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.

Spanish Club Update - 5/21/10

Burrito Day ended up being postponed from Wednesday to today due to Sarah having struggles getting and cooking the meat. It became my responsibility, which was fine, and so I used $30 from our funds for the orphanage to purchase about 5.5 pounds of ground beef. I cooked it last night with spices and let it simmer in the crock pot for today.

I was able to leave class 15 minutes early to prepare for Burrito Day, which made the process immeasurably easier. We had about double of all the ingredients this time, except for meat and salsa, because we felt we would have enormous success due to how popular the burritos were a couple of weeks ago. This ended up being good planning on our part. Around 50 burritos were sold this time, and the only things we ran out of were salsa and plates (oops!). People were very satisfied with the burritos, and we got many repeat customers and donations. The meat was monitored this time as well, with each person getting just a little less than a serving spoonful, so that no more Sebastian Rowell's would come along and exploit our kindness. The atmosphere was light and fun, and everyone had a great time. All the burritos were sold after 15 minutes, showing just how successful this project was. In the end, our total collection, combined with the $50 left from the first burrito day, was $156. This was fantastic! We about reached the goal of $160, even after having to spend thirty bucks on meat. I was very proud of our commitment to the activity and the perseverance and dedication of everyone involved. It really was a great day and it's even better to know that all the money raised will go to a good cause, ensured by my personal supervision of its use. I love Spanish Club.

Spanish Club Update - 5/18/10

Burrito Day number two is fast approaching, and the Spanish Club has been working fervently to prepare. It is planned for tomorrow, but I'm not sure if everyone will be able to bring the ingredients and fulfill their individual duties. I'm hopeful that we can host it, but if not, it will be no problem and we will reschedule for Friday. Perhaps it would be better on Friday because we can get more publicity. Either way, I'm excited. We worked so hard on the last burrito day, and I think the fact that the Spanish Club is doing it again just shows that we are committed to this group. Beyond that, we really persevere in our efforts to raise money for the Honduran orphanage, showing that we genuinely have fun caring for others.

As of now, I'm in charge of all the logistics. Planning, organization, etc. I'm like the manager of the operation. Miranda is my copilot, but she has been ill recently so she hasn't been able to do much preparation for this Burrito Day. She will be in attendance though, I think. Carrie and Sarah Devine are treasurers. Kayley has purchased all of the ingredients, except for the meat, which Sarah Smith has said she will obtain and prepare.

We have $80 as of now for the orphanage. I really hope we can double that so I can use the money to splurge on the kids. Let's see how it turns out tomorrow, and if it doesn't happen, Friday will be a fine alternative.

Honduras Mission Update - 5/17/10

Recently I have been talking with Mafer to further organize the upcoming trip to Honduras. It hasn't hit me that there are only 10 days left until I leave! I'm trying to make it so that I won't be doing everything last minute, but knowing me, I'm pretty sure it will end up that way no matter my efforts. Anyways, Mafer has spoken with the orphanage, and so far the plan is that we will be there only for Monday instead of Sunday and Monday. The orphanage will be closed on Sunday, which we didn't know. However, this will give us more time to plan the mural, which has been explicitly approved, and organize the day before.

As for donations to the orphanage, we will definitely not be giving a sum of money to the orphanage, because I would like to see the kids immediately benefit from our efforts in a way that will make them visibly happy. Of course, the orphanage would use the money well, but I don't know what eactly they'd use it for or when. Thus, we will buy items like toys and clothing and give them directly to the kids. I'm still not sure if we will buy the items here or in Honduras. It may be better to buy them here, seeing as the clothing will definitely be cheaper (a lot will be donated for free) and it will be preorganized and more reliable.

Ten days left! This has been a huge challenge to undertake, but I have already raised a lot of money due to Burrito Day (another one coming up, too!) and planned extensively. I'm proud of my hard work and commitment and I am sure that everything will turn out well.

Relay for Life Update - 5/11/10

Tomorrow there will be a captain´s meeting for Relay for Life. Unfortunately, because of my time consuming new commitment to my job, I will be unable to attend. It has been very frustrating lately to have to miss events and meetings because of the necessity of work. However, it is an inevitable sacrifice. Fortunately, my friend Denis is a captain as well, so he will go the meeting and inform me of what exactly is going on and what to expect. I know that there is something called a Bank Night coming up on June 9th and 14th, but I´m not sure exactly what it is. I will have to hear more from Denis and continue planning that.

Beyond the captain's meeting, soon there will be a meeting for the entire Youth Group in which people will register (I hope) and in which we will plan activities like a Car Wash. I'm not sure if I'll be able to attend, but I will still be active in participation, of course, as a captain.

Tennis - 5/11/10

I finally found an afternoon today in which I was free from work and could attend a tennis practice. It has been very difficult for me to be an active member due to my sudden work schedule. I feel terrible because I am not as committed as I should be to this activity, but I need to work so that I can have money for life´s many expenses.

Anyways, practice today went really well. We were able to use all six of the courts today because the girls had a match, so we played sets against each other. I was on a doubles team with Luke, who has been my doubles partner for a while now. First we played Nick and Nick, and won 6-2. Then we played Miklos and Joey, and won 5-2. I was very pleased with my performance. I hadn´t won any matches in a while, and not only was this a confidence boost but it proved to me that I had some skill in tennis. I worked very well together with Luke, making it a point to be encouraging when good shots were made and also using some constructive criticism. I could tell that I had improved in forehands and backhands too, as very few of my shots failed to get over the net. I think that I played holding nothing back and simply having fun, which made a huge difference. The pace was quicker too, especially in the match against Nick and Nick, and I think this helped my game as I was unable to overthink the shots.

CAS Software Testing - 5/10/10

I am done with ManageBAC. I am just frustrated with it and I hate that it might be forced upon us. I am willing to give it a try for the organization of the Extended Essay, but I really don't like it for CAS. I genuinely prefer blogs, and the creation of my CAS blog makes me feel much more accomplished as I can be the "creator" of something, instead of simply plugging stuff in to a boring pre-formatted ManageBAC system, without titles for posts or even drafting.

If I decide not to continue with ManageBAC, if given the choice, it doesn't show my ability to persevere with an activity. However, I feel like this is a special case, and I still stick by the maxim of not fixing what isn't broken.

Honduras Mission Update - 5/5/10

So far, the planning for the Honduras trip has been steady with no major developments. I booked the flights today, which along with insurance only cost around $450. I will be flying down on Thursday, May 27th, and returning in the early morning on Wednesday, June 2nd. Chandler booked his ticket simultaneously, so we will both be going and on the same flight.

