Hagar Sivan

Personal code: gcj447

CAS Essay
Throughout my 2 years in IB, I have been thoroughly involved with CAS and it
became my favorite part of the IB system. Personally, I found CAS to be
appealing because it encouraged me to participate in activities outside the
classroom and gave me a valid reason to be involved in such. With the
different aspects of CAS, creativity, action, and service, I believe that I have
learned my limits and also discovered my passions. Throughout my two years
I have been involved in many clubs, some throughout the full two years and
others only during my junior year.
For creativity, I was a part of both the HIS Warthogs World Newspaper
and the HIS Model United Nations club. The Newspaper club has been my
creative outlet since the 9th grade, and coming into IB I knew that it was not
something that I will give up on. During two of my four years in the newspaper
I have served as the editor, and as I am not a native English speaker I believe
that the involvement in the newspaper helped me obtain fluent English more
efficiently than any English as an additional language class. It has also gave
me the first glimpse of who to manage people and how to keep people in the
club, as for my senior year I was the newspapers only editor. The newspaper
had taught me important manpower management skills; because writers in
the newspaper volunteer to do work without a real gain, the task of making
sure that the newspaper is constantly updated and that all sections are
covered is a tough one. However, I learned that by being enthusiastic it is
possible to drag people along with you and run a successful organization. In
Model United Nations I have served as the Secretary General, which is the
leading position of the club. As a person who constantly wants to stay updated
on what is happening in the world, debating world matters and trying to solve
them is a matter that is close to my heart. MUN has allowed me to develop a
deeper understanding of international issues and also take new perspectives
on those issues. From MUN I have obtained many public speaking skills and
also learned how to express my ideas formally. These skills are ones that,
considering my plans of being a world leader in the future, will surly come in
handy for me one day.
When it comes to action and sports, I have always enjoyed soccer and
was committed to my weekly practices. CAS has encouraged me to stick to
the sport I love, even when I have a pressing essay or IA. Additionally it is due
to CAS that I have fulfilled my passion for running that I have developed in PE
class during 9th and 10th grades. As I had to be active in CAS for all four
quarters, I decided to join the Track and Field team with which I ended up
going on two ISSEA trips and of which I was the captain of this year. Being
involved in these two sports has allowed me to develop my physical abilities
and strength, as evident by the fact that I have broken my personal 1500m
record about 5 times throughout my two season on the track team and the
fact that from not making the cut of the ISSEA team in my freshman year I
ended up being the leader of it in my senior year.
The one aspect that I believe I would not have experienced without
CAS is the joy that is helping others. Through the CAS service aspect I have
realized how rewarding the act of helping people who are less advantaged
than myself is. I have also found out how good I personally feel knowing that I
have influenced someones life for the better. During my years at HIS I have
been involved in three different service projects: Harare Childrens Home,
Hagar Sivan
Personal code: gcj447
Chiedza (NHS), and Mavuku. These projects all involve children, orphans and
children who are HIV positive or that have suffered from HIV. Personally I
think that investing time into improving the lives of children is one of the most
important tasks they are, as struggles experienced in early childhood can
leave a mark on the childs life forever. By creating personal connections with
the children, especially those in the Harare Childrens Home, I have become
more aware of the needs of the local Zimbabwean community around me. I
have learned that often times someone simply needs to feel like they are
being cared for, to know there is someone who will listen to them and hear a
word of encouragement. Seeing how simply helping a young boy read can
lead to him coming to me three weeks later and telling me that he is at the top
of his class, then hearing him remind me how he is at the top and pushing him
to stay there every week, is an experience that no only affected this young
boys life but also my own.
CAS has definitely taught me how to manage my time and it has
molded me into a well rounded and balances individual. It had taught me
leadership and problem solving skills and also how to help people and
understand their needs from their actions. I am sure that my involvement with
CAS and the passion of being involved it had ignited in me would influence
my actions in the future and that the experience CAS has given me is
something that I would be thank full for in years to come.

Supervisor comment:
Hagar
Thank you for being one of the outstanding contributors to the CAS program
during the period August 2015- March 2017. You gave much to all aspects of
the program both within the school and the local community (and whilst
participating in international events). Well done and thank you for you support
and huge participation.