Category: Khushi Kalpesh Shah

 

My name is Khushi Shah and I study in 12th standard. I have been in Fountainhead since 4th standard, so one can easily imagine the number of memories and experiences I have with this block of building that I now call my second home. Unlike many students, I love coming to school. Not just for friends, but I also enjoy the study (though only at times).

My biggest talent that my friends and family have helped me identify is my ability to balance sports and studies. I am a regularly play soccer and I am known as a sportsperson by everyone. When I go for tournaments, I miss a lot of days at school and IB is tough if you miss a single class. Hence, coping with studies, attending practice sessions and managing social life – all very imperative – was difficult but fun in its own way. Because, by the end of the day I was felt satisfied with the productivity as no time had been wasted.

 

There are a lot of things that I enjoy doing. I love reading, listening to people, spending time with friends and family, eating favorite food, meeting old friends, making new friends, exploring new places and many other small things that help make the bigger picture.

The concept of delayed gratification was something I was very good at maintaining. However, now I do what I like first and not what is necessary. I need to work on that which will help me as I save the pleasure for later and get the work done before with good quality.

I want to be involved in a local NGO that helps underprivileged children or does something for the environment regularly. Perhaps, also a random act of kindness. I have done all of these and I would continue doing them in the future, with more involvement.

My outlook on life? Well, I would say just be happy. Don’t complicate stuff and do what makes you happy. I am still working on that myself, I have trouble enjoying the present all the time. I have realised recently that I am a more happier person than I was and that’s an achievement.

There’s something that I really bothers me and would love to do something about that. The generation gap. I know that it’s inevitable but there are so many repercussions to those difference of thoughts. Families fall apart, divorces take place, fights, suicides and many other things. All of these because everyone wants to hold on to what they think is right and not even listen to what other person has to say. I make sure that there is minimal issues because of difference in views. We usually come to a consensus that both agree upon.

There are so many things that I wish to do but haven’t done yet. Go on hikes on uncharted routes, adventures such as skydiving, learn new sports(surfing) and travel alone at least once. All in all, I make sure that happiness is not a destination, it is a way of life.

 

The entire CAS journey has been riveting. The most striking one is obviously my project work which is organizing the entire Surat Ultimate Open(SUO) 2015. The catch was that we wanted to do something completely different, which means more work to get the desired effect.

Another activity that comes into my is Football. Throughout these 2 years of IB, i’ve attended various competitions and have been practicing weekly at last. Football, I have realized is one thing that keeps me sane. With all the deadlines and submissions, some sort of physical exercise keeps me energetic.

I could so easily connect IB learner profiles to the learning from CAS activities, which has helped me in recognizing my strengths and weaknesses, such as:

Risk-taker – when I had to play basketball with an entirely new team and a completely new sport.

Communication – communicating with the team members is important (FS 3/3)

Balance – As I give equal importance to sports and education, it becomes vital that I set a balance in time required for both of them.

One thing I have instilled within me is that you shouldn’t leave a single opportunity to appreciate anyone. What my project work basically taught me that complain about someone person to person, but when you have to appreciate them, do it in front of everyone. This really creates a good impression plus is makes me feel good.

I realize I have become more patient with everything. I was known to be very impatient. But not so anymore. I believe that is because of all the activities that I have done so far.

I faced a lot of difficulties through these activities, however, whenever I needed help with anything there always was someone to guide me the right way. When I was stuck with deciding volunteers for SUO, I had lot of internal problems. I needed someone to help me sort me off.

I found Learning Outcome 6 was the most difficult to achieve which is demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance. However, i was able to achieve that in some of the cases such as when I went to play Subroto cup, Literature fest, Naggar trip, Karma kitchen and VA.

All in all, I’m CAS was there as it gave me an opportunity to explore my potential in various aspects.

