for development were. I realised that I needed to work on my flexibility more as that was the area I struggled most in when doing the exercises. This activity was the ideal place for me to do that as Yoga involves building up flexibility (at least, before I hurt myself). I was, however, happy with my ability to withstand the core and strength activities.

Since I got hurt, I couldn’t finish the activity. However, I think that it would’ve been a great way to work on areas of my strength and flexibility.

Knee Recovery – Third reflection – LO4

Learning Outcome 4: Show commitment and perseverance in CAS experiences.

I think that through this whole experience, I had moments where I thought about living with the pain in my knee. I was getting really frustrated with all of the procedures being done and all of the unknowns. However, throughout this time, I tried to commit to CAS by trying out different experiences and trying to participate in them the best I could, even if some of them were unsuccessful. I tried softball, pilates and yoga.

Knee Recovery – Second Reflection – LO5

Learning Outcome 5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively

This whole experience has been very rough for me. I had to deal with a lot of disappointment and frustration of my recovery taking so long. What did help, was speaking to the people that were helping me get better and working collaboratively with them to make sure my knee gets better and doesn’t get even more hurt in the process.

For example, I needed to work collaboratively with my doctor, and communicate effectively. This is something I didn’t do when I didn’t disclose to him straight away that I was still feeling some discomfort in my knee after my initial surgery. After that, I made sure, to be honest with him and work with him to allow me to get better.

Another example is my pilates instructor. She and I spent a session testing out different movements and combinations of exercises to understand which of them hurt and which of them didn’t. We then came up with a plan together on what we were going to incorporate in the sessions in order to strengthen my knee injured leg amongst the other things I wanted to achieve in pilates.

Lastly, it was important that I work collaboratively with my parents in this process as it was frustrating for all of us that I wasn’t able to do many things. I needed to let them know what I needed from them and they helped me the best they can.

Crest Reflection #1

When we were told to choose a topic for our CREST project, my mind immediately went to genetics. I knew that I had two topics in mind that were related to genetics; how genetics are used in helping with solving crime investigations, and designer DNA. I asked my teacher for some help choosing and after a small discussion with them, I realised that Designer DNA had more interesting aspects and opinions to it, whereas genetics in forensics was mostly based on facts from recent discoveries. I am excited to find out more about Designer DNA as that fascinates me so much, and it always has.

I will be doing the project as a Presentation, and I hope that whoever gets to see it will get a better understanding of the different moral points of views that people have on how far we should go with Designer DNA.

Personal Statement

This first year of highschool didn’t start off in the best way, as have many other years in the past. This year though, I took it upon myself to at least try to change that. I figured that, since I would know that I had tried and put some effort into it, I would at least feel good about whatever the outcome is. Schoolwork is not, and has never been something that I take lightly, even though I didn’t put as much effort into it as I should have over the last few years. This year, I have focused primarily on my classes and less on the activities that I was doing. It paid off as I got better grades throughout the year and I’ve been pleasantly satisfied with the outcomes.

I like to see myself as quite flexible when it comes to trying new things. I can adapt to most situations with ease, and I am very curious. I’ve done a lot of traveling ever since I can remember. I’ve had many unique opportunities, and I like to believe that they’ve all pretty much made me who I am. I think that it’s because I’ve lived in several countries. I’ve had to move schools, from a French speaking system to an English speaking system, and from an English speaking country to a Chinese speaking one. I’ve had to leave old friends behind many times as well as make new ones. I’m not the most outspoken person, I come across as pretty shy, but it was never because I am afraid of meeting new people, it’s because I like to keep to myself.

Of course, I was a swimmer on the side as well. I was quite motivated for a while, and the feeling of winning and having success in it was a big component to that motivation. However, my motivation was interrupted by several things. Everyone around me seemed to be reaching their peak, whilst I felt as though I was going downhill. I couldn’t keep up anymore. The competition became tougher, and my level was staying about the same. Another factor that affected my motivation was that I felt really uncomfortable going to training. As much as people did try to involve me into things, I’ve never had very many friends in the swim team. I didn’t identify as well with them as I maybe would have wanted. All of my friends were making plans and I couldn’t go with them because I had training. I was very unhappy going to training, and after months of arguing, my parents let me stop, under the condition that I start another sport. My dad had spoken to me about boxing for a while and he found this centre and took me to it for a trial. He had always said that he knew I was going to love it and it would be something that I would put a lot of effort into, and he was right. I have been going for about two months now and I am much happier, and I think, healthier that I was before.

This year, I have been thinking a lot about college and what I would like to do in the future. I have always been involved in art, and crafting things out of anything I could find in my house, and the career that seems most interesting to me at this moment is interior design or maybe industrial design. I have been studying a form of industrial design in my DT course this year and I really enjoy it and I want to find out if it could possibly be something that I would be willing to study in college.

I think that my first year of highschool went better than I expected it to go, mostly I think because I focused on my goals that I had difficulty achieving in previous years with more priority, as well as using my strengths in some classes to help me in others. I am excited to come back in grade 10 because I will have the same teachers that have gotten to know me and my strengths and weaknesses, so it may just be easier to succeed, rather than having to start over with a new set of teachers.