Chapel Choir

In the first semester of grade 11, I joined chapel choir. Since our school has chapel every Tuesday, chapel choir aimed to present frequently on Tuesdays. However the plan did not go well. From the first meeting, the practice was unsuccessful. Since the instructor of the group was Mrs. Yoon, the Korean teacher, who was very close to all the members, students did not look at the group seriously. I also did. Because the members were all Korean students, we were busy chatting around and laughing at each other singing the choir song. The first song we performed was “Blow the Trumpet in Zion”. This song was very difficult because it was high-toned and fast. However, because I had several experiences of joining school choir in Korea, I did not worry so much. After 5 meetings of practices, the day of performance finally came.

Unlike my confidence, our performance was terrible. We were far from ideal image of the choir. We were just individuals singing separately in a very quiet voice. After the chapel, we were called by Father Richard, who leads the chapel service, and were scolded by him because of our attitude during the performance. He told us to have some responsibility of performing in front of whole school students. He said that Chapel Choir is not just singing, but preaching the message of God in a different way. Even some students said that they could not understand the lyrics of the song. Whether I had experience or not was not a big deal. What is important was the teamwork within the group.

I think everyone thought as the way I did. During the practice after the performance, everyone seemed working harder. So did I. We decided to be more organized in order to keep the teamwork and responsibility to the club. First, we thought that we needed secretary to check the attendance of the members, because one problem we had was several people missing the practices. I volunteered for the secretary and suggested to drop people who miss the practice three times without any reasons. All agreed on it and finally there was a legit rule in our club. Our new song to perform was “Joy to the World”, which all members were familiar with. I think improved practice attitude and familiar song made synergy effect. Personally, I thought our harmony was awesome!

The performance went out well. Although we only had two performances throughout the semester, I think it does not matter. Through encountering several practices which were sometimes successful and sometimes a failure, it was a good experience for me to learn about the effective teamwork. Also, it was my first time to suggest a rule in a group in order to organize and aim for efficient result. Though at first it was such a failure, at last I gathered valuable learning. I enjoyed being the member of the Chapel choir group. 

Pep Rally 2014

This year, I joined the Pep Rally as a member of Red house. We practiced for at least 3 weeks for this Pep Rally. Although I am not the leader of the house, I still felt that the preparation of this event would be very hard because many of the students were not participating or just doing it without less effort. Actually I was one of them. Since I am not interested at dancing or cheering, I did not wanted to participate. However, when I saw the leaders are striving so hard to actually win this pep rally, I decided to participate with my best effort!

And the day came! Pep Rally. I was so excited to show what we've practiced so hard for weeks and to see other houses' performance. I really liked the cheerful atmosphere of the gym, where everyone looked so excited and happy. Before the performance, I was so nervous that I could not laugh at all. However, after hearing leaders saying, "we are here to enjoy, not win", I felt comfortable and was ready to actually enjoy this pep rally.

So I really enjoyed. Yes, I missed some moves, but I did not dance as if I am a dead person. I danced lively! To show that I am enjoying! Also, it was my first time to cheer for Red House so desperately. I think I participated well because it was my last Pep Rally of the school year. It was fun and happy time. I am so happy that our house won, and I think this is the result of enjoying, not competing!

Of course, the process of preparing the pep rally was not that easy. Through the preparation of the pep rally, I learned that the most important thing in this event is teamwork. Without communication between leaders and members, it is impossible to have a good result. As a member of the house, I think my job was to listen carefully to what the leaders say, and follow their directions. Also, in order to achieve effective teamwork, I think participation was important. Through this activity, I think I learned how to achieve effective teamwork through communicating with the members and leaders, and participating to the practice with my full effort. It was such a fruitful time to me, and I am glad that our house won the Pep Rally 2014!