Place: Mahisagar, Gujarat

Date: 7th, 8th and 9th September 2015

It was a long ride, we were expected to reach around 6 in the evening. Nobody was sure whether we would win the competition this time (as we have been winning since last 2 years and then going for Nationals) because we didn’t have all the best players of the team. We had a new goal keeper with whom we played for the first time. Also that we didn’t have any practice together as a team, so we lacked coordination. On the way, I saw these beautiful meadows covered in waste. Plastic, old clothes, rotten food and other junk. Then we decided that any waste that we have, we’ll throw it in the dustbin only. Our country, our responsibility. These small actions have at least a minor global impact. We reached and we all were horror-struck. The ground was small and in the middle of the it was a cricket pitch (of concrete), so if we fell we would be severely injured. The accommodations that they provided for the teams to stay were terrible. One room, 2 fans, 18 girls, 2 coaches, dirty floor, dirty mattresses. How can one live in that? We went looking for a decent hotel to spend the night.

Next morning, we reached the field, applied loads of sunscreen. As I am a regular football player and attend many state level competition, I have made many friends from across India, especially in Gujarat form all cities. When I met them there, I got more nervous, they knew me and so the pressure to perform good was heavy. Their team coaches also knew me and wished us luck. I was scared about my performance, we hadn’t practiced as a team, more specifically I wanted my game to be great.

First match against Anand, fromt the first minute we got to know that we were stronger than them, so we decided to develop coordination between our team members. After scoring 2 goals, our main aim was to pass accurately and make attempts to score. Anwer sir was kinda satisfied because he thought that it was good to get a easy team to start with so that we all could play more easily with each other. After we won the first match, we were a bit more confident. We won the second match against Kutch. Coach was happy with my game, I played the position of a midfielder and did my job perfectly well. I was satisfied with my performance and extremely tired too.We were all ready for the third match and got the news that the home team hadn’t shown up. We were all pretty confident on winning. Few were also overconfident because we had won this tournament last year, and this time we were already in semi-finals.

Next day, there were blisters on my foot. Everybody was excited yet scared. Few people had started making plans about how much fun they are going to have at nationals. I didn’t play good in this match according to my coach, he constantly kept shouting from outside the field about me making mistakes. I am the main player of the team, the heart of the team – as our coach put it. I take all the kicks and all the throws which made me use all my energy so I was immensely tired. I still tried my best, and after we won and were sitting together where sir admitted that I played tough, which was good to hear after a tiring match.

For the finals I was having a hard time to even keep my eyes open while playing, because I just wanted to sleep. Blisters throbbed and I could pass the ball but not kick it with power. Sir was disappointed with me and that was evident because he constantly kept shouting my name and instructed me what to do. Their attacks were constant and we had started to play a defensive game. Till half-time we had held them back and the score was nil-nil. As the 2nd half began, I couldn’t defend very well so I was sent to strike and a player from the strike was sent for defence. They scored easy goals. Our coordination was less and mistakes were more.

The one thing that we all were very satisfied was the cleanliness that we maintained everywhere we went. We realised that the every action and choice we make has an impact, and it unethical to dirty someone’s home place. It is against our morals.

Overall, it was a great experience. I realised I need to increase my stamina to a great extent because I got tired in the second match itself. The most important thing that I learned was accepting failure. We always win, there is not a single match that I remember that we lost – so losing this was altogether a new experience. It was disappointing and sad, but it was necessary for us to face failure in life and be able to live with that. There is so much a sport can teach you about life.

