MUN - again.
This year, I am the Secretary General for CO-MUN, the highest position in the conference. It's very exciting, but also quite daunting - its a HUGE task, but I am very excited about it. Over the two previous years that I have been part of the Organizing Committee, I have picked up on some things that we need to fix up, to make the conference go as smoothly and as well as possible.
Being a perfectionist, I feel like it is my responsibility to make this conference as good as it can be. Just to make sure that everything is in on time, make sure that all the conference rooms are set up, money comes in on time.
We have meetings every week, and I feel as though we have a really good team this year - they're very proactive and hard-working, which we need. We also tried to bring the workshops and the practice debates up so they are sooner as opposed to closer the the conference date.
Also, in the school after-school activity, Priyanka and I are in charge, and we are really trying to push them so that we do well in the conference, as in previous years have been seen as a joke at the conference. We are holding debates frequently, so that people get more used to being able to talk and debate. By practicing these skills early, I am hoping that we can change the impression of OSC kids at the MUN conference. We are the ones that host it, after all, and it is embarrassing that we are so weak.
The conference is in March, so we still have a while to go before everything is sorted out. But so far everything is on track, and I hope it stays like this all the way up to the conference date.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
VERSUS CANCER CHARITY CONCERT
18th September 2010.
Hope for Kids, the community service group I am part of, held a charity concert. There were many different acts from different schools and people from around Colombo that signed up to perform. All proceeds of the event were to go the Children's Cancer Ward at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital, the only government cancer hospital in the country. The purpose of the charity group is to raise money to maintain the children's play room which we built there.
Goals:
-Carry off a concert that runs smoothly.
- To make a lot of money.
On the day of the concert, there was a dress rehearsal, where we had a full run through of the show and who is going where. I was the backstage co-ordinator and I had to co-ordinate when people had to go on. My idea was to have people be backstage 2 shows early, so that everyone would be ready to go on, with as little air time as possible. However, many people did not come for this rehearsal, and some of them ended up singing 3 or 4 songs, and taking up half an hour on stage, so people were waiting to go on for nearly an hour. Tickets sold out fast, and people ended up having to buy a ticket by the seller writing on a piece of paper. Other than that, I think that overall it turned out well, and it made a lot of money, and also joined a lot of people together so they made a lot of friends.
Hope for Kids, the community service group I am part of, held a charity concert. There were many different acts from different schools and people from around Colombo that signed up to perform. All proceeds of the event were to go the Children's Cancer Ward at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital, the only government cancer hospital in the country. The purpose of the charity group is to raise money to maintain the children's play room which we built there.
Goals:
-Carry off a concert that runs smoothly.
- To make a lot of money.
On the day of the concert, there was a dress rehearsal, where we had a full run through of the show and who is going where. I was the backstage co-ordinator and I had to co-ordinate when people had to go on. My idea was to have people be backstage 2 shows early, so that everyone would be ready to go on, with as little air time as possible. However, many people did not come for this rehearsal, and some of them ended up singing 3 or 4 songs, and taking up half an hour on stage, so people were waiting to go on for nearly an hour. Tickets sold out fast, and people ended up having to buy a ticket by the seller writing on a piece of paper. Other than that, I think that overall it turned out well, and it made a lot of money, and also joined a lot of people together so they made a lot of friends.
ISTA TAPS
Jakarta, October 28th – 30th
Three intense days of theatre, fifty new facebook friends, and countless skills learned. IB TAPS.
Eight OSC IB Theatre students attended the workshops in Jakarta, and none of them would tell you that it was a waste of time or that it was boring. The workshops were grueling; it was as though you never had a break - you were always up and moving. It encompassed so many different methods, ideas and applications of theatre that had never occurred to us before, such as using theatre and exercises to bring people in a group, who seem so different closer together by making them realize that they in fact do have some commonalities. We had been split into five different groups, and each group had their own workshops and master classes that they were able to dwell on and teach to others upon their return. I believe we all gained a lot from this experience, not only the ability to travel and meet new people with fresh ideas who are truly passionate about the subject, but also to enhance our own ideas and our own abilities as actors.
Each day would end with a performance, yet the one that would have stood out the most for all of us was without a doubt, Sherri Sutton’s one woman stand-up comedy show, “Don’t Make Fun of Jesus”. It has been performed all over the world over the years, and all of us found ourselves in fits of laughter, and hanging on to her every word as she would open up to the audience about her life in the South of the United States, as well as various other jokes.