Dialysis Chapter: Fundraising group first meeting

First fundraising group meeting

This Tuesday fundraising group had a meeting to discuss about the first activity to raise fund. We thought of the activity that would be profitable and that we can implement as soon as possible. Then we came out with “breakfast delivery” which is basically delivering and selling out some breakfast-like food. We thought that it would work out well because many students and teachers do not eat breakfast when they are really busy in the morning. We decided the tentative date at October 3. All the profits raised will be kept for the financial support for the dialysis patients.

This time, I had to lead the group. I started up with listing up the possible activities that we decided on last GIN meeting and brought out some suggestions. Since it was my first time to actually lead the entire group, I had some difficulties at first with gathering attentions of every member. However after some discussions about choosing the fundraising activity, I was able to lead the discussion. Also because president (Jennifer :)) of the club helped out some points that I was missing, I was able to gain some confidence and remove the shyness that I first had.

           When I chose to join the fundraising group, I thought it would just be fun to raise an activity and actually go for it. Later, however, I thought that this fundraising activity should not base on whether it is fun or not. Although the activity may be little bit difficult, we all need to work hard because we are raising funds not for us but for the patients. Through planning on which activities to start on, I really wanted to do an activity that would be profitable so that our GIN group can financially support for the dialysis patients as soon as possible. I hope this fundraising activity goes on well. 

Reflection on MUN club

I joined MUN club this year, because I enjoyed attending HAIS MUN in Korea. I aimed to learn about basic rules of MUN and to practice thinking critically about current issues happening around the world. I was assigned as the delegate of China, and the club has gone two meetings already. The agenda was US airstrike in Middle East.

           Actually I did not fully know what was going on in Middle East. I knew the Israel-Palestine war, but did not know about situations arousing in Iraq and Syria. The only thing that I could do was to research, research and research again. Then I figured out about all those conflicts between ISIS and Middle Eastern countries and about the intervention of the US. As the delegate of China, I then researched about China’s stance about the agenda. Unlike what I expected, China had negative opinions towards US intervention. This brought the research more complex. However, with the help of other delegates of China and my own research, I was able to fully know about China’s stance and what to say during the conference.

            However, it wasn’t so easy. While others were talking fluently about their countries’ stances, I could not speak very eloquently about the stance of my country. I think it was because of my nervousness. I thought it would be easier to talk in front of the people who I know than talking in front of other people who I do not know (just like in Korean MUN conference). Nonetheless, it was much harder to talk and share my opinion in front of the ones that I am close to. When I went in front of them, I was so nervous that I did not fully share what I meant to say.

I hope I can improve my skills of sharing thoughts in front of other people through the sessions that are left. Also, I thought that I needed to research some more about not only my country’s stance, but also other conflicting countries’ stances in order to debate against them. I think MUN club is slowly opening the way I view the world’s current ongoing situations. 

Reflection: HAISMUN

During summer, I joined Hais (High school Association of International Studies) MUN, as a delegate of South Africa in economic and social council. I planned to join HAIS MUN in order to experience MUN in Korea. Though I did not experience or learn anything about MUN before, I just wanted to try out how it goes and to check if I am brave enough to enroll as one of the delegates and present my country's stance in front of many other Korean students. I was very nervous because it was my first time to join the model UN, and I did not know any of it. Also, I was worried about the Korean students, who are well known to be very smart and logical. To join them, I researched about the agenda over and over, and prepared for the conference as if it was a real UN conference.

When the conference started, I delivered my opening speech to the students, but I was so nervous that I did not fully presented what I prepared. It was first experience in my life, to go in front of the students whom I've never met, and speak through the microphone about my opinion. Though I did not perfect it, it was still a thrilling experience. Then, when writing a resolution, I went to the country that had the closest stance, and suggested to write the resolution together. As a group, 7 of us successfully wrote the resolution that had contained all solutions that we drew out, and were able to submit it to the chair. Although I was not the leading one, I still spoke out and tried my best to help the group.

