CAS Software Testing Reflection

My goals for this activity were to develop full understanding of a new program, master it, appreciate it, and make constructive criticism. My comprehension and review of the ManageBAC program would help others to learn how to use it and take advantage of what it has to offer.

I'm not so sure if I fulfilled my goals on this one. Sure, I understood the program and mastered it, to some extent. However, I did not appreciate it at all. And my criticism was abundant, although perhaps a bit ignorant and not so constructive. I did develop new skills in this program, working with others who were learning ManageBAC to figure out how to do certain things and utilize all facets of the device. But many times in the process I was forced to consider the ethical implications of my overwhelmingly negative attitude towards the program. Honestly, this was the only activity for CAS that I have not enjoyed. I felt that ManageBAC was a dumbed-down version of the blog, and that it didn't have nearly as many useful features. I love the blog, and don't understand why it should be changed when it works so well. I had to evaluate this unhappy perspective and figure out whether it was true, or simply frustration speaking. Perhaps ManageBAC isn't that bad, and instead of almost refusing to do it and risking the status of a CAS activity, I could simply shut up and post evidence.

But I still vehemently hate ManageBAC. It is annoying and useless, and I love my blog and still write the posts on it before they are transferred to ManageBAC. Like I am doing right now! The imposition of ManageBAC is unfair and takes away our personal liberty of choice between blog and ManageBAC. I wish I could protest, but after considering the ethical implications of this action, I realize it would be better for everyone if I remain quiet and just maintain my affair with Blogspot despite the presence of my controlling and irksome spouse, ManageBAC.

Honduras Mission Reflection

Words cannot adequately describe how amazing this CAS activity was. I came into this incredibly determined to plan an experience that I would remember forever and truly enjoy. I wanted to return to the country I loved, Honduras, and give back to the people that had left their handprints on my heart. This nation and this people deserve the world, and so that is what I gave them; at least, my small representation of it.

I wanted to plan an entire service trip by myself, raising money, collecting donations, booking tickets, etc. so that I could bring to Orfanato Pedro Atala something unforgettable. I wanted to prove that I was responsible and dedicated to my word and my dream. I wanted to reiterate to myself the love that I have for Honduras and its people, and to help underprivileged children to enjoy all I could possibly give them.

And I succeeded. I realized every one of my wishes for this journey. I undertook this challenge with great zeal and made a mere plan into a vibrant reality. I planned EVERYTHING, every step of the way. I figured out logistics, I payed my way, I raised money, I collected donations. I asserted myself as an adult, a responsible individual who is not afraid to chase what he wants to do. I was committed to my idea and persevered through miserable nights working to get money, days after days of tedious arrangements, and parents who weren't so hot on the idea. I gave joy to impoverished orphans living in the Third World. I was so proud of this accomplishment.

Being at the orphanage, even though it was only a day, I felt the happiest I have ever been. The small gift I was able to give to these kids affected them so greatly. Every single one of them was smiling, rejoicing in what little they had. They had so much fun creating the mural, which will serve as a lasting memory of such an amazing day. It's difficult for me to even count this as CAS because I feel like everyone should just have the natural inclination to go spend time at Honduran orphanages, whether it be for school credit or not. I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and I spent time with a rich and wonderful people who benefited me just as much as I helped them. They taught me the simple lesson of appreciating what you have, not desiring more simply for the sake of possession.

This trip was unforgettable, and I learned so much about myself. I learned that I am a responsible, driven young man who can fulfill his ideas and plans so long as he remains dedicated to his dream. I strengthened my love for a country, so simple but so unlucky. I began to decipher my individual ideology, which I now know is based off the root idea of being happy with what you have. Enough with complaining, people. Look at us. We are blessed, each and every one of us.

Tennis Reflection

Tennis was a very interesting CAS activity for me. When I was younger I used to take tennis lessons, but prior to joining the Sturgis team I literally hadn't played tennis for seven years. I was excited but nervous at the prospect of trying a nearly foreign sport. It's difficult for me to enjoy a sport if I'm not successful at it, so I was worried that this activity wouldn't be the best for me. However, I decided to give it a try, do my best, and see if I could rid myself of the mentality that I always have to be a "winner."

In the end, I think I did myself proud. At the beginning of the season I was absolutely dreadful. My serves and forehands were dreadful, and my backhands were non-existent. It was a huge challenge for me to relearn an entire sport in the course of a season. However, I stayed very committed for the first few weeks. I developed the essential skill of the backhand and I continued improving it. My forehand got better as well, and my serve became very strong. I was no longer ignorant of the game - far from it - and I was becoming a decent tennis player. My coach even recognized my improvement and was afraid that I'd fall in love with the sport and forget my true love of soccer. However, this was not the case.

