2/3 done!

Well this is the end of the trimester and we did a small reflect on our project for CAS class, so here it is. I hope that however is readying this enjoys it! And I will promise that I will work more on Blue Revolution next trimester.

What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment that relates to CAS this trimester?  Explain.

         My greatest accomplishment in CAS has been that I learn how to accept failure and move on. I had a lot planed out for Blue Revolution and I thought that all of it would work out but none of it did. I did one small presentation to the 6^th graders and only the kids who liked the ocean liked the presentation. Also I tried to fix the power point but the information on the power point that FECOP gave use was boring and too detailed. I think that the presentation was design for very informed fishermen and scientist because it involved a lot of numbers and graphics.

         Another thing that I realized was that I was going too fast. I should have done more presentations instead of giving up so fast and also given more time to the project. Now I learn what my mistakes are I have to fix them and make something out of Blue Revolution.

What other service projects, outside of your CAS project, have you participated in, how many hours did you invest in them, and what did you gain from the experience?

        

         I did two more projects aside from my personal CAS project. The first was helping Dominic selling food during the Basketball tournament for 3 hours. I learned a lot from his project because he was organized, a lot of people showed up and they also enjoyed it. He was organized because he had specific certificates printed out and special tickets that he gave to all the players. I also admire how many people showed up. I know that if I do an event is that the first thing to do is advertise so the entire community knows about.

         The second project that I did was organize a movie night for the younger students to raise money for the music equipment for the school. We had planned this for two weeks and we had everything ready. However we didn’t know that the sound in my computer didn’t work and we weren’t able to put the movie, it took us one hour to get everything working. Also I wasn’t able to help set the thing up and have a backup plan because I was sick and I had to go to the doctor and came 30 minutes after it started. However I took over the set up of the movie and tried to put it on. It was a good experience to learn from. Next time I shouldn’t be sick and also check the systems to see if they work! At the end I did 2 hours with this movie night.

             

What has been the hardest obstacle to overcome during this trimester in relation to CAS?  Explain and give 2 ideas of how to overcome those obstacles next trimester.

         The hardest obstacle to me to overcome during this trimester was realized that I had to stop and rethink everything. For most part of the trimester I thought that my project was going well and I just moved forward. But I just simply had to go and do a presentation and see if that was working or not. In order to overcome this obstacle I have to think on an interactive idea that will make Blue Revolution fun and interesting for anybody who hears about it. Also I should speak with other community members to see what their projects are and if they have any ideas that could relate to mine and combine forces and make something even better. Another idea that I have is to get involved with the costarrican institute of oceanography and have them be part of Blue revolution and have the scientist as special guest at the possible forums that will be done in the future. 

Where is this going???

         The first time I heard about blue revolution it wasn’t even called blue revolution. It was a Monday night, I was sitting in the brown love seat in the leaving from. It was half way through October, half way through the first trimester. The room was quite except the tv that was on,Monday from 8-9pm my mom and I always Grey’s Anatomy. It’s the last day of a long weekend and I’m fully rested but wished the long weekend would last longer.During commercialsI’m concentrated in my computer. In facebook my class mates are checking if there was any homework, on skype I’m chatting with Seba and my emails have my weekly updates from youtube and facebook, but there is another email, one from Mr. Abel. The subject of the email says MARINE CONSERVATION MEETING. I open the email and start reading it as the show comes back on. It talks about a marine conversation forum in the community in the end of November and they are looking for students how would like to volunteer and help out with the event. And that catches my attention. For my CAS project I wanted to do something with marine biology but I ended up helping with the Bingo instead. This was a great opportunity, it would be extra volunteer work,plus I still have to complete 150 hours of community work, a little extra volunteer work wouldn’t hurt. Excitedly I tell my mom about the email when the next commercials come on and she says it’s a great idea, but she asks when the meetings are happening. I skim through the email find where it says: Tuesdays at la paz south from 3:15 to 4pm. It’s right before  dance... I tell my mom and how I want to go but I don’t want to miss my dance classes. She says that If I change quickly she can pick me up 3:50 and take me to my dance classes. It will work out.

          In the first meeting we were all sitting around the glass table in the office. We were all there, Miss Sarah,Mr. Abel, Pascal, Richard, Micah, Caleb, Dominic and Bianca. We were all very different, from different places and culture but we had something in common we love the ocean. That  first meeting something kindle inside of me, that hasn’t been lighted in a long time. I felt like a was a little girl again, waiting for everyone to wake up on Christmas morning so I could go open up my presents. I felt this satisfaction and excitement, this is what I wanted I told myself. This is what I was looking for, I would gain a lot of experience  and meet the director from FECOPT! This was perfect! This would also look amazing in  a college resume. I wouldn’t stop proposing ideas, I was available for anything! I would make this happen, it would be unforgettable. When the meeting was over Mr. Abel came up to me as my mom’s car got into the parking lot. And he says,”I’m glad that you came today, I could see the way your eyes shined throughout the entire meeting.” Yeah I was glad of also. As the weeks passed by I was punctual, I won’t miss a meeting and also participate in which ever way I could. I remember we we came up with the  motto, “we are always thinking green, lets start thinking BLUE!” and then coming with the name: Blue Revolution, we were going to teach people to think blue and save the oceans.

             When the day of the presentation comes, I have butterflies in my stomach, I’m soo excited. I’m going to meet Don Enrique! This is the start of something big I told myself, this is the start of a revolution.  I go up to the stage with the crew, we are all excited, this is big, there are a lot of people, we can make a difference, we can make a change. As we go down to the stage and sit by the others and listen to the presentation, twenty minutes later the presentation goes on and on and on and it's still not done. I keep checking my clock and the presentation is taking longer than it should. I'm getting boring and as I see the audience and try to look for my friends, disappointment comes into me when I see there are not there, minutes later I see them come in the audience again with food in their hand. Lucky, I love the presentation but I wished I could get out for a little bit and eat like they did, I don't blame them for going away from the presentation. When it's finally done I hear both positive and negative feedback, but all I know is that I will never do a presentation as long and boring as that.

         Four months later I'm here not liking the concept any more. I'm the complete opposite to the day in which I went into that meeting and my eyes shined like bright little stars. I don't have that enthusiasm any more. I don't even know where this project is going on, I used to love it, and now it just feels like an obligation, a boring project that I don't even know what the purpose if it is. I feel like I'm not creating a change the way I wanted. If feels like I'm just talking to people that don't care what I'm taking about. I'm like going into a sports meeting where everyone is expecting to hear about sports and I start talking about flowers, they  don't care about flowers try care about is sports. I'm giving the presenting to teenagers now day teens don't care about anything other than themselves and how to be cool to fit in. I want to find a better purpose with blue revolution or just find something else to do with it because right now it's not going anywhere and ever if I went to high schools around the areas talking about responsible fishing I would feel like I'm wasting my time if nobody cares about it. I need a project where I'm constantly working and facing challenges, that's the way I like things. I'll try to figure something out, because if I really want to make a change then I need to start moving.