There isn't much more for me to do in the planning for this trip beyond establishing a firmer itinerary with Mafer and the Orfanato Pedro Atala in Tegucigalpa. Most importantly, I will need to collect donations or money to bring to the orphans. As of now, I've raised around $80 from the Make Your Own Burrito Day, which is a great start. I hope to raise more money in a second burrito extravaganza, but if this doesn't work out, I'll ask for donations from friends, family, or classmates.

Spanish Club Update - 5/5/10

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!! So Make-Your-Own-Burrito Day had finally arrived. After a week of planning and buying ingredients, we were ready to host the much anticipated event. We were dismissed 1o minutes early from G-period in order to set up for the event. This was very stressful, as we had to move tables and furniture and microwave and prepare what seemed like an endless supply of food. However, we worked diligently together and all of the ingredients were ready by 11:45.

With Ms. Kirk and Mr. O'Kane as hawkers, the floods of customers began to flow in. I couldn't believe the amount. We really seemed to be making money! People were very pleased with the burritos and thoroughly enjoyed them. They were very happy with the free cookies too. Even at $2.00 for the full meal, a profit was easily made within the first few minutes. By the end of lunch, the success had been quantified; we earned over $80.00.

I am very proud of the perseverance of the Spanish Club with this activity. Everyone was committed from day 1, and each person fulfilled their responsibility. I brought the beans, Sarah brought the meat, Ms. Kirk brought the salsa, and Miranda and Carrie brought in the rest. Everything worked so well. I'm so glad that we raised money we can use for the orphanage. To know that this fun activity that a lot of people benefited from already will go further to help less fortunate kids is truly astounding. This burrito day will definitely have a second coming.

For next time, there are a few things that we need to remember. First, we will probably need a bit more time to set up, because we were so rushed with only 10 minutes. Next, we will need extra ingredients like salsa and cheese. We also need to make sure someone monitors the meat station, because otherwise people like Sebastian Rowell take 4 tons of it.

Spanish Club Update - 5/3/10

Our Cinco de Mayo party will actually happen! Burrito day is a go. We have been organizing what we need to do all weekend, and today we finally began to piece together the final plan. My first course of action was to type up flyers to distribute throughout the school. An example of my beautiful work is here:

Clearly, this is going to be epic. After school today Sarah and I went to Star Market and bought some of the ingredients for the burritos, including the cheese, sour cream, and tortillas. I don't think that we have enough though, and we might have to ask Miranda and Carrie to buy more. As for now, we have nothing left to do except finalize the plans. Sarah is going to cook the meat and bring it in, along with the items we bought today, and Carrie and Miranda are going to bring in chopped lettuce and other foods. My responsibility is the avocado and the refried beans, two ingredients I believe to be integral.

Beyond the edible portion, we also have tentative plans for Chandler to be the DJ and for Kayley Mead to dance zumba with anyone else who wants to join her. Kayley is also considering joining the Spanish Club, and I hope that this Cinco de Mayo burrito day convinces her. I think she would be a great asset.

I truly hope this is a success. Not only will it be good exposure for Mexican culture and the Spanish Club, but all funds will be donated either monetarily or more palpably (toys, clothes, etc.) to the orphanage in Tegucigalpa. I hope we make at least $50 - anything will be great to bring to the kids!

Tennis - 4/30/10

Today I had my second JV tennis match, against our same opponents from last time, Barnstable High School JV. I knew what to expect this time, having become acquainted with the team and their high level of skill. I just wanted to be able to hit well this match and perform to the best of my abilities. I kind of knew that I wouldn't win, but I was happy to get the practice.

I played second doubles this time with Luke. As I predicted, we didn't win. The score was 6-0, 6-2. I was very pleased with two things: our perseverance and teamwork. Quite obviously, we lost most of our games. However, at the end of the second set, we rallied and were able to win two of them in a row. It was too little too late, but the effort was satisfactory. Throughout the whole match we worked very well together as well. There was a lot of communication between us, and if we messed up we treated it lightly and didn't get worried about our poor result.

Personally, I know that I need to improve my court presence. I feel like I can be timid at times and just feel awkward on the pitch. I don't know where to stand and I am terrible at predicting where the ball will be hit. I recognized this mid-match and tried to be more confident in whatever my position was, and I think it did help a little bit.

My final note would be about my serving. My serve has improved so much now, and I even got a couple of aces in this match! I feel like my serve actually has power behind it, and relative accuracy. I can be precise too if I really focus. During the games in which I served, we reached at least a first deuce in all of them. This made me feel good about my amelioration of technique.

Honduras Mission Update - 4/28/10

There haven't been any massive developments in my planning for the service trip to Honduras, but a few small details have been refined. Tonight I spoke with Mafer Betanco, my friend who I am staying with in Tegucigalpa. We videochatted through Skype so that she could talk with my parents, who are of course worried about the plans for the trip. She assured them of the itinerary and what I should expect, so they finally feel relieved as I pursue this endeavor.

Otherwise, I have been searching for ways to obtain money and donations to bring down to Honduras. I'm not sure if I just want to raise money and buy items, or do a school wide drive for things like clothes and toys. As of now, I'm focusing on working at my new job so that I can earn money to pay for my airfare. I plan to book the tickets by the end of this week, and my parents have agreed to front me the money as long as I work as many hours as possible while still managing schoolwork. This requires great focus from me, and it really is a balancing act! I think my determination and hard work proves how committed I am to this trip and its purpose.

For the future, perhaps I will set up boxes in the school and ask for small donations for the orphanage. Perhaps I'll contact friends and family for donations as well. Maybe even my church. The burrito day for the Spanish Club should raise some money too. I just hope to have an ample contribution to Orfanato Pedro Atala, and that I can do something fun with the kids, like paint a mural.

Spanish Club Update - 4/28/10

The Spanish Club has decided to expand beyond excursions to Boston and bring the culture we love inside of Sturgis itself. With the help of two new members, Carrie and Sarah, we have been planning an activity for Cinco de Mayo that will celebrate the Mexican victory over the French successfully in a school that doesn't really recognize the holiday. Cinco de Mayo is really only celebrated in America and in Puebla, Mexico, but our school doesn't really know the significance of the holiday. Maybe our plans for Cinco de Mayo will inspire curiosity in Sturgis students.

Therefore, we decided to have Make Your Own Burrito Day! There is no better way to help people appreciate something than by reaching them through food. As of now, we know where it will be hosted and when it will be hosted. We just have to buy the materials and food needed. We already have ground beef donated by Sarah's father. So for now, we put in the following announcement:

"Make Your Own Burrito: Next Wednesday, May 5th, the Spanish Club will be hosting a burrito extravaganza at lunch to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Burritos will cost $2.00 each. There will be food, dancing, and music. All proceeds will go to Orfanato Pedro Atala in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. So come to room 102 during lunch on May 5th."

