Limpopo Reflection

Limpopo Reflection

            On Thursday 17 October 2013 Raquel and I, students of the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ), hold the positions as the Communications Officer and Secretary for the Marumofase High School Limpopo Project. We attended a STUCO meeting to present our ideas and proposal on an upcoming stationary drive. Our proposal is to host a fundraiser through our school. AISJ will raise school supplies to provide for the students at Marumofase High School Limpopo. This fundraiser will benefit the children with their writing educational needs and enable them to work productively with the correct supplies. This will enhance my learning outcome to plan and initiate this project. Also, this fundraiser is a house competition between Athena, Apollo, Hermes, and Artemis. The collection dates will run from the 28 October 2013 to 15 November 2013. We will be collecting pencils, erasers, and sharpeners; each of which will count as 1 house point. Paper, notebooks, and binders will also be collected; each will count as 5 house points. My contribution to this stationary drive will be 67 pencils and 2 erasers. This is a school group effort to benefit our host country, South Africa. It will bring camaraderie, spirit, and pride to our school AISJ. It will also bring insight to the Limpopo students of the importance of bringing the proper tools and be prepared to learn. This will encourage and motivate the Limpopo students to enjoy education and the ending benefits. With previous community service, I have learned that visiting underprivileged schools they lack the proper supplies and therefore this is one of my first priorities to get them started on a great path to education.

Johannesburg Model United Nations (JOMUN) Final Reflection

Johannesburg Model United Nations (JOMUN) Final Reflection

            Finally, the third day of JOMUN conferences came to an end, arguments have been presents, evidence was displayed, and a verdict has been made. The deliberations on the third day came to a conclusion and a consensus that Australia found Japan guilty of breaking international regulation on the boundaries to kill whales. Japans JARPA II program was simply a façade for commercial whaling.

My learning outcomes during this entire process were working collaboratively with others, being engaged in issues of global importance, and developing new skills. In order to produce the JOMUN Journal, it took the cooperation and collaboration of all the press members to create the final product. In doing so, we as AISJ students sponsoring JOMUN documented the events of each committee every day for three days, a total of 22 hours. I was involved in an issue of global importance – commercial whaling. What happens in Japan or anywhere else in the world affects the entire global planet. Taking part in this global event has given me pride, appreciation for journalists, and insight into workings of the United Nations. During this process, I developed new skills in communication, journalism, and writing.

My moments of learning were gradually obtained during the three-day conference as communication, journalism, and writing escalated. Expanding my ability to be creative and selective of the information given that would be pertinent in this case - the case of Australia against Japan’s international whaling violation. My insights and thoughts on the final verdict after all the evidence were displayed, disputes were exchanged, and hours of collected data were written. My educated judgment agreed with the verdict that Japan was violating international laws on these global issues. My own limitation during this Court case was to remain unbiased and simply write the facts for each party. Reflecting on my learning moments, at times it was difficult to hear the evidence and not take sides with one or the other. Therefore, great discipline was being focused on my position as a press member and professionalism was displayed at all times. The knowledge obtained through this experience as being a press member opened new lessons for me to learn. For example, patience was a key factor during the long debates, rebuttals, and deliberations. I must say this is the longest amount of time that I had to sit, listen, and not being able to interject which took a great amount of discipline.

All in all, the entire set up from start to finish was a polished event. If I had to make a change, it would be to provide a proper seat and desk for the press member to work efficiently. This is because long hours of sitting and writing with my slate on my lap were uncomfortable. In conclusion, all conflicts, ideas, and perspectives were addressed and readdressed. The evidence was presented and each case had an equal amount of time to dispute their argument. A fair and honest verdict was announced. My future goals with JOMUN will continue next year. I will volunteer to elect myself as a press member. This opened up my eyes to global awareness, the importance of working with others, and new skills. Also, what affects one part of the world trickles down to the rest. 

Johannesburg Model United Nations (JOMUN) Reflection

Johannesburg Model United Nations (JOMUN) Reflection

We are now into the second day of the JOMUN conference. I am part of the press team. My duties are to take notes on the continuous coverage of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and create an article to publish in the JOMUN Journal. The first day consisted of debating between Japan and Australia on the case of whaling in the Antarctic. Australia brought Japan to Court due to illegal commercial whaling rather than scientific research. The second day consisted of rebuttals, and the third will consist of deliberations.

