This past month I took on the challenge of coordinating my school’s annual Fresher’s weekend for incoming junior students. As one of the senior prefects, it was my job to plan and oversee all the events to welcome the new year groups and help them settle into school life. I have to admit, being responsible for such a large undertaking was way outside my usual comfort zone!
The process started with brainstorming theme ideas and activities with the other prefects. From there, it was all about dividing up tasks and creating schedules and budgets. The organizing and planning took over my free time for several weeks as I initiated this new CAS experience.
Once the big weekend arrived, I was both nervous and pumped to see it all come together. My friend started with welcoming speeches to the juniors on the Day. Standing up on stage in front of the whole year group singing and dancing was totally out of my element, but I challenged myself to step up. Surprisingly, performing didn’t go too badly and seemed to set the fun, energetic mood we wanted.
After that it was all hands on deck, ensuring the party ran smoothly with games, food and plenty of mingling. Seeing everyone enjoying themselves and making new friends was very rewarding. The smiles on people’s faces showed me I was meeting my goal of providing an inclusive introduction to school life.
Overall, taking on the leadership duties of Freshers taught me so much about project management, collaboration, and persevering through challenges. Stressful moments were coordinating all the moving parts, but with teamwork, everything came together successfully in the end. I’m glad I pushed my boundaries with this new responsibility. The experience has reinforced to me how much I’ve grown in confidence and competency, with skills I will no doubt benefit from in future CAS experiences as well as beyond school. It was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I’m proud of what I accomplished!”
LO1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for personal growth
“Coordinating the Fresher’s weekend helped me identify my natural ability to connect with younger students and organize events. However, I initially felt nervous about handling such a large responsibility. This experience revealed my need to develop more confidence in leadership roles and improve my public speaking abilities. Taking on this challenge as a senior prefect pushed me to grow beyond my comfort zone and discover capabilities I didn’t know I had.”
LO2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills
“Leading the Fresher’s weekend was definitely outside my comfort zone. I developed several new skills including event management, delegation of tasks, and mentoring younger students. Having to address large groups improved my public speaking abilities, while managing multiple activities simultaneously enhanced my organizational skills. The experience taught me how to balance authority with approachability when working with younger students.”
LO3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
“I took initiative in planning all aspects of the Fresher’s weekend from start to finish. This involved creating detailed schedules, coordinating with teachers and student volunteers, organizing activities, and ensuring smooth execution of events. I learned to develop contingency plans and think ahead to anticipate potential challenges. The planning process taught me valuable lessons about time management and resource allocation.”
LO4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
“Despite the initial nervousness and challenges, I remained committed to making the Fresher’s weekend a success. The preparation required several weeks of dedicated planning and coordination. Even when faced with last-minute changes and unexpected situations, I persevered and maintained my focus on creating a welcoming experience for new students. This commitment helped me see the project through to completion.”
LO5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
“Working with other prefects and teachers showed me the importance of effective teamwork. I learned to delegate tasks based on individual strengths, communicate clearly with team members, and coordinate different groups working on various aspects of the weekend. The success of the event was only possible through collaborative effort and mutual support among all involved.”
LO6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
“The Fresher’s weekend played a crucial role in promoting inclusivity and community building within our school. By creating a welcoming environment for students from diverse backgrounds, we contributed to fostering global mindedness and cultural understanding. The activities were designed to break down barriers and help students form connections across different cultural and social groups.”
LO7: Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
“Throughout the planning process, I made conscious efforts to ensure all activities were inclusive and respectful of different cultural backgrounds. Ethical considerations guided decisions about activity selection and group formations. I also focused on creating a safe and supportive environment where new students could feel comfortable and valued. The experience taught me about the responsibility leaders have in setting the right tone and making ethical choices that impact others.”