Tennis - 4/27/10

Today in tennis I had my first match against varsity team members. Up to this point, I've been practicing with my junior varsity teammates. However, after our first JV match, the coach told me that he would be interested in having me practice with the more skilled players. This was a terrifying challenge for me to undertake. Even though they are my classmates and I know that they won't mock my inexperience, I still am a novice at tennis.

I was paired with Chris Fink for this first match, and we were playing against Aidan and Murylo. I had seen all of them play before, and I felt that I was nowhere near their level of tennis skills. No matter, I decided to try my hardest in the match and just hit the ball back when it came to me. That was my only strategy.

For my first "real" match, I did pretty well. It was certainly very intense, but I think I held my own. I certainly wasn't a star on the court, but I did get a fair amount of points and I even did as well as Chris in a few of the games. We lost 3-1, but the one game we did win, I felt that I contributed a lot. We didn't win the game that I served, but we played deuce to advantage at least ten times before the result was finally decided. I only erred a few times, and to be honest I think I did better against these players than the weaker ones. I think it had to do with the pace of the game; when the match is fast like this one, I don't have time to over think my hit and subsequently mess it up. Instead, I just return the ball with strength and relative precision. Not bad.

One unfortunate thing is that even though the coach has considered me for varsity, I will be unable to participate at this level. I recently took on a job, which occupies a lot of my time after school. I feel like I am letting the coach down, but I need money at the moment, and so I hope that I don't regret this decision and that I might have a chance to play varsity if I do tennis next year.

Relay for Life Update - 4/25/10

Today hosted the much anticipated Mega Sale. I found out about this activity a couple of weeks ago, so I didn't have enough time to gather the members of my Relay team to donate items for sale. Therefore, all of the responsibility rested on the shoulders of me and my co-captain, Denis. I knew I had to persevere with the planning of this event because the fundraiser relied almost entirely on my participation.

And in the end, the responsibility was ENTIRELY mine. Last night, Denis was in a car accident that was pretty severe. He's doing well, but obviously was unable to make the Mega Sale. I didn't find this out until afterwards, so I was a bit frustrated thinking that he wasn't following through with his responsibilities. This also meant that there would be a deficit of items to sell. No matter. I spent yesterday and this morning gathering everything in the house that was marketable. I called my grandparents as well and received a few donations from them. I was prepared with my small contribution and my father and I went to the Mega Sale armed with our bounty, ready to sell goods and make money to donate to cancer research.

After three plus hours of dedication, we made $25.10. It's not an outstanding amount, but it's respectable. We sold a desk and a computer, which I expected would make more money, but I wasn't thinking realistically that in essence this was a yard sale filled with people only willing to strike a bargain. I wish that they had thought more of the cause instead of buying something on the cheap. Either way I am glad that I persevered through this event and actually made a bit of money to donate. It really helped me to understand how difficult it is to get money to research combatants of this tragic disease. Seeing the people around me, some of them cancer survivors, so dedicated to a cause really made me feel proud of humanity.

CAS Software Testing - 4/24/10

As I continue to develop more skills in the ManageBAC system, I only find myself complaining more. It really isn't a bad system, but it simply is not for me. I love my CAS blog and treat it almost as my child. It has required so much effort and I feel that I have personalized it and given it character. ManageBAC seems too austere and I don't really have fun doing it, as opposed to the enjoyment I receive from publishing a post on my CAS blog.

I really don't like the activity proposal form on ManageBAC. I just added two new activities and I made sure to fill out the old form on jhyer.com because I feel like the ManageBAC one is insufficient. It requires no description of the activity and no reflective questions. I like being able to submit goals and benefits so I can have a plan delineated for the entire activity. This way as well I can review my proposal when it comes time for my reflection and see what my expectations and goals were at the beginning of the activity.

And why do we need a contact number? It irks me that we can't submit the proposal on ManageBAC without a contact number. I'm sorry, but I don't have Dr. Stewart in my cell phone contact list.

Tennis - 4/23/10

Having an entire week off from school is great, but it prohibits me from practicing tennis with the team. This fact, along with the advent of the promulgation that I may be bumped up to varsity, made me decide to seek some practice with my father. I know that I need loads of practice if I want any chance to be successful at second doubles.

We decided only to play one set. I began playing very well, and I was confident in my technique and ability. However, after the first game, I became hyper-focused in a negative way. I was over-thinking my shots and I began doing poorly. I had a three game lead and quickly lost it, mostly due to my poor forehand. I kept hitting it exactly horizontal, instead of a more upward swing that would ensure that the ball crossed the net. Therefore, I began hitting this way, but it was too little too late.

I hope to keep developing my new technique, because my old methods were not working. My backhand seems to be improving immensely, and I am very proud of my serve, but for now I need to focus on simply hitting the ball well forehand. I don't want to over-complicate this. I hope that I can just hit the ball powerfully over the net with my functional upward swing.

Relay for Life Update - 4/16/10

As captain for the Relay for Life team, it is my duty to round up all potential members and give them information about registering so that they can become involved in the activity if they wish. I would like to plan a meeting soon with them to go over registration and fees, and to fix a number of participants. This would also be an ideal time to plan for fundraisers. Being a captain is already very challenging as I feel almost like a shepherd gathering the stray sheep. I barely even have a flock. People are very erratic and difficult to contact at times, and it's no fun to pester incessantly so that they achieve their responsibilities. To gather the members, I sent this email to all of them over Facebook:

"So Denis and I are the captains for the Relay for Life team this year, and the first thing we need to know is who is planning on participating in this event. If you do plan on participating, register as soon as possible. The link is here:

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?sid=33294&type=fr_informational&pg=informational&fr_id=23345

That website should provide all info about the DY Relay. If you have registered, send me a message back here letting me know. The team name is 'Soaring Spirits.'

If you have any questions, ask. Once you register you can ask either Denis or me for the donation forms and such.

Please forward this message to anyone else who might be interested in participating.

Thanks,

Matt"

I hope that I get responses soon enough because I am not sure how to just check the website and figure out who has registered. I think that I will contact Mrs. Kelly, the Youth Group Coordinator, to set up a mandatory meeting for all tentative participants. Besides this, my current goal is to round up items for the Mega Sale on Sunday the 25th. This will be our first opportunity to make money to donate to the American Cancer Society.

Honduras Mission Update - 4/16/10

So, after the initial planning, I have dedicated my time to persuading my parents that this trip would be a fantastic experience for me. They have many reservations, mainly due to the instability of Honduras and the fact that I would be traveling alone or with only one companion. However, I finally managed to convince them by presenting the topic coolly and giving thorough explanations to all of their questions. They are assured that I will have the money as well, because I finally got a job at Panera. So now that I had my parent's approval, I sought the approbation from Mr. Hieser and the school. Ms. Kirk already agreed to be my advisor, so I wrote up the following proposal to Mr. Hieser:

"Honduras Service Trip 2010

Matthew French

I propose a six-day individual CAS project to collect donations for Orfanáto Pedro Atalá in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It is possible that Chandler Mitchell will be accompanying me.