After the completion of day one and two my learning outcome as part of the press committee was to complete the article to be published in the third JOMUN Journal. My observations during day one and day two over a period of combined sixteen hours was laborious and intense at times. The debate that went on between Japan and Australia had some critical moments. One being, Japans constant objections to Australia’s unreliable evidence. These debates went on for hours and as a press member my observations and perceptions became a bit unclear due to the constant changing arguments that led to dead ends. My learning outcome is to be patient, a very careful listener, and record the evidence from each party verbatim. It can become very tedious but the cause and the outcome of this debate is important and is the voice to the whales. So, my hard work, patience, and the collaboration with other JOMUN members are needed to save the future whale stocks.  

My actions involved in this debate consisted of constant awareness and attention of the surroundings within the Courtroom.  Document the data as spoken, facts rather than opinions. Also, at all times remembering to keep my own thoughts and beliefs out of the argument. Continuously displaying professionalism and to remember that my limitations in this situation is simply to be the writer and the writer only. I could not take sides on either part; I must remain non-judgmental.

My learning moments consisted on the happenings within the case. I had to be conscious to write and pull out the most important facts and data. I had to have a keen listening skill to sift through the information to determine what was important and what wasn’t. The lessons that I learnt from one debate to the next were to be patient and non-judgmental at all times. Changes that might have been desirable during this two-day debate and rebuttal between Japan and Australia are to provide the press member with a table along with my chair. I found it difficult to continuously write on a slate on my lap without a table. As a press member I must be unbiased to the arguments presented by the members of Japan and Australia. My future goals are to be part of JOMUN again next year and continuing to expand my knowledge and expertise as a press member. This conference provides me skills and techniques to apply to my future endeavors in an office environment/professionalism.

AISJ Senior Track and Field Team Final Reflection

AISJ Senior Track and Field Team Final Reflection

            I smile today when I reflect back on my experience with being a member on the track team because; this was a great accomplishment for me. It was a personal goal that I had set out for. I challenged myself physically because; I am not a very athletic person. In the beginning, my perceptions regarding track were quite vague and unclear. However, as time and participation continued my perceptions became very clear that I was thoroughly enjoying this. I learned my body could run the 100 m and 200 m and that my body could physically handle the weekly training. I can recall at the start of our track meetings the two-lap warm-up seemed to be so laborious and my mind was only thinking about when this run would end. As time progressed, I was so immersed with being part of a team, rooting for my fellow teammates, and involved in the practice that everything became effortless. I was so proud to accomplish not only my personal goal but to be part of a team and represent AISJ.

My learning outcomes have definitely been achieved. My physical strength in the beginning definitely was weak and needed improvement. With continuous practice and commitment to being a team member I became strong in many areas of growth. Such as: physical endurance, mental endurance, stamina, and breathing techniques. Also, I must mention my growth in team camaraderie, team participation, and team pride. With this experience, I know in the future I will move forward into another team sport preferably track with a lot less anxiety and much more physical strength, and overall improved health and performance. My commitment outcome was fulfilled and enjoyed. I attended every practice, put a 110% into all my runs, and kept a positive attitude. I looked forward to the track competitions every Wednesday as part of a reward to hard work and team spirit. My challenge was joining a team sport. Simply because I’ve never participated in one. The challenge that I feared was the physical challenge as well as having confidence in my abilities to not let the team down.

In the end of this action activity, was a successful and fulfilling challenge and season for me. My experience with being a member of the track team is like no other one because this was my first sport that I have ever taken. I have learnt a lot about the importance of being a team member and the impact of encouragement. I will take these learning lessons onto my future sport endeavors. I now know the importance of the stretching warm-up sessions due to a reoccurring cramp in left thigh. This will no longer be a problem in the future because I know to stretch first. The anxiety is not a conflict or an outstanding issue with me because; I’ve experienced the full circle of a track season.

My future goals involving sports are now on high priority. The benefits that I’ve received physically have improved my overall health. The team members left a positive impression on how joining together we could all reach our goals. I will definitely plan on joining team sport in my senior year preferably track. I have thoroughly enjoyed this season of track. I’ve learned a lot and made some great friends.