service

Service

Within this section of the CAS program I have undertaken many tasks including tutoring, helping at a soup kitchen and also a regular babysitting service for staff at school. The service section of the CAS program is one that can have quite a strong effect on emotions. I was struck particularly when helping at the soup kitchen by this. I was surprised by the fact that a lot of the people coming to have a free meal from the French Salvation Army (for whom I was volunteering with a group of friends) were not actually homeless as such but rather it was more the elderly who may not have been able to afford to buy their own food. I found the service element enjoyable as a whole and also very beneficial to me. Especially when I was tutoring both economics to my friend Tedros and biology to my friends Michaela, Tori and Farah. I was able to help them improve third grades in the subjects and furthermore going over the syllabus with them helped me  improve my grades as well as it meant that I was firmly cementing the basics allowing me to study on the harder HL topics in my own time.

Babysitting 8 hours

This runs as an ad hoc service for whenever there is a whole senior school or entire school meeting. This often left staff with childcare problems. I volunteered to help look after their children. This took place mostly after school hours either on a Tuesday or a Thursday. There was one incidence where I came in on a Saturday to help while there was a staff training day. I had a few regular turn outs for the babysitting. I ensured the children who were all from the infant and junior schools. Did their homework and after this was done I provided a box of paper, scissors, glue, and colouring in materials. In addition the elder ones were able to use one of the computers in the library. This was an interesting and engaging activity which helped teach me how to manage a larger group of people. There was two occasions where I was asked to look after a young child who was not yet in school. To allow me to effectively babysit the elder children and the younger baby I recruited two friends, Tudors and Kelly to help. This allowed us to split up the work load and ensure the children were safe and content at all times. The responsibility of babysitting was quite a big one, although by using the library as a room in which to look after the children reduced the risks. I had to ensure that when the children did get hyper or very energetic that they remained safe and did not fall into one of the tables. Or injure them in some other way. One of the other challenges I had to cope with was when two of the children did not get on with one another. It was not serious more of a boy girl rivalry that is so common at the younger ages but there were some instances of name calling a had to be stopped. the children were very responsive and nothing more than a firm talking to was needed to restore order.

Tutoring Biology 15hrs

As someone who is naturally inclined to a scientific way of thinking I have found that the study of biology comes very easily to me. This combined with the fact that I wish to become a doctor means that biology is one of my strongest subjects by far. However I knew that not all people are so scientifically incline so I offered my help to any in HL or SL bio who wanted some help. I helped two girls in SL Bio who were already doing well but were struggling to move into the next grade boundary. I was asked to do this around the time mock exams came up in June and so we would meet regularly during lunchtimes or frees to go through practice papers and areas they didn’t understand too well. I firmly believe that one of the best ways to increase your grades is by working with someone who is able to help you.  By working closely with both students I felt I was able to help the understanding by explaining concepts just slightly differently. In addition we would go over past papers and do IB style questions. I tried to pass on the same approach to the biology essay questions as I use. I make a plan with bullet pointed statement corresponding to the number of marks. And then I start writing, I taught them this approach to the exams as I find it a really useful way to  maximise the number of marks gained as it helps to order things on paper and in your head.

Tutoring economics 15 hours

I had never taken economics before but I found I understood it quite well. I also find it fascinating. However my friend Tedros who is in the same class as me often has problems with the subject. Especially with the internal assessment so to help him for each of the five economic IA’s we have sat down together and gone through the article I help him highlight and understand the relevant points and then I make him do a detailed plan. Including what economic terms he must define and what diagrams he must use and what their explanations are. I then help him check through and explain any errors I can see. I also helped him with exam prep. I did this through creating flashcards for him and myself and then testing each other this was a very effective and collaborative way to learn.

Disco 4 hours

I have helped at a couple of middle school discos bother here at ISP and at EAB victor Hugo. This was not one of my favourite activities as occasionally the younger year groups could be obnoxious and rude. And it also involved cleaning up at the end of the discos which is never pleasant. However it make me think of those people worldwide who have unpleasant jobs such as street cleaners and those less fortunate than myself.

Soup kitchen 3 hours

I did this with a group of friends volunteering for the Salvation Army in France. Once a week in the north part of Paris the Salvation Army gives a free meal to any who need it. I enjoyed the team work that was involved. The activity was helpful to others and also helped me improve my French speaking skills as I had to work with a mainly French group of people. The activity made me consider the ethical issues surrounding poverty. It made me realise that it is easy to live in a western society and think that poverty exists in Africa and not outside your front door.