Residence will be provided with the Betanco family of Tegucigalpa. Mafer Betanco and her two siblings are students at the American School of Tegucigalpa. I stayed with her family during the school exchange trip to Honduras in 2009.

The planned dates are May 27, 2010 to June 1, 2010. The planned flight currently costs $410 and is run by TACA Airlines. It is possible that the return flight would not arrive until the morning of June 2.

To fund the trip, I plan on working to pay for the flight and my personal expenses. I would need Sturgis’ help in fundraising for the orphanage. The first facet of the fundraising endeavor would be the collection of donation items from willing students and teachers. Suggestions for items are as follows:

§ New clothing

§ Blankets

§ Basic medicine and first-aid materials

§ Baby formula (powdered)

§ School supplies

§ Diapers

§ Games and toys

Ideally I would collect about two* suitcases full of donations like these. The second facet of the fundraising endeavor would be monetary collection. This would be executed by means of bake sales in the school or simple donations from students and teachers. Money raised in this way would be used ONLY to either buy supplies for the orphanage in Honduras, give directly to the orphanage, or pay for shipping of donations collected in the US that exceed the capacity of the two* suitcases.

Besides the distribution of collected items, activities at the orphanage may include an English lesson, the painting of a mural, or simple playtime with the kids.

* Four suitcases if Chandler accompanies me.

Honduras Service Trip 2010

Tentative Itinerary

May 27th – en route to Honduras

May 28th – American School of Tegucigalpa graduation

May 29th – collection and purchase of donation items, further organization, American School of Tegucigalpa prom

May 30th – Orfanáto Pedro Atalá, distribution of donations, playtime with the kids

May 31st – Orfanáto Pedro Atalá, mural painting

June 1st – return home"

He reviewed this proposal and happily accepted it under the condition that I was doing it as CAS, which I obviously am. So now my plan of action is to work as much as possible and begin to plan fundraisers, clothing drives, or other sorts of activities to accumulate donations for the orphanage. I'm so happy that I persevered with this idea, challenged myself with intense planning and propositions, and now the trip is becoming a reality.

Academic Team Reflection

This is something that I have been dreading: writing the final reflection for Academic Team. This activity has really been a unique experience. I have never done anything remotely like it before, unless you count class Jeopardy games back in middle school. Not only was I a novice in the activity, but the others students on the team with me were a group of kids I was almost entirely unfamiliar with. For whatever reason, I hadn't had the chance to connect with any of them in my two years at Sturgis, so I was a bit nervous as to whether or not I would be welcome on the team. This along with the fact that I arrived late in the year to the group really had me worried.

My goals were to simply exercise my unique prowess for geography and to feel welcome in an unfamiliar environment. After nearly six months of training with the team and bonding over the impossible questions thrown at us in the Knowledge Master Open, I believe that I have achieved these goals. Needless to say there were some rough spots along the way where I didn't feel very confident or I was having disagreements with other members of the team, but as a whole the experience was immensely rewarding.

This activity met six of the eight learning outcomes laid out by the CAS gods. The first two met, of course, were learning outcomes two and eight. By joining the Academic Team, I was undertaking a new challenge because I had begun participating in something entirely out of my comfort zone. I knew that I would be fantastic in answering questions about geography, but the experience was a challenge in the sense that I was arriving at a foreign social environment with no prior knowledge of how an academic team might work. This was obviously a bit intimidating at first, but I quickly developed new skills in branching out to the others on my team by connecting over some of the ridiculous questions we were asked in a jovial manner. I seemed to have overcome my social barrier and inexperience and felt welcome in the team.

Once these two learning outcomes were developed, learning outcomes one, four, and seven became very prominent. As I learned the infrastructure of the Academic Team and its basic system of functioning, I became more confident in my geographic trivia ability but more worried about my relative dearth of other knowledge. I was forced to recognize this weakness and work to develop skills in science, math, and literature. I did do some extra reading and studying, but I became more comfortable with these area by creating a symbiotic learning relationship with the rest of my teammates with different expertises. This collaboration was fantastic, and with all of our minds working together to understand a question and solve a problem, we did better point-wise and actually seemed to understand the material. Often times there were disagreements, which is not uncommon in the team atmosphere. I clashed with Marliee, who seemed to think that I was an arrogant know-it-all. Therefore, I consulted myself with past actions and I made sure in the future to do nothing more than silently work with the team and answer the question. I knew it would be best to eliminate politics from something as lighthearted as Academic Team.

Finally, Academic Team met learning outcome five. I was entirely committed to this activity. I attended nearly all of the meetings and was dedicated to the amelioration of the team. I persevered through times of turbulence in group unity. I only missed one competition due to conflicting academic priorities. So I am proud that not only did I stay so committed to an activity that at first seemed random and intimidating, but I was also very successful as a member.

Academic Team Update - 4/15/10

Today was our final competition for Academic Team. I must say, I was very sad about this because I loved this activity from the beginning. It gave me a chance to put to use my abnormal love for geography and not be ridiculed for my extensive knowledge. I'm glad that I have persevered with this commitment and been moderately successful.

The competition today, the second Knowledge Master Open, was a great success. I wasn't able to attend our first one because I had a conflict with my Spanish class, so coming into the competition today I had no idea what to expect. Of course, we have been practicing extensively and doing approximately 50 questions each Tuesday at lunch, but sitting in a room for two hours and answering question after question is an entirely different experience. Either way, I was as prepared as possible, and I think that I did really well. During the competition we all worked together very well and seemed to finally be the cohesive unit we had sought for so long. We were cautious in being sure of the answer before we declared, and collaborated extensively on math questions and the like. Our team scored around 1225 points, a very respectable result.

I was very proud of my personal performance. The questions were of great variation and I was able to correctly answer many of them, demonstrating my fairly comprehensive knowledge. Of course, I still need some work on literature (no time to read books!) and the sciences. However, the compendium below shows the extent of my contribution:

• The location of the Malacca straits
• The location of the region Thrace
• The location of the Negev desert
• That Mogadishu is located on the Indian Ocean
• That Algeria doesn't speak Portuguese
• What Timbuktu is
• Who Dante Aligheri was
• Some inventions of the French (not the telegraph or fireworks)
• What Gondwanaland is
• That the region Amazonia is not in Argentina
• That in Latin, ripa = river banks
• And even some math problems, like that x=12 in the proportion -3/x x/-48

I am really proud of all of our hard work and contribution and I hope that I will be able to resume this activity next year!