	Activity	Component(C/A/S)	Duration and Start-End dates	Learning Outcomes
1	Vansda – Tree Plantation	Activity, Service	7/18/2014 One day activity	LO 2 Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skillsLO 4 Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences LO 5 Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
2	SUO’15 – Surat Ultimate Open (project)	Creativity, Activity, Service	Even days: 5th-6th December 2015 Duration of work: July to December 2015	LO 1 Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth LO 2 Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills LO 3 Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience LO 4 Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences LO 5 Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively LO 7 Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
	Subroto States – Third time state champions maybe? (Football)	Activity	Competition days:  7th, 8th and 9th September 2015Practices happen regularly 2 twice everyday.	LO 1 Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth LO 2 Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills LO 3 Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience LO 4 Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences LO 5 Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively LO 6 Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance LO 7 Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
4	Literature and Arts Fest	Creativity, Activity, Service	A week before the event for preparation. Day of the event: 22nd August 2015	LO 1 Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth LO 2 Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills LO 5 Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively LO 6 Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
5	Naggar – CAS Trip	Creativity, Activity	27th December 2015 to 3rd jan 2016	LO 2 Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skillsLO 3 Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience LO 4 Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences LO 6 Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance LO 7 Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
6	Visual Arts	Creativity, Activity	9th Jan 2015	LO 1 Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth LO 2 Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills LO 4 Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences LO 5 Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively LO 6 Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance LO 7 Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
7	Karma Kitchen	Creativity, Activity, Service	1st-3rd May 2016	LO 1 Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth LO 3 Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience LO 6 Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance LO 7 Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
8	Creative Mela	Creativity, Activity	17th October 2015	LO 1 Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth LO 2 Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills LO 7 Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
9	FS 3/3 Basketball Tournament	Activity	25th September 2015	LO 1 Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth LO 2 Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills LO 5 Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively

The most striking one is obviously my project work which is organising the entire Surat Ultimate Open(SUO) 2015. The catch was that we wanted to do something completely different, which means more work to get the desired effect.

Another activity that comes into my is Football. Throughout these 2 years of IB, i’ve attended various competitions and have been practising weekly at last. Football, I have realised is one thing that keeps me sane. With all the deadlines and submissions, some sort of physical exercise keeps me energetic.

There are IB learner profiles that could be connected to the learning from CAS activities, such as:

Risk-taker – when I had to play basketball with an entirely new team and a completely new sport.

Communication – communicating with the team members is important (FS 3/3)

Balance – As I give equal importance to sports and education, it becomes vital that I set a balance in time required for both of them.

One thing I have instilled within me that you shouldn’t leave a single opportunity to appreciate anyone. What my project work basically taught me that complain about someone person to person, but when you have to appreciate them, do it in front of everyone. This really creates a good impression plus is makes me feel good.

I have become more patient with everything. I was known to be very impatient. But not so anymore. I believe that is because of all the activities that I have done so far.

I faced a lot of difficulties through these activities, however, whenever I needed help with anything there always was someone to guide me the right way. When I was stuck with deciding volunteers for SUO, I had lot of internal problems. I needed someone to help me sort me off.

Learning outcome 6 was the most difficult to achieve which is demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance. However, i was able to achieve that in some of the cases such as when I went to play Subroto cup, Literature fest, Naggar trip, Karma kitchen and VA.

Place: Mahisagar, Gujarat

Date: 7th, 8th and 9th September 2015

It was a long ride, we were expected to reach around 6 in the evening. Nobody was sure whether we would win the competition this time (as we have been winning since last 2 years and then going for Nationals) because we didn’t have all the best players of the team. We had a new goal keeper with whom we played for the first time. Also that we didn’t have any practice together as a team, so we lacked coordination. On the way, I saw these beautiful meadows covered in waste. Plastic, old clothes, rotten food and other junk. Then we decided that any waste that we have, we’ll throw it in the dustbin only. Our country, our responsibility. These small actions have at least a minor global impact. We reached and we all were horror-struck. The ground was small and in the middle of the it was a cricket pitch (of concrete), so if we fell we would be severely injured. The accommodations that they provided for the teams to stay were terrible. One room, 2 fans, 18 girls, 2 coaches, dirty floor, dirty mattresses. How can one live in that? We went looking for a decent hotel to spend the night.

Next morning, we reached the field, applied loads of sunscreen. As I am a regular football player and attend many state level competition, I have made many friends from across India, especially in Gujarat form all cities. When I met them there, I got more nervous, they knew me and so the pressure to perform good was heavy. Their team coaches also knew me and wished us luck. I was scared about my performance, we hadn’t practiced as a team, more specifically I wanted my game to be great.