It was an inspiring experience, and so much fun. If I were able to do it again, I would. One thousand times over.
Three intense days of theatre, fifty new facebook friends, and countless skills learned. IB TAPS.
Eight OSC IB Theatre students attended the workshops in Jakarta, and none of them would tell you that it was a waste of time or that it was boring. The workshops were grueling; it was as though you never had a break - you were always up and moving. It encompassed so many different methods, ideas and applications of theatre that had never occurred to us before, such as using theatre and exercises to bring people in a group, who seem so different closer together by making them realize that they in fact do have some commonalities. We had been split into five different groups, and each group had their own workshops and master classes that they were able to dwell on and teach to others upon their return. I believe we all gained a lot from this experience, not only the ability to travel and meet new people with fresh ideas who are truly passionate about the subject, but also to enhance our own ideas and our own abilities as actors.
Each day would end with a performance, yet the one that would have stood out the most for all of us was without a doubt, Sherri Sutton’s one woman stand-up comedy show, “Don’t Make Fun of Jesus”. It has been performed all over the world over the years, and all of us found ourselves in fits of laughter, and hanging on to her every word as she would open up to the audience about her life in the South of the United States, as well as various other jokes.
It was an inspiring experience, and so much fun. If I were able to do it again, I would. One thousand times over.
5K RUN.
The 5K run was organized by Habitat for Humanity and the Alzeimer's community service group. Each runner had to pay Rs. 500 for a cap and some water, as well as access to the water and food that will be served at the end. All profits were split between the two groups.
Somehow I was thrust into it, and I ended up having to do music while people were around the pool at the beginning and the end of the race, and also helping to serve food and juice to the returning runners. It was a hot morning, but it turned out well, and made a lot of money for the groups. Overall, it was a great succeess.
Somehow I was thrust into it, and I ended up having to do music while people were around the pool at the beginning and the end of the race, and also helping to serve food and juice to the returning runners. It was a hot morning, but it turned out well, and made a lot of money for the groups. Overall, it was a great succeess.
THE CRUCIBLE
The Crucible is a play by Arthur Miller based on the Salem Witch Trials. Students in Grade 10 and 11 participated. The play was directed by Ms. Abeyawardene, who is an English teacher at OSC.
As we just came out of the Secondary Schoool play, which we had to do as part of our class, I decided that I did not want to act, but instead be involved in a stagecraft. They needed people for costumes and make-up, and so I volunteered for this, along with Camille.
Goals:- Design costumes.
- Possibly learn how to use the sewing machine if it is necessary.
- Have all the costumes ready by the time of the show.
In the process, we had to read the play and come up with costumes that would be suitable for each character. What we came up with was a way to show the differences in character by the use of colour and accessories. The two main female characters - Abigail and Elizabeth Proctor wore a matching skirt and top, whereas the other more minor characters simply wore a skirt and a white or black shirt on top. The minor male characters wore black trousers and a white shirt, whereas the major male characters were also required to wear a jacket. For the women, we also had to make pagan hats and aprons, which we spent much time after school in the art room sewing.
On the nightsof the performance, we had the basic enough task of applying make-up onto the characters, but we had help for that, and many of the actors wanted to apply their own make-up. We also had to wait backstage and touch up make-up for characters that needed it.
From this, I learnt how to use the sewing machine properly, and also to make items with it. I also found that I really enjoy using the sewing machine, and am actually quite good at it.
Outcomes:- Learnt how to use the sewing machine.
- All costumes were ready on time.
- Found that I like sewing, and making things.
As we just came out of the Secondary Schoool play, which we had to do as part of our class, I decided that I did not want to act, but instead be involved in a stagecraft. They needed people for costumes and make-up, and so I volunteered for this, along with Camille.
Goals:- Design costumes.
- Possibly learn how to use the sewing machine if it is necessary.
- Have all the costumes ready by the time of the show.
In the process, we had to read the play and come up with costumes that would be suitable for each character. What we came up with was a way to show the differences in character by the use of colour and accessories. The two main female characters - Abigail and Elizabeth Proctor wore a matching skirt and top, whereas the other more minor characters simply wore a skirt and a white or black shirt on top. The minor male characters wore black trousers and a white shirt, whereas the major male characters were also required to wear a jacket. For the women, we also had to make pagan hats and aprons, which we spent much time after school in the art room sewing.