Honduras Mission - 4/14/10

The other day I had an epiphany. I felt the sudden urge to return to Tegucigalpa, Honduras with items and money gained in the USA from charitable donations and fundraising. Ever since my trip to Honduras last year, I have had a passionate love for the country and the people. I enjoyed the school trip last year, but I realized that I want to plan my own individual service trip to Orfanato Pedro Atala in Tegucigalpa. I will have to plan the ENTIRE trip: the flight, the details, the donations, the fundraising, etc. It is a huge challenge because of the massive responsibility I'll have and the relative lack of support. This will trip will permanently establish a desire for service to others in my life, and help me become more mature and comfortable as an individual.

I hope to collect four suitcases of donations for the orphanage and perhaps monetary donations as well. I want to be successful in this trip and I want it to run without a flaw. I just hope my efforts will be realised and that I will feel content with my contribution to an impoverished nation. I can't wait to see the smiles on the kids faces when they receive all of our gifts. It is one of the best feelings in the world.

I am beginning to establish some vague plans for the trip. I'd probably go for Memorial Day weekend, plus or minus a few days. I would stay with my friend Mafer Betanco and her family in Tegucigalpa. At the orphanage, Orfanato Pedro Atala, we would bring toys and other donations, and perhaps teach an English lesson or paint a mural. To collect items for the trip, I'll put announcements in at school for desired donations and then to raise money I'll do bake sales. All money raised would go to purchase items for the orphanage or to pay for shipping if necessary. To pay my flight and other costs, I am in desperate search of a job. As long as I get the job, my parents' approval, and the OK from Mr. Hieser, the trip is set. Off to do more planning!

Relay for Life - 4/14/10

I have done Relay for Life for a few years now, but this is the first time that I am stepping up and actively participating instead of simply paying a registration fee. I am the team captain, so I will be organizing fundraisers and basically planning the whole event for my church youth group along with my co-captain and friend Denis. This will be a great challenge simply because I have so much going on currently, not because of the rigor of the task. Nevertheless, I am very excited to begin preparing for the event.

Coming into this responsibility, I do have some goals. I hope that I can greater realize the impact of cancer on Cape Cod by fundraising for this event and attending the emotional relay. I want to be able to meet the goal of $1000 to be fundraised, and to be proud of my contribution to research for a cancer cure. I also want to develop leadership skills and become more responsible. I'll know that I have reached these goals simply when I am satisfied with my efforts and truly understand the difference that my relatively small efforts can make on a multitude of suffering people.

Today there was the first captain's meeting for the planning of the event. I went with Denis and our first task was to register the team. We completed the registration of our team under the traditional name for our group, the Soaring Spirits. Together Denis and I then devised a strategy for rounding up all the team members, getting them to register, and encouraging them to fundraise. It should work well because Denis and I are in separate schools, but comprehensively we are able to contact each of the tentative team members. Therefore we delineated the task of contacting each person and exhorting membership.

The rest of the meeting was spent listening to speakers discuss the best ways to prepare for the upcoming relay. We learned creative ways to fundraise, and even received pointers on how to physically train for the walking marathon. A compendium of facts about cancer and its devastating effects was also read to the room, instilling a sense of sadness in the crowd along with the inverse recognition of hope. Perhaps the culmination of our efforts could do something to raise funds and awareness as a means of combating the crippling disease.

Our final course of action was signing up for the Mega Sale, a massive collaborative yard sale in which each of the teams could raise money towards their fundraising goal. Denis and I decided to collect items and bring them to the sale on April 25th as a small but integral beginning to our fundraising endeavor.

Tennis - 4/13/10

I had my first official JV tennis match today against Barnstable. I was very nervous and had no idea what to expect at all. I'm just proud of myself for not backing out, because I really felt unprepared and inexperienced. Of course I was willing to give it my all though, and so I arrived early to the courts in order to warm up. After practicing, I was paired with Luke as first doubles and we began our match.

The match started off very poorly for us, and we were quickly at a deficit of 5-0. My nerves were really affecting my game and I became aware that I desperately need to work on controlling them so that I might be able to focus and improve. I was having difficulty receiving the balls and predicting at all what the other team would do. However, I slowly began to realize that this game is just for fun and it doesn't matter how well I appear to be playing, as long as I am giving it the most effort imaginable. The next game I served, and with my newfound confidence we were able to win. Luke and I worked smoothly together and began to focus on simply returning the ball with accuracy instead of thinking of fancy shots and our nerves. The set score improved to 5-2, but we lost the next game, making the set final 6-2.

Our next set was very similar to the first one. We started off a bit shaken and intimidated, but we improved and sparked a come-from-behind rally, which was impressive but overall ineffective in clinching the win. We lost 6-2 again, terminating the match. I was proud of our teamwork and determination though, and we didn't give up even though the other team had far superior skills. It was a great first match and my skills were clearly put to the test. I need work in forehand power and backhand technique, but I was pleased with my serves as we won three of the four games I served.

Coach mentioned to me at the end of the match that he was thinking of putting me in varsity as second doubles. This would be a huge new challenge for me to undertake, being such an amateur, but it will be fun to practice and see if it's a possibility. I am honored by his nomination but I feel that I am not ready for a commitment as great as varsity; I haven't harnessed my skills fully and I am incredibly busy with school, work, and EC's to be able to attend all of the varsity matches.

Academic Team Update - 4/13/10

The Academic Team meeting at lunch today was truly dreadful, so this entry will be brief. While we were working on the Knowledge Master questions as a last day of preparation before our competition on Thursday, I felt absolutely useless. I answered very few questions correctly, even messing up geography trivia. This was embarrassing to me, but to be honest I felt terrible. Personal issues have been affecting me recently and they have been difficult to simply forget. I see this meeting as an anomaly when compared to my performances in other days at Academic Team. I certainly hope that my poor efforts today were something ephemeral. It has caused me to consider the implications of my lethargy; if I am exhausted and miserable, how will that help my team succeed in the competition on Thursday? I realized that even though I might be experiencing some unfavorable things, I really need to focus when my strength is needed. I hope that my team forgives me for my disastrous exhibition today, and I hope that I can regain my energy and confidence for the impending Knowledge Master Open.

CAS Software Testing - 4/13/10

Lately I have been a bit happier with the ManageBAC system, but I still have a great affinity for the regular blog system. The ManageBAC posting works well, but I like the greater organization that Blogger allows if you know how to manipulate the site. It seems that the ManageBAC offers exactly what Blogger does, but includes other projects like the Extended Essay that will be explored in the future.

The one thing I love about the ManageBAC system is that it allows me to plan a calendar of events for CAS. This can be helpful because it is difficult juggling so many activities, as I sometimes lose track of what is happening, and when and where it is taking place. The one thing I hate about the ManageBAC system is that it has terrible proposition and reflection sections. The proposition for an activity is too short, too specific in superfluous details, and doesn't allow you to delineate goals. The reflection section is basically non-existent in the format we were taught to follow.