First match against Anand, fromt the first minute we got to know that we were stronger than them, so we decided to develop coordination between our team members. After scoring 2 goals, our main aim was to pass accurately and make attempts to score. Anwer sir was kinda satisfied because he thought that it was good to get a easy team to start with so that we all could play more easily with each other. After we won the first match, we were a bit more confident. We won the second match against Kutch. Coach was happy with my game, I played the position of a midfielder and did my job perfectly well. I was satisfied with my performance and extremely tired too.We were all ready for the third match and got the news that the home team hadn’t shown up. We were all pretty confident on winning. Few were also overconfident because we had won this tournament last year, and this time we were already in semi-finals.

Next day, there were blisters on my foot. Everybody was excited yet scared. Few people had started making plans about how much fun they are going to have at nationals. I didn’t play good in this match according to my coach, he constantly kept shouting from outside the field about me making mistakes. I am the main player of the team, the heart of the team – as our coach put it. I take all the kicks and all the throws which made me use all my energy so I was immensely tired. I still tried my best, and after we won and were sitting together where sir admitted that I played tough, which was good to hear after a tiring match.

For the finals I was having a hard time to even keep my eyes open while playing, because I just wanted to sleep. Blisters throbbed and I could pass the ball but not kick it with power. Sir was disappointed with me and that was evident because he constantly kept shouting my name and instructed me what to do. Their attacks were constant and we had started to play a defensive game. Till half-time we had held them back and the score was nil-nil. As the 2nd half began, I couldn’t defend very well so I was sent to strike and a player from the strike was sent for defence. They scored easy goals. Our coordination was less and mistakes were more.

The one thing that we all were very satisfied was the cleanliness that we maintained everywhere we went. We realised that the every action and choice we make has an impact, and it unethical to dirty someone’s home place. It is against our morals.

Overall, it was a great experience. I realised I need to increase my stamina to a great extent because I got tired in the second match itself. The most important thing that I learned was accepting failure. We always win, there is not a single match that I remember that we lost – so losing this was altogether a new experience. It was disappointing and sad, but it was necessary for us to face failure in life and be able to live with that. There is so much a sport can teach you about life.

Not many of my classmates attended the Creative Mela.  Creative mela takes place every year and the purpose is for everyone (not into arts people also) to indulge themselves into creative activities. This time there were so many activities happening, I could only attend 2 of them: Make up and Graffiti.

I don’t know nothing about ‘makeup’. Literally nothing. I realised that this was the area where I needed to gain more knowledge, hence I attended the session. However, I reached there and then realised that it was theatre makeup and not the normal makeup that people usually do. Though I learnt a lot about theatre makeup, I found it quite monotonous. How actors who are to perform live are always applied with loud makeup and also not so much that their features aren’t visible(as expressions are a must).

After doing graffiti, which is basically spray painting on a wall, I fell in love with it. Especially because we had to do something abstract so I made red liquid dripping off the top and an animal. Both of which were appreciated by m fellows and the guides who were there to help. I identified yet another thing that I really enjoyed doing. Everytime I pass that wall in our school, I recall my getting dirty and climbing up ladders to do that artwork.

One very important that all of very instructed before we began with our graffiti was that we shouldn’t do anything that might offend any race, religion, gender or organization. I think this was because one must consider the ethics of choices and actions.

I always end up enjoying the day to the fullest after Creative Mela. This time too.

People from outside our city had also participated for this tournament. Basketball is not my main sport. However, because a good team approached and offered me to play with them, I felt good and important, so I participated. They asked me to play with them as they know my athleticism and ability to adapt to any sport easily.

I was nervous as Basketball is a non contact game. I am used to playing a little more rough which may lead to many contact fouls, however, I am so good that I was not substituted not even once in all the matches that we played. I learnt a lot of technical words for various fouls, types of shoots and passes.

Though my main sport in Football, I keep on playing other sports. This is because my coach says that indulging in different sport rejuvenates the mind and different muscles of the body get toned.

I realized the significance of a coordination that is necessary within a team. As I wasn’t a professional player, I wasn’t good at converting passes into the baskets and hence always used to pass the ball more. I never used to do this in football, but now I have realised the importance of passing the ball instead of just being selfish. I felt so great that I was able to learn something about football by playing basketball.