On the nightsof the performance, we had the basic enough task of applying make-up onto the characters, but we had help for that, and many of the actors wanted to apply their own make-up. We also had to wait backstage and touch up make-up for characters that needed it.
From this, I learnt how to use the sewing machine properly, and also to make items with it. I also found that I really enjoy using the sewing machine, and am actually quite good at it.
Outcomes:- Learnt how to use the sewing machine.
- All costumes were ready on time.
- Found that I like sewing, and making things.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
PROM
27th March 2010,
For the first time at OSC in many years, we decided to have a Prom for the two IB grade levels – Grade 11 and 12. The event was held at the Galle Face Hotel on the 27th of March. There were four of us who headed the Prom Committee – Grace (President), Ayla (Secretary), Yiseul (Treasurer), and me (Vice-President).
Goals:
- Organize the first prom at OSC.
- Have at least 40 in attendance.
- Make the event a success so that we would be able to repeat it next year, so that it will become an annual event.
The prom was a quickly planned event, as we had to hold it on the date that Grade 12 said would be most suited to them, which was the end of March, and we only got full permission to go ahead with the project in early February. However, it did not require too much planning, as it was a matter of booking the hall, selecting the food and selling tickets, so we were able to pull it off. The tickets were priced at Rs 3500, as this was slightly higher than the cost of the food and the hall, and we were also forbidden from fundraising in any way so there was no way for us to subsidize the cost. This price is quite expensive, especially in Sri Lanka, and hence we had a lot of problems getting people to come as they were not willing to pay so much money to come to the event. Which is why I had set the goal of having 40 people there – as the hotel needs to have that many people to give us the room.
On the day of prom, there was very little for us to do, as the room had already been set up by the hotel; and it looked beautiful, we were all shocked when we walked into the room. All we had to do when we got there was do a sound check for the DJ, and make sure they could get all their equipment set up.
By the end of the night, I think that everyone had a good time – everyone was up and dancing. It was a really fun event and we pulled it off well. I’m proud that I could have been part of the process, and with it I completed all my goals, even though it was very stressful. The hardest part of the entire process was trying to get people to come, as many said that the price was too high. Yet in the end, we pulled it off, and it was a success.
For the first time at OSC in many years, we decided to have a Prom for the two IB grade levels – Grade 11 and 12. The event was held at the Galle Face Hotel on the 27th of March. There were four of us who headed the Prom Committee – Grace (President), Ayla (Secretary), Yiseul (Treasurer), and me (Vice-President).
Goals:
- Organize the first prom at OSC.
- Have at least 40 in attendance.
- Make the event a success so that we would be able to repeat it next year, so that it will become an annual event.
The prom was a quickly planned event, as we had to hold it on the date that Grade 12 said would be most suited to them, which was the end of March, and we only got full permission to go ahead with the project in early February. However, it did not require too much planning, as it was a matter of booking the hall, selecting the food and selling tickets, so we were able to pull it off. The tickets were priced at Rs 3500, as this was slightly higher than the cost of the food and the hall, and we were also forbidden from fundraising in any way so there was no way for us to subsidize the cost. This price is quite expensive, especially in Sri Lanka, and hence we had a lot of problems getting people to come as they were not willing to pay so much money to come to the event. Which is why I had set the goal of having 40 people there – as the hotel needs to have that many people to give us the room.
On the day of prom, there was very little for us to do, as the room had already been set up by the hotel; and it looked beautiful, we were all shocked when we walked into the room. All we had to do when we got there was do a sound check for the DJ, and make sure they could get all their equipment set up.
By the end of the night, I think that everyone had a good time – everyone was up and dancing. It was a really fun event and we pulled it off well. I’m proud that I could have been part of the process, and with it I completed all my goals, even though it was very stressful. The hardest part of the entire process was trying to get people to come, as many said that the price was too high. Yet in the end, we pulled it off, and it was a success.
CO-MUN 2010.
Conference: 5 - 7 March 2010
Co-MUN is one of the largest student run Model United Nations in the world. With over 500 delegates and administration staff participating from various schools around Sri Lanka, as well as students from schools in Pakistan and India. Each year, there are a certain number of students appointed to the organizing committee to organize this massive event. These students are also required to chair a committee, which requires them to have control over a certain group of students while they are debating. This year, I was the vice chair of the second committee, along with helping to create the souvenir, and various essential jobs.