As the season progressed and my skills were honed, my improvements were recognizable. On the JV team, I was paired with Luke regularly and we made a great team. We never won a match against an opposing school, but often during practice we remained calm and did exceptionally well. We worked together cohesively as a unit. Neither of us were the greatest tennis players, but we communicated very well, and this allowed us to have greater court presence and return more shots.

Unfortunately, I was unable to remain dedicated to tennis. I had persevered with my training and coach was even considering me for varsity when I was forced to get a job and start working. Funds were low for me and my family, and sadly I had to sacrifice tennis. I still want to say that I was committed to the activity, because I tried very hard up until I began working five nights a week and could simply no longer manage tennis because of my hours. I felt terrible and that I had let my team and coach down, but I am still proud of my efforts until my withdrawal.

In the end, I became more confident in my newfound tennis abilities, even though they were far from the best on the team. I further assured myself that I can learn anything, and also taught myself that being a champion of everything isn't necessary. I wish I could have continued with tennis, as I was drastically improving, but maybe next year I'll come back and even play for varsity.

Honduras Mission Update - 5/31/10

What an incredible experience! Today we were finally able to visit Orfanato Pedro Atala, the reason I planned this entire service trip to Honduras. Obviously I have been preparing for this extensively, with fundraisers, donations, purchases, mural planning, etc. Today I was finally able to consummate my travails!

Upon arrival at the orphanage, we were mobbed by all 50 of the young kids. It was so great to see all of their smiling faces again, after more than a year's absence. I remembered many of them - Angel, Miguel, Marvin - and they were as excited to see me as I them. They helped us to unload their gifts, clearly wanting the toys, but I told them to wait because we had a mural to paint first.

I gathered all the kids as I used chalk to sketch the outline for the mural. They watched in excitement, ready to grab the paintbrushes and get to work. Mafer, Chandler and I began painting just to show them the technique, and quickly let them help. With only five paintbrushes, it was difficult to share evenly, as each kid wanted to help the visitors paint this mural. I realized then that as aesthetically pleasing and hopefully inspiring as the mural would be, this was the true pleasure the kids would get out of the experience; the exercising of their creativity and a fun time with foreigners.

As the mural progressed, I stepped aside and let the kids take over. I kept watch and did painting when I needed to, but I just wanted to observe the children and the atmosphere. There was one boy, Angel, who was simply amazing. While many of the other boys lost interest in the mural and went off to play sports (I did this too), he stayed behind to paint. He loved art, and you could tell he was passionate about the project. It was very courageous of him to do what he loved instead of playing soccer like all the other boys, just because it was the cool thing to do. He and I got along very well, and he even gave me some drawings he did, telling me "no los ensenes a nadie hasta que te vayas" - don't show them to anyone until you leave. I wish I could adopt this kid.

So while the better artists put the finishing touches on the mural, I played soccer and baseball with the boys. I had so much fun participating in this common interest. Sports are truly fantastic, as they are often common globally and can help bridge cultural gaps. The kids had so much energy and it was so uplifting to be the most coveted player on the teams.

When playing baseball, sometimes the ball would be hit over the fence. Luckily, I had brought many extras, but they were inside the school which was being renovated. Many of the toys I brought had been distributed at this point, so I was OK with bringing the rest of the baseballs out. When I went inside the school with the boys, they were scared because it was dark and there were allegedly "fantasmas" - ghosts - lurking in the corners. We crossed a doorway and one of the little boys ran into a young girl. He shrieked, thinking it was a phantom, but realized his mistake and blushed.

Upon the mural's completion, all the kids in the orphanage dipped their palms into paint and left their handprints on the wall surrounding the design. This was a final signature of the mural's completion. We took pictures with all of the kids, said our goodbyes, and after a long day of work and play, left for our last night in Tegucigalpa. I felt so satisfied with my dedication to this task, and I was so moved by the experience that I was nearly brought to tears as we drove away. These kids, who had so little, could rejoice in such a small gift. I was so proud of myself, Chandler, Mafer, and her sister for our small service to these impoverished boys and girls. Their smiles are unforgettable.

Honduras Mission Update - 5/30/10

Being in Honduras really shows you how crazy this world can be. There are a couple of things that have happened here that make me all the more likely to become a humanitarian doing service in Honduras or something along those lines, so that I can fix up this country.