It was a fun day. I made a lot of new friends and though we didn’t, I was satisfied with my game.

Visual Arts (VA) is one of that subject that I always look forward to in school. What I like about it is that we are not told what to do, but we are given the opportunity to do what we want. Sometimes it became hard for me express through art, I didn’t understand how to proceed. I thought I didn’t have the patience of doing one thing over and over again, but that paradigm about me had been changed by attending few classes.

I was confident with my skills in doodling and abstract drawing. However, I still can’t paint/draw human figures. We were learned to do clay moulding, which I already had experience doing. Next up was wood carving. The most tiring experience of all time. We were given a piece of wood, we had to polish it and carve what we want with specialized tools. Greatest trouble was figuring out what to carve. Longest trouble was carving. However much I despised carving, I didn’t give up. I attended all the classes, even when I had chances to skip and not carve. The outcome was beautiful, according to me. It was so much better than my expectation. The relief after completing was the best feeling ever. We had spent months on carving and printing.

Throughout all this, we were also asked to keep a diary. A personal diary, not for writing but drawing. I also have a dairy filled with my drawings. Then we had a presentation of our work throughout the year, when my dad saw my stuff and appreciated me, I felt so proud.

Then we had to paint different sized blocks in three primary colors (red, yellow and blue) and neutral colors (black and white). It is a very tedious job, but not much of skill is required as the woods have to be painted only in those colors. I was thankful for my colleagues to help me out with the painting, it would be finished on time.

Another important thing that I learned was that, if I my work has been influenced by someone than it is necessary for me to acknowledge them – otherwise it would be academic dishonesty.

Also, the way art is interpreted is very subjective. There are chances that what I find appealing, someone else might find it saddening – mostly depending on their context. Hence, it is very important for one to keep in mind other cultures and society while expressing, hurting their belief would be an unethical way of expression.

I understand art, I don’t have to think for a long time about what I want to do. If I really want to do it, the idea will already been formed inside me. Everyone has an artist in themselves, I am proud to call myself an artist.

My name is Khushi Shah and I study in 12th standard. I have been in Fountainhead since 4th standard, so one can easily imagine the number of memories and experiences I have with this block of building that I now call my second home. Unlike many students, I love coming to school. Not just for friends, but I also enjoy the study (though only at times).

My biggest talent that my friends and family have helped me identify is my ability to balance sports and studies. I am a regularly play soccer and I am known as a sportsperson by everyone. When I go for tournaments, I miss a lot of days at school and IB is tough if you miss a single class. Hence, coping with studies, attending practice sessions and managing social life – all very imperative – was difficult but fun in its own way. Because, by the end of the day I was felt satisfied with the productivity as no time had been wasted.

 

There are a lot of things that I enjoy doing. I love reading, listening to people, spending time with friends and family, eating favorite food, meeting old friends, making new friends, exploring new places and many other small things that help make the bigger picture.

 

 

The concept of delayed gratification was something I was very good at maintaining. However, now I do what I like first and not what is necessary. I need to work on that which will help me as I save the pleasure for later and get the work done before with good quality.

I want to be involved in a local NGO that helps underprivileged children or does something for the environment regularly. Perhaps, also a random act of kindness. I have done all of these and I would continue doing them in the future, with more involvement.

My outlook on life? Well, I would say just be happy. Don’t complicate stuff and do what makes you happy. I am still working on that myself, I have trouble enjoying the present all the time. I have realised recently that I am a more happier person than I was and that’s an achievement.

There’s something that I really bothers me and would love to do something about that. The generation gap. I know that it’s inevitable but there are so many repercussions to those difference of thoughts. Families fall apart, divorces take place, fights, suicides and many other things. All of these because everyone wants to hold on to what they think is right and not even listen to what other person has to say. I make sure that there is minimal issues because of difference in views. We usually come to a consensus that both agree upon.

There are so many things that I wish to do but haven’t done yet. Go on hikes on uncharted routes, adventures such as skydiving, learn new sports(surfing) and travel alone at least once. All in all, I make sure that happiness is not a destination, it is a way of life.