I will of course keep using ManageBAC, but I will not make a full transition to it until I feel more confident in the proposal and reflection system! Also, I genuinely love my CAS blog and I don't think I could fully part from it. This decision does cause me to consider the ethical implications of my actions as well, because Mr. Hyer might be mad at my refusal to use solely the ManageBAC system. I do understand that it is what we are meant to test, but for the purpose of my CAS education, I need to keep up the Blogger blog. So it is worth his potential anger.

But really, just one question: why change a good thing?

Spanish Club Update - 4/11/10

Hoy pasamos el día super bien! The Spanish Club had its second official excursion, and it was an incredible experience. A while ago, I found the website TuBoston.com, which lists fantastic events all across Boston. By means of this website, I encountered the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, a Latin American culture center in the heart of Boston. They host Hispanic shows, concerts, dances, and galleries. This is where the Spanish Club went for the day, to see the Latin American Classical Composer's series and a gallery of Agustín Patiño's work. I was so happy that not only did I persevere in the planning of this trip, but all of the members of the Spanish Club were very committed and the excursion was successfully realized.

Miranda, Ms. Kirk and I arrived early to the Villa Victoria and decided to get food and then look at the Agustín Patiño gallery. It was a fantastic manifestation of Latin culture through art. His paintings expressed the Latin people, depicting cities and families and the inner turmoil of his mind. They were incredible insights specifically of Ecuadorian culture, seeing as that is the heritage of Agustín Patiño. The paintings really seemed to debate reality vs. the surreal in the life of a Latin American man. They were of incredible detail and precision, and showed to me the importance of art as a means of understanding between two different cultures.

After seeing the art, we went on to listen to the concert. There were around 12 pieces performed on the guitar. These pieces were all composed by Latin Americans, and just like the art, the music was a great manifestation of Latin culture. The pieces varied, as the composers were of different nationalities. The tempo and the key changed constantly, creating pieces that were somber, curious, or made you want to dance. There was even a piece that sounded like a Wendy Sulca song, and I almost expected to see her come out in her traditional dress and hear her sing in her banshee voice.

It was a really great experience and it made me realize the value of culture for everyone around the world. To see this center in Boston, proudly displaying the Latin American heritage of the neighborhood, it made me sad that I really had no culture to embrace. It gave me hope as well, because I love the Spanish language and the Latin American culture so passionately, and so if a community could embody it so powerfully as demonstrated in Villa Victoria, then so can I.

I was sad to leave this great venue, but the ride home did give the Spanish Club time to talk about future plans. We would love to begin meeting once every two weeks or so, but perhaps that will have to wait for next year. We also considered other events, like attending the Ecuadorian Night at Villa Victoria on May 14th. It would be great if we could host our own show or cultural day at Sturgis - perhaps a Cinco de Mayo celebration?

School Culture Committee Reflection

I am very unhappy that this activity has ended. I emailed Mr. Hieser the other day to see when the next meeting for the School Culture Committee would be and he informed that unfortunately there would be no more. This hasn't been a very extensive CAS activity, but I presumed that we would be doing more work over the course of the next two years, and so although there was great effort in the Committee during my sophomore year, we didn't do too much while I have been a junior.

I came into this activity last year with no idea what to expect, but I quickly became accustomed to my duties. It was a great organization with the intent of discerning the culture of Sturgis, a difficult task to say the least. I was honored to have been chosen as one of only two students represented in the Committee, and I knew that I would have great responsibilities. As I mentioned, most of the work done by the School Culture Committee was completed by last spring. This included planning for and administering a survey.

For this year, my goals were simple: to collaborate with the group to comprehend the culture of our school and to annotate the key points for why the school is successful. I loved doing this activity and learning about our school society. It was an awesome chance to do service for my school in a unique, creative, and positive way.

The duties of this year were basically to decipher and present the results of the survey. The School Culture Committee met a few times in winter to go over the results of the HSSSE survey from last year. We had to work together to figure out which results were the most important for understanding our school culture. It required hours of reviewing and discussion, and I had to focus intently on the task at hand. I developed new skills in sociology as I reviewed the HSSSE and worked with others to figure out what made Sturgis unique.

The final event of the School Culture Committee was a presentation to the faculty. I was able to present my knowledge of the survey and offer the very important student perspective. I was proud of myself for working so hard over the course of two years and to see my efforts culminate in this meeting. I really had endurance, persevering for months and months in the tedious but important task, and was committed to solving the identity of our school. I think I met my goals to the best of my ability. Of course, there can be no precise definition of something so broad as the culture of a school, but I worked well with others to try and understand why Sturgis is so successful. I am satisfied with my efforts.

Biology Peer Tutoring Reflection

My last post for this activity was a while ago, and I apologize profusely for the delay in the reflection, but I was under the assumption that this activity would resume in May or June after I had finished spring sports. However, I spoke with Ms. Kallio today and she informed me that this would not be the case. So here is the long-awaited reflection:

Biology Peer Tutoring was a great new activity for me. I had never tutored before, but because I was successful in biology, I felt that it was right to participate in this CAS opportunity. My main goal for this activity was to be able to effectively teach biology to struggling students. I didn't just want to tell them the answers to something, but explain it as well. I also wanted to improve my skills as an instructor as well as my skills in listening and responding to the problems people have.

I was a bit timid at first in the undertaking of Biology Peer Tutoring, due to my inexperience, but I soon found that it would be a great activity for me. I had an incredible experience learning how to be an effective instructor, while at the same time learning material that was essential for my performance in class. My timidity disappeared and I became confident in my ability to explain the subject to others, even though I wasn't necessarily a master in the specific area of study.

This activity also met five of the eight outcomes, so not only was it good for my confidence as a tutor and as a biology student, but it was a fantastic CAS activity. Without any guidance, I developed new skills in instruction, which were essential to be able to connect with my student and fulfill my duties as a tutor. This was a great challenge for me to undertake because I really had no idea what I was doing or what to expect. No matter, I was able to be successful in my responsibilities, and these new skills can also serve me in the future if I decide to pursue the teaching profession. As I expanded these skills, I became more and more confident in my abilities and recognized my strength as a tutor as something that could be applied to others beyond the biology students. I even helped out tutoring math students and anyone else who came to Ms. Kallio's room for help. I got the opportunity as well to work with other biology peer tutors to figure out difficult problems, and could also develop a symbiotic relationship with my student that would allow for collaboration to solve a difficult enigma.

While doing this activity, I became aware of some of my weaknesses as well. Sometimes I act a bit haughty and arrogant, which can be threatening to the students. I recognized that I couldn't come across as a frustrated know-it-all, because students would be intimidated and not learn well. There were other areas in which I was forced to consider the ethical implications of actions like these. I am talkative as well, and I was once accused of being too focused on social life in the tutoring room instead of instructing the student. Needless to say, I evaluated my garrulous self and decided that my babblings could wait until after the tutoring session, so that the student might learn most productively.