Goals:
- Run and workshops practice debates, make sure that they go smoothly.
- Put together the souvenir.
- Make sure that the conference goes smoothly with as little glitches as possible.
- Work hard enough to earn the position of Secretary General for CO-MUN 2011.
Planning for CO-MUN 2010 began in September, with the appointment of the organizing committee. Over the six months that we had to plan the event, we ran practice debates and workshops, where we help delegates prepare for the actual conference in March; as well as getting things ready so that the materials for the delegates for the three days that they are in conference are ready. Meetings would take place at least once a week, so that everyone was up to speed on everything that was going on, and that everyone knew what each other had done so that nothing was doubled and nothing missed.
The week before the CO-MUN conference was the most stressful week in my entire year – I would get home at 9pm, after setting up the school so that it was ready, with the banners of the companies that sponsored us, making sure that the rooms were set up correctly, all the placards in place, all the materials ready for the delegates in the morning of the first day of the conference.
The conference days went off tremendously well, however, as with anything, there were minor problems, such as placards in the wrong places, and not enough chairs; but on the first day problems like this are inevitable. Another problem was that the committee that was in the gym was very uncomfortable all the time, as there was no A/C and suits and heat do not go well together, making many people very uncomfortable. Other than this, there were not many glitches, and even on our last day of conference at Water’s Edge, although there was a lot of last minute panic, we managed to pull it off and the staff there were very helpful in making us be able to reach our deadline.
Overall, I think that I managed to meet all the goals that I set for myself: there were not many problems in the conference itself; no major disasters, which is always an optimistic goal to have. Also, myself and two other people managed to create the souvenir and get it to the printer on time, so that it was available to the delegates in their package which they received on the first day. In addition to this, I was made the Secretary General of CO-MUN 2011, which I am very happy about, because I have worked hard to get there – next year would be my third year of being on the MUN Organizing Committee, and fourth year in MUN as a whole, as a was a delegate in my first year.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
SAISA GIRL'S BASKETBALL EVENT CREW.
19 - 22 February 2010.
SAISA Girl's Basketball was hosted in Colombo, in our brand new gym. The tournament drew in eight schools from across the region, each team with nine or ten girls. An Event Crew was required to co-ordinate the event, so that everything could run as smoothly throughout those three days as possible. Everyone had different duties throughout, ranging from taking pictures of the games to updating the scores on the website. I was in charge, along with Grace, of the music, however, I spent much of the time doing other jobs as well, so that the tournament wouldn't have any hiccups, which in the end it managed to do, except for a technological error at the closing ceremony, it all went well:)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
WEEK WITHOUT WALLS.
25 - 29 January 2010.
Hambantota, Sri Lanka.
We spent three days working in a pre-school in the area of Hambantota in the south-east of the island. There, we painted everything from the playground equipment to every wall that could possibly be painted on this one-room school; no wall was too high for us. We also spent the first half hour of each day playing with the children. On the last day, when all the work was completed, there was a performance, where we performed for them and they performed for us.
Goals:
- to re-paint and clean the school, so as to make a better environment for the children to learn in.
- to re-paint all the playground equipment outside, so that it looks almost new.
- to play with the children.
- give the children art supplies - books, crayons.
- finish the work and then come up with a performance for the children.
OUTCOME:
We managed to achieve all the things that we aimed to, and more. When we were first introduced to the project, I thought that it would just be another paint job, go in, go out. Three days of hard-work. I felt that we worked brilliantly as a team - we managed to get the majority of the walls done on the first day as well as most of the paint on the equipment. I think that also, through this teamwork, we became, to some extent, closer as a grade, having to work with people that we had never worked with before. However, the one outcome of this project that I had not thought through fulIy was that I never really thought about how happy it would make these children. I never imagined the smiles on their, as well as their parents' faces at the crayons, the paper, the clean walls and floor, the paint on the equipment; the giggles and the astonishment at the performances; the work that they put into their performance; the way that they waved us good-bye at the end. This was when I realised: this is what it feels like to change a small part of someone's world. Possibly the most amazing feeling. Something that I had felt before, but never truly understood until that moment.
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