Author: rocha64075@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg

Joining this activity was a great think, I had the chance to experience a lot of new things, like working with different equipment and learning how they work, learning how to use them properly and also practising and training to understand the best settings for a camera when taking picture under certain circumstances. The great think is that I also got to use the skills that I learnt in trips and also events that I went to. For example, during the CNY break I went a family event and I had to take the pictures, and I knew that as it was a small and dark place I would have to use a flash, and in the activity I learnt the proper way to use flash under those circumstances to make the picture have a better lighting, and because of  this the pictures were really good with proper lighting.

This activity made me more aware of my skills, and what I’m good at. In film it is essential we understand completely ow to use the camera and its settings. Therefore, in this activity I was able to learn a lot more how aperture and shuttle speed works. At first, it was hard to learn everything as I had never used a camera the way we did in the activity, and compared to the my colleagues experienced made me a little bit worried. However, with time I gained more confidence and was able to express my creativity better, using the skills I learnt.

Lastly, whenever I take a photo and I like it, I usually don’t share with anyone as i’m not confident enough it’s good. However, this activity made me more trusting in my work and that is good.

For my service I made this video reflection that summarises our entire experience in this half year. I’ve learnt a lot about Alzheimer and I got out of my comfort zone when I had to interact with elder people with a disease, as I never had done it before it was really challenging in the beginning, but by the end of the half term I was really confided and comfortable in doing it making the service and my meeting with the resident even better.

In the video I talk about how I engaged in conversations while setting the equipment to be used. I did this as a way of making the resident more confortable with me, as if he understand he is in a safe environment makes the entire process much more enjoyable and effective. In addition, in Grade 10 during a service trip to a local village in Bintan we learnt that whenever you are working with a group of people, trying to help them, firstly you need to understand fully their needs and interests.

Link

Until now I’ve learnt new skills in the photography club and was able to apply them over the break (Pictures included), I was able to collaborate in Boxing and Photography club by teaching/helping friends that had problem with something that I had the experience, definitely faced challenges in my service when I had to interact with seniors with chronic diseases and I had no experience with it, but by the end of the year I was really confortable and able to interact having any problems or being disrespectful . Lastly, I increased my awareness of my own body and limits in the boxing club and also increased my understanding of Alzheimer.

On the other hand, until now I wasn’t able to take leadership in my activities/service. In order to do it I will try my best to take the role of leader. In addition, las year I missed a few of the sessions for my activities, so this year I will try my best to not miss anymore.

As I finished 2018, I came up to an conclusion that in my last year I want attempt to do new things that would put me out of my comfort zone, as I think that in this I stuck to activities where I felt confident on as Muay Thai, and Photography. For my next year one of my main goals is to get into a exercise routine in order to lose weight and get a healthier lifestyle.

Overall, I believe that grade 11 was a successful year for me, considering the activities I done. out of all of them Project week and service definitely stood out. The opportunity I had to take the leadership of my group when planning and execution of the trip. Even though, I want to experience new things and exercise in 2019, my main focus is on my studies, as this last year will be really important for my future.

Going around the school looking for a client for computer science product

• It was a really important task I had to complete in order to move forward with my project. It require a lot thinking and effort because I had to think and prepare a short presentation about it and I was a bit worried.

• To achieve it I had to spent a long time deciding and planning the project and had to go around the school trying to find slots in the teacher in charge of Focus Africa GC calendar that would fit mine so I could present my project and try to see if they could be possible clients. To find the slots with the teachers I checked their google calendar and email them giving a brief explanation of the project so I would lose my time having a meeting with them, to in the end not be able to follow through. For example, I first scheduled a meeting with Louisa Radford and then I emailed her, if I hadn’t I would spent a lunchtime talking to her that I could finding other clients.

• This experience helped me have an idea how it works in universities when you need help with a project. So I feel I can take away from this is a something that I learnt that I can improve next time to do even more efficiently.

In this activity collaboration is essential in order to help the others in class and also to achieve the task we were given. Throughout the entire activity I helped  the teacher to set up all the equipments we were going to use in the day, and as we were working in groups, collaboration was required from everyone.

One of the challenges we all faced, is that when we were told to go outside and take pictures applying the techniques we learnt and  at some point we were having trouble adjusting the camera settings to take a appropriate picture. However, after a while we got it to work. If everyone in the group didn’t collaborate we wouldn’t be able to solve the problem and would waste the time we had to work on it.

Click in this link for reflection  https://youtu.be/MOb_Q2DtTxQ

This activity has been great for me, as I learnt new ways to take pictures, now I have a better understanding of the camera and I also learnt new ways to see the world when taking pictures.

Over the break I travelled and I got a chance to apply all the skills that I learnt in the activity. I had until now four sessions and now I got a good understanding of the camera. Even though, I don’t have a DLSR camera that I can use to apply the skills that I learnt I can do some things with the camera that I got. I think this is a great opportunity for me to learn how to use the camera that I have to it’s full potential.

I also got to apply the skill that I learnt in the activity in my film class, whenever I’m recording a scene for a project now I have a better understanding of lighting and what are the best settings for my camera when I need to take a certain shot.

Here are some of the pictures I’ve taken over the holiday applying some of the skills I learnt.

When I was signing up the the activities and services, one of my options for the creativity area was to join the Photography club. However, I wasn’t accepted at first, then I decided to email the teacher in charge of the club and asked if it would be possible to join them.

Photography is one of my favourite hobbies and I believe that I’m good at it. However, whenever i’m using my camera I use the automatic mode because I don’t know how to use the manual one, so for me this activity would be a great experience and would allow me to improve my skills.

The teacher in charge of the activity said that it would be no problem for me to join it, but I would have to use my own camera, and for me this is not an issue. Down is a picture of my choices calendar.

Activities:

When I was choosing the activities I was going to do, first I was thinking what were the requirements to complete the CAS. After that I organised my calendar so I could easily identify the days I had no activities after school. When i was choosing the activities I was thinking about doing sports I’m interested into and sports that I would learn something new, so I chose Muay Thai as one of my activities as I have a lot of experience and enjoy a lot doing it, then as I wanted to learn a new sport I chose Golf for beginners.

After choosing my activities that involved sports, I started looking for activities that count as Creativity for CAS. I’m really into photography so I chose  a photography activity and CASamba. Last year I was in the Djembe Follow group and after watching the CASamba group performances I decided that I would like to try it out. However, I wasn’t accepted in any of my Creativity activities so I will try to join one of these activities for season 3 and 4.

Service:

For service I had as my first choice The Riding for the disabled. I really wanted this service, because I really enjoy  helping kids or just to playing with them, and this would be a different way of doing that. In addition, my brother did this service before and said he had a great experience there helping the kids.

As my second choice, I chose Music Therapy with Apex. I chose this because I really enjoy music and this would be a type of service I’ve never done before, and I thing it would be a great experience and I’m really looking forward to doing it.

For the services I wasn’t accepted in my first choice, but I was on my second.