Ultimately, I met the goals I delineated. I became an effective tutor with efficient methods, and developed a symbiotic relationship with my students. It was great to do service for kids in my school, and I felt satisfied knowing that my aptitude for biology could translate to better test scores not only for myself, but for fellow Sturgians.

Tennis - 4/8/10

Today at tennis practice we were able to utilize all six courts, so I was finally able to exercise my newly developed skills from practice in an actual game. We had challenges matches, so it was a great opportunity for me to show my improvement.

First I played a singles challenge match against Miklos. I haven't played an official singles match yet, so it was difficult at first changing from the expanded doubles court and the reliability of a partner to be entirely on my own without the allies. At first I would hit the ball out because I forgot the allies were out of bounds, but I became aware of my problem soon enough. It was still a big new challenge for me to undertake. I still played well, and I could see that my serve was strong and even my backhand was improving. My only trouble is my technique. I think I'm swinging the racket incorrectly, as the ball doesn't always go over the net, which is embarrassing and I hope that it is easy to fix. But I managed to beat Miklos 6-3, as I still had good serves and some rare but excellent shots.

I then played a doubles match with Miklos as my partner. We worked well together and communicated nicely. For the first time I had the confidence to stand close to the net to quickly reject any return volley from the other team. It worked well and I hope that I can hone this ability. Because of our collaboration and encouragement, Miklos and I won the match 5-4. I'm glad that my tennis skills are improving, but I really need to work on my technique so that I can ALWAYS hit the ball over the net. And once I can master this, I can focus on precision and becoming a great tennis player.

Spanish Club Update - 4/7/10

This Sunday is the Latin American Classical Composers Series, a concert in Boston that I have planned on attending with the Spanish Club. I ran the idea by Ms. Kirk a while ago and she approved the trip. This final week before the event, because I am the founder of Spanish Club, it has now fallen on my shoulders to plan the excursion.

First the issue of a ride had to be resolved. Ms. Kirk was worried that she might have prior conflicts, but she agreed that it would be best that she comes with us, and decided that she should drive as well. Then I tried to figure out exactly who was going on the trip. We have had some recruits that have expressed interest in Spanish Club, but ultimately no one was able to make the concert on this short notice, so Miranda, Ms. Kirk and I are the only three that will go.

I know the address for the venue and have printed out directions for the trip. I have planned that we will leave around 12:30 from Sagamore so that we can hopefully grab a bite of Hispanic food in Boston before the performance. Everything seems to be all set and ready to happen.

Obviously this requires preparation, but another thing that I need to begin to plan is regular meetings of the Spanish Club. I want to have a meeting every two weeks where the members can cook Spanish food, watch Spanish programs, and speak the Spanish language. Perhaps we could have a trip to a Mexican food place. or plan something extravagant for Cinco de Mayo. On Sunday on the way to Boston, I'll discuss this with Miranda and Ms. Kirk.

Tennis - 4/7/10

There was a varsity tennis game after school today, and knowing that it was an away game and that I wouldn't get a chance to play, I decided to go home and practice tennis with my father. My skills need a lot of work and my confidence needs a boost as well, so I felt that playing tennis against my dad would achieve both of these necessities.

We played a game to 8 matches, and as it went on I could notice my skills improving. My serve has become stronger and stronger, and I was actually able to hit some aces. I think I only double-faulted once in the whole game. I'm happy that my serve has improved, but I still need help on the backhand. I got a higher percentage of balls back over the net, but the hits were far from pretty.

I was also able to develop a new technique for forehands. Instead of flatly hitting the balls at the altitude they arrive to me at, I have been able to hit them back with an upwards sweeping motion. This has prevented so many of the balls from hitting the top of the net and falling back onto my side of the court. If I can increase power in this hit after I master the technique, I could have a very powerful forehand.

Oh, and I won my first singles match. I beat my father 8-5.

Tennis - 4/6/10

Today's tennis practice was a disappointment for me. I felt awkward as I played, as if all of my work and extra practice had only made me uncomfortable to try out my new techniques. The courts were also very crowded today, with 20 kids on three courts, so I didn't really have room to perform to capacity.

We played king of the court matches, which I disliked because they didn't provide for ample playing time unless you were able to get two points in a row and maintain your spot as "king." I didn't feel like this gave fair practice time to everyone, and it was a bit impractical considering we only really got a chance to play two points at once. It was too erratic to be good practice for a match. It did help me to exercise caution in my serves and hits because I did not want to lose a point, but it was still difficult because it offered so little practice time. It helped promote teamwork as well, as it was necessary to be in the same mindset as your partner, but there were so many partner changes and it was too chaotic to be settled into a good pattern with your teammate.

Beyond this, I realize that I still need a lot of practice. My serves have been improving a lot, as I am able to hit them with much greater accuracy and precision, and even increase the power behind my hit. However, my backhand is still seriously lacking. I rarely can hit the ball over the net with a backhand, and when I do it is a weak, lofty serve. I need to fine-tune my technique to ensure I will always be able to properly receive the balls with a backhand.

Academic Team Update - 4/6/10

At Academic Team today, everyone seemed to be a bit unfocused. I did not feel like I was on top of my game. I just felt too lethargic, perhaps induced by the beautiful weather and my desire to go outside. I still attended our meeting, but I think that it was obvious that my mind was wandering.

I did continue to feel confident in my geography abilities. Some weeks I just feel entirely useless when there are little geography questions asked, but this week there were plenty. I knew that Algiers and Mogadishu are two coastal African capital cities, and I also knew that the Caucasus mountains run through Azerbaijan and Georgia. I am glad that I am able to contribute to the team in this way, but I really hope that I can improve in other areas of trivia. I have seen that I have some strengths in biology questions and the rare math question, but I need work in history and literature.

As I mentioned, the team did seem a bit soporific today, but we managed to do fairly well, as measured by the accumulation of our points. We did work well together when necessary, such as on complex math questions, but we really lacked the vigor and zeal that was present last week when we got 300 points. I just hope that we can resume our enthusiasm and be fully prepared for our final competition next week.

Academic Team Update - 3/30/10

I have not been able to attend Academic Team for the past few weeks, so it was great to finally be back at lunch today. It was especially nice because we resumed the Knowledge Master questions (the Great Auk guy) on the computer, instead of the random Trivial Pursuit questions. The Knowledge Master questions are a lot more challenging and are certainly better preparation for our final competition. I was very happy to return to Academic Team, especially to these questions. Luckily my knowledge in geography hadn't gone away, and instead had been augmented, especially from my trip to New York City for Model United Nations. For instance, I was able to answer a question about the Islamic Republic of Mauritania because I had aligned with that nation during the conference.

