October 20, 2019 – Jimena CAS Journal Entry

Students Sponsoring Students Meetings

Throughout the past month and a half, I have been volunteering on two of my classmates’ CAS Project called, “Students Sponsoring Students”. Their CAS projects dates back to 2009 I think where this student called Bianca decided to create a project where students from within the La Paz community could make events and the funds raised went to the scholarship program to help those students with scholarship on anything they needed (e.g. uniforms, computers, calculator, school materials, etc).

Nowadays, the program is run by two of my friends and classmates which are Stacy and Cata. I have gone to every SSS meeting since it started at the beginning of the year on Tuesdays and Thursdays. What we’re planning right now consists of organizing the La Paz Halloween Party (or as we call it “Día de las Mascaradas” so it’s more inclusive).

The meetings are solely for the development of that event and right now Amanda and I are in charge of the money and tickets from the food, the games, Haunted House (Casa de Leyendas), the Maze, and the Capture the Flag. We are very excited about the outcome of this event and hope everyone in the community comes.

Learning Outcomes:
– Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience: Even though we’re not in charge of planning the entire event, we’re still in charge of the money and the tickets of their CAS project which takes lots of responsibility, therefore, we’re learning how to initiate and plan the finances of this CAS experience.
– Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions: We had to understand the importance of changing the name from Halloween to Día de las Mascaradas due to the fact that it went against the values of some religious people so we decided to make it more inclusive.

IB Learner Profile:
– Risk-takers: During meetings, especially at the beginning, we had to figure out different activities that would interest the public and gain profit, therefore, we were being risk-takers in taking those ideas because we don’t know the outcome of it but hope for the best.
– Balanced: We have to balance CAS, academics, and social life due to the fact that the meetings take place during lunch, which is usually a time to either study or socialize.