CAS evaluation

My intentions for CAS had been firmly implemented in my mind before i ever began these two years of IB.  I knew, form the beginning, that i wanted to get involved in a variety of projects, which would broaden my thinking and understanding of the world.  I knew it was important for me to do this for it would be the only way i would get the most out of all the hours that i would spend doing CAS.  Knowing this before i started was extremely beneficial as it set up my expectations and goals for the rest of the year.  I tried to carry out these expectations to the best of my ability and i did this through; being a part of the Artsco group, which carried out a number of different creative projects, being a part of the varsity football team as well as the ISSEA football team, volunteering in the special needs department at Oshwal school, painting a classroom on our IC trips, teaching children a variety of subjects at Arya Vedic school, committing to the ISK varsity Hockey team for the fourth year, helping the environment by planting trees in Karura forest, and building on my fitness with some Muay Thai training.  It is through these activities that i feel i've grown as a person.
By playing for the various football and hockey teams i feel that i grew in maturity as i demonstrated my commitment and leadership skills in both teams.  Prior to this experience (in my previous sport seasons), i had a more lethargic, carefree nature towards aspects such as practices and games.  Being part of these teams has showed me that committing to something, like a team, in the future requires me to fulfill my duties to the best of my abilities. Giving encouragement and mentoring the younger players has enhanced my leadership skills, skills which will be embedded within me for many years to come.  Teaching children a variety of subjects in Arya Vedic school and volunteering in the special needs department in Oshwal, were both experiences which may have had the greatest impact on my understanding of my abilities to help other people.
In Arya Vedic school, teaching the children was, at first, challenging as at times i didn't know how explain certain topics in a different manner in which the children would understand the subject.  However, as i began to maneuver through these problems i began to realize that there was more than one way of teaching a subject.  I began to come up with different methods of teaching and, in the end, the children found it educational and fun.  Although this experience taught me a lot about face and deal with problems, volunteering at the special needs department at Oshwal included using these skills but was one of the most inspirational experiences i will ever encounter.  Helping those students was more than just teaching them one plus one, i had to get to know them, get to understand them and so in time, they began to trust me and consider me a friend.  And as they did so they began to learn from and me from them.  I did not realize how a simple mind could yet be such a great one.  Through this volunteer work, i found within me certain love for these students and the way they view the world and in turn, learnt that doing any work or job with all your heart will make it extremely enjoyable and interesting.  Helping the environment was always one of my goals and by planting the ten trees in Karura forest i felt that it was my duty and pleasure to give to the environment that has given me so much.
All in all, through the activities i completed over these two years i feel that not only have i helped people ad myself, i have grown in my understanding of the world and the qualities that make me who i am.  Growing in maturity, confidence, and various different abilities have all been enhanced and will continue to as continue to find my place in the world.