It is true that I did not stand up as the delegate who participated a lot during the conference, still, I tried to join the group and shared my opinion. I learned the format of MUN and thought that I would do better if I had researched more about the agenda, and wrote the resolution before coming to the conference. Also, I learned that in order to deliver my stance to the others, I need to speak out clearly and thoroughly, which had been my weak parts in speaking English. Through the experience of attending Hais MUN, I think I somewhat gained confidence. This conference allowed me to experience something new, that I haven't even thought to try out before.

Reflection: GIN Dialysis Center 2nd visit

Last week, I had second visit to the dialysis center. At first meeting, I went to a place where they have the filter and the dialysis machine for the dialysis patients. There, I learned about what 'dialysis' is about, and how patients in Baguio suffer from this disease due to lack of finance. I learned the costs for the filters and the machine, and our group discussed about the ways that we can give help, as much as possible. From the discussion, we figured out that of course financial problem is something that should be solved first, but what is also important is being aware of the disease and the people by ourselves, and spread out about this to the people, so that they can get help from others too.

Then, next meeting, we went to the dialysis center in Kisad road to meet the patients and spend time with them. I talked with a guy, who got dialysis just 2 weeks ago. He told us that he needs to spend 4 hours per a session of blood filtering. He said that he really likes our project because he was very bored to stay for 4 hours just getting the blood filtered, and wanted someone beside him to entertain him. Listening to what he said, I thought that this project, though seems simple, is still significant to some people.

Since we were not prepared to do anything, we just talked, but it was not easy to continuously talk with him because he was getting his blood filtered. We basically shared our names, ages and he shared us about his experience as a dialysis patient. It was a meaningful time that I was able to share thoughts and make them to not feel bored about it. I learned that dialysis patient, not only needs financial support, but also needs attention from other people, and thought that I could help them through visiting the dialysis center regularly, and entertaining the patients while getting their blood filtered 

Reflection on Soccer

From February to March, I joined soccer team. I played every Monday, Wednesday and Friday after school from 3 - 5:30 pm. Since I joined as a varsity player last year, I thought the training would be easy and fun. However, Mr. McLean made the training much harder that I faced several limitations such as lack of physical strength and lack of skills. It was such a hard training that I always thought that I wanted to quit the club. However, until the last week of March, I tried my best to play hard. During the process of soccer training, I think I gained higher physical strength compared to before.

Soccer is a game that needs high and efficient collaboration of each players. Especially, my position was mid-fielder, which acquires communication with other players. In this situation, I learned the way of cooperating with each other, at the same time being closer with other players.

Though I was cut from the varsity team, still I learned several soccer skills and improved my physical strength level. Through this activity, I had fun and enjoyed it.

Reflection on White Coats on Every Kid

During the 2 years of joining White Coats on Every Kid, I taught several kids who are in a situation where they cannot get enough education. As the aim of this club was to bring the kids to open their view points towards the worlds and dream of being a scientist, we taught them several scientific experiments that can be interesting to them. The kids were divided into age groups of grade 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5 and 6 who were all from the same place. We mostly brought them to our school and sometimes went to their places. 

To teach the kids who haven't had any scientific education, it was important for me to learn the concept of the experiment, at the same time driving particular scientific information to the kids. Since science is not the subject that I am good at, it was difficult for me to learn those concepts by myself and teach them. At first I had struggles in teaching the kids, because sometimes they could not understand simple words such as 'friction' or 'resistance', and it was hard for me to make them understand the meaning of it. Also, since kids get bored so easily, we needed to think of an experiment that was entertaining enough.

However, during the process of actually designing our own experiments by exploring the concepts of science related, I actually learned many basic concepts of science that I did not know well. Also, I learned how teaching kids is such a hard working. But still, through this activity, I felt like I am helping those kids efficiently, not just by giving food or money, but giving hopes and dreams. It was a great opportunity that made me to actually learn new things and help others. 

These are the experiments that I designed.