I also realized that I do have some skills in math and science, despite being seemingly ignorant in these fields. I was able to successfully answer a question about how long it would take a bunch of people to mow a lawn when they all collaborated, while everyone else seemed dumbfounded. I also answered a biology question. It made me feel very happy, but certainly not cocky, as I recognize we all randomly can answer questions even if they don't pertain to our areas of expertise.

It was nice to be with the team again, and we all seemed to work well together. With other math problems, we discussed the method and answer amongst ourselves before giving one. We conferred before nearly every response and, as a result of our teamwork and skill, achieved our highest score yet of 319 points.

CAS Software Testing - 3/25/10

So while continuing to explore the ManageBAC system, I noticed one thing that got me very frustrated. I had just written my massive reflection for MUN, but then when I went to enter it in the proper section under activities, there were all these question sections that I was supposed to fill out. I was very confused, to say the least, especially as it seemed that these questions were the ones that were necessary for the activity proposal, not for final reflection. Therefore, I sent the following at the top of one of the question boxes:

• "OK Mr. Hyer, I just went to this reflection section to post my MUN reflection, and found these weird questions, and was appalled. These should have been in the activity proposal, not the reflection! Anyways, I'm not answering these individually after I have typed up an actual reflection for MUN, which addresses each of these questions but with broader detail and in a proper, reflective, format."

I hope I figure out what exactly the purpose for this is. As of now, I still prefer this blog system, as I feel the ManageBac is overly complex, and I feel that I can be more organized on blogger. Perhaps I'm just not accustomed to the new software yet.

Tennis - 3/24/10

Today at tennis practice, we began competing for a spot in the varsity team by participating in ladder matches. Of course, I was very nervous for this, as I wanted to have a good showing and have a chance of actually acquiring playing time. However, I decided to be realistic, because there are many great tennis players on the team and I am entirely a novice. I knew that I had a slim chance of getting into the top 9 not because I was a horrible tennis player, but because there were experienced veterans who would almost definitely claim the ranks.

I didn't let this phase me, and I decided to play for fun. My doubles partner was Luke, whom I played with in some of the earlier practices and seemed to have a skill level similar to mine. I decided to give it my all in this match, and have my main goal be to simply hit well and get the ball over the net. Out first match was very difficult, as one of our two opponents was clearly very experienced. We played well and I made sure not to let his skill intimidate me. When he served or hit, I knew that it would be difficult to receive, but I still did the best I could in returning all of his shots. In the end, Luke and I lost 8-5, but we played very well, and came back from a 7-2 deficit early on to win 3 games straight.

We decided to pursue a second match to prove to the coach that we were in it to give our best effort and that we were truly committed to improving and perhaps eventually getting a spot in the top 9. Luke and I worked very well together in this next match. Learning from our mistakes in the previous match, we made sure to call the shots and tell the other person when we planned on returning the hit. We worked very well, and it became clear that the only reason we lost points was because of lack of skill, not because of lack of effort or communication. Luke and I also seemed to be very enthusiastic about doing well, and addressed all of our remarks to one another in a hortatory manner. I was proud with how well we played in this match, as we won 8-2, proving to the coach and to ourselves that we would never quit.

Tennis - 3/21/10

After my first practice last Tuesday, I haven't been able to attend the training sessions because of a conflicting commitment with the Model United Nations trip to New York City. Therefore, I decided upon my return on Sunday that I would play tennis with my friend Tory, who is a member of the girl's tennis team. I hoped that her experience would be good instruction for me, as I had been struggling to master the game. I also wanted to show my commitment to the sport; I was even playing the game outside of the mandatory practices.

As I played with her, I could see my skills improving. I recognized that I am very good at forehand shots, and that my backhand, while getting better, was still severely lacking. Playing an actual match with her helped me understand the rules of the game better as well. What I need to work on now is staying focused and not yet worrying about power or superb skill shots, but instead finesse and getting the basics down. I played well but I need to make sure I am hitting correctly and always getting the ball over the net. My serves need work as well, seeing as I seemed to double-fault for nearly every other point. I was proud of my effort, though, and managed to tie Tory, 5 games to 5.

Model UN Reflection

Model United Nations was a great experience for me to undertake, and I had so much fun doing it that I didn't even remember that it served for CAS. I had been interested for years in joining the group, but I never had the guts to try something so unfamiliar to me. I have always known that I've wanted to study international relations, and so this year, as college and CAS are two new burdens, I decided that MUN would be perfect for me. Like some of my other CAS activities, MUN was something truly foreign to me, and I had no idea what exactly would be the requirements of this group. I was still excited about it and decided to devote myself wholeheartedly to this endeavor because it could be incredibly beneficial for my future. My main goal was to gain a further understanding of international relations and how the United Nations functions. While Sturgis does offer an incredible education, we at times lack a good current events instruction, and so MUN was a good chance for me to learn important global issues. Everything we discussed was a matter of international importance, ranging from odious debt to genocide to de-mining to the Caucasus situation. Besides my desire to gain a broader knowledge of our world, I wanted to learn how to work collaboratively with people I had just met to solve important problems. I think that both of my goals were achieved, as I certainly learned a lot about international issues and I was able to work with many others to form a resolution that I fully supported and that passed.

Model United Nations was a huge challenge for me to undertake. From the beginning, I realized that there would be many difficult responsibilities for me to assume. I had to write first a country paper, which required great research, and then a position paper, which required even more intense research and lengthy analysis. It was almost like taking another class, but it was certainly worth it, as I learned all about Macedonia and important international issues. Needless to say, I developed many new skills in writing United Nations-style position papers and learning how to debate important topics, which I was able to apply to the committee session where I also had to learn the entire procedure of MUN. It was strenuous and difficult, but I fully enjoyed it.

The actual Model United Nations trip to the conference in New York City for four days was a fantastic experience. I loved learning how to do moderated and unmoderated caucuses, express my views, and ally with the people who had similar opinions. I really became more comfortable with my voice, as I spoke six times during moderated caucuses and felt that I truly understood the problems with odious debt. I did realize however that I needed to work on not only speaking reiterated rhetoric, but being an innovative public speaker with revolutionary ideas. I loved the unmoderated caucuses, where we pooled our ideas and worked together for a common resolution to an international crisis. It was so interesting to hear the varying points-of-view from different countries, and it was challenging to listen to somebody's speech and then consider the ethical implications of their proposal, thus making a personal deduction that was supposed to be for the benefit of everyone.

Model United Nations was truly incredible and I can't wait to do it again next year with even more tenacity. I learned so much about our world and its issues, and it was a great outlet of creativity through something I love, international relations. It even seemed to do service to the world, even if the resolutions really had no effect on the decisions of actual UN delegates. I am so proud that I met my goals and stayed committed to MUN, even when times were difficult.