First, Tegucigalpa has been bombarded with torrential rain for a couple of weeks. Then, today, tropical storm Agatha passed over the city. Needless to say, it was chaotic. The streets were already filled with potholes due to the heavy downpours, and the rivers were very high. Agatha only exacerbated the situation. The Choluteca River has overflowed, and bridges and streets are underwater. Landslides are happening throughout the city, and many people's houses are flooded. There have been thousands evacuated across the country, and at least three deaths have been reported in Tegucigalpa alone. There is great damage to people's livelihoods.

Second, my Honduran family found out this morning that the husband of the principal at the American School where Mafer attends, a Mr. Peter Motz, was found dead last night. I have met Mrs. Motz many times and she is a wonderful woman. Her husband was kidnapped three weeks ago and held at a ransom of 25 million lempiras. He had had a heart condition that required medicine, but because he was isolated in his kidnapping, he suffered a heart attack and died. The community is in shock and mourning. The violence that can be encountered in this city is absolutely tragic.

These instances only encourage me to pursue my dream to help this nation. I deeply love Honduras, and I hope one day to be able to come here and live for the people, dedicating my life to their service. As of now, I am continuing planning my small gift to this country; my time, money, and effort for Orfanato Pedro Atala. I planned the mural today. It's simple, but crisp and beautiful. It depicts the world, along with the Honduran and American flags, along with the phrase "Juntos, somos el mundo" - together, we are the world.

Honduras Mission Update - 5/28/10

So the day finally arrived! I am officially back in Honduras, my country, my land. I have such a love for this country that came flooding back to me as soon as I stepped off the plane. I want to dedicate my life to it in some way, and it will be very difficult for me to leave.

On the plane I flew in from San Salvador to Tegucigalpa, I sat next to a young boy from Chicago who spent his summers in Honduras. His name was Isaac, and he was very friendly and intelligent. We chatted in Spanish and English to each other on the plane, and to pass the time we decided to rip off a magazine cover of two business men and doodle on their faces. The image of the beautiful final product is below (sorry for the rotation):

As silly as this may seem, this was really fun for me. It is so important to engage a child in something that interests him or her, encouraging and developing their aspirations. This looks like a doodle, but it was a collaborative effort between an adult and a little boy that was mutually beneficial. He got attention, encouragement, and fun, and I received the joy of his company. I can't wait to visit the orphanage and entertain the kids with painting and games. It is so incredible good for both parties involved. Kids should never be ignored.

Being back in Tegucigalpa, I also immediately noticed the poverty. I wish I could combat it on a wide scale. I feel like my contribution to the orphanage, though helpful, is small in relation to the woes of Honduras. The nation is desperately poor, and I wish dearly that in my life I can do something to benefit this country. It is a kind and traditional people who deserve the best, and I hope one day I can bring something good to my homeland. It would be a dream of mine to tidy up the city, organize transportation, establish clean but efficient industry, and promote agricultural prowess. One day, maybe, this country will be as glorious as its people.

Honduras Mission Update - 5/24/10

I have been very busy planning for this trip! There are only 3 days left! This has been incredibly taxing and stressful, as I have so much to organize beforehand on top of my regular schoolwork and job at Panera. It's OK though, I'll manage, and I know that this journey will not only be beneficial for my mental health, but for young orphans as well.

Today I received the clothing donations from Natalia, my Spanish tutor. She gave me a wealth of girl's clothes, which will be very helpful to give to the orphanage. There were some boy's clothes thrown in there as well. I spent tonight selecting the items of clothing that were in the best condition and packed them all into one suitcase. There must be over 5o things in there. It was a time consuming process, and I still haven't even packed my personal belongings.

After school today I went shopping for toys for the orphans with Sarah and Hyanna. We first went to AC Moore to buy good acrylic paints for the mural. I don't know what size exactly the mural will be, but I think we bought enough paint to complete it. Afterwards, with still over $100 left to spend on the orphans, we went to Ocean State Job Lot, where we knew we could get cheap yet still fair quality toys and games for the kids. We made sure to get a wide variety of items, ranging from lacrosse sticks to princess coloring books. Each kid will definitely have access to something, due to the massive amount of items we bought. We did tend to get toys that young boys would prefer, simply because the vast majority of the clothing that Chandler and I are bringing down is for girls or babies. After buying the toys, I stopped at Barnes and Noble and bought three books in Spanish for the kids to read: Harry Potter 1 and 2, along with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

So as of now, everything is prepared that can be. I'll pack my clothes soon enough, but that doesn't matter nearly as much as getting ready for the visit to the orphanage. My tickets are printed, travel arrangements are set, and a vague itinerary has been outlined. I don't think I'll plan the mural until Saturday or Sunday though, in Honduras, so that I can get input from Chandler and Mafer.