The NHS motto is noblesse oblige which is French for "nobility obligates." As I interpret it: if you live a privileged life, it is your duty and responsibility to help others. This is a very common idea in the Bible. As a Catholic Christian, I believe in this idea very much.
So firstly, I decided on doing something on my laptop instead of physical activities which I couldn't do because of my disability. The "Thailand Teaches Texas" event that Ms Lindsey arranged, was perfect: it didn't require physical exertion, mostly taking place electronically, and also taught a lesson [which is something I rather liked]. I did a 10-minute Powtoon lesson or rather book report on Harry Potter. At first I wanted to go through all the books but later due to excess work from my AP Classes and the time it took to finish this one video, I simply decided to explain the explicit main characters of the books and then went through the main events of the first book. Since it was pretty difficult to organize the powtoon, I did often ask advice from Ms Lindsey on how it should be: how long, how many points, if it can be a book report, or more of a lesson, etc. As Texas was plagued by a Hurricane (the Hurricane Harvey), my book report was intended to brighten up their days. As a child, I was often found in the library: I loved books! And Harry Potter quickly became practically an obsession for me in fourth grade when I read it. It was amazing! This book report allowed me to, essentially, impart that love for reading through the fantastical fiction of Harry Potter. My book report was merely a summary but it was meant to spark their interest so that the audience would read it instead of simply watching the movie. Nowadays people always keep watching the movie instead of reading the book but the book can be just as scintillating if not more and inspire creativity and imagination. Harry Potter is a wonderful example of this. The movies are good but they are a bit flat and focus more on plot. In the book, readers can discover the very thoughts of the characters—their reasoning as to why they made the decisions they did—you can map it all out. Moreover the stories and events finish up to significant messages. Harry Potter is a fantastical book but it is also philosophically and psychologically amazing. Throughout this book report, I wanted to inspire the students to look into how the events happened—the background and rationale behind it. Also these days children and teenagers prefer movies and video games and sometimes sport but mostly the former two. I desired to relay the beauty of the written word (electronically and physically). I aspired to curtail some of this electronic need and instead nurture the tactile and social nature of humanity. If this book report inspires a love of reading in one person, then for me, it has been a success. Literacy, after all, is key to education and education is key to life.
Moving along the line of education: RIS exams are tough. And for students, exam week is stressful, to say the least. So this year, NHS hosted a series of Stress Relief activities. In that they also sold 'care packages' for which they required a specific type of plastic to create charms. Since my family rarely goes out, it was pretty difficult for me to find that type of plastic but I found some and submitted them for the 'group.' When the video for how to make those charms was posted online, I did try to make them at home. However I was unable to do much because we neither had the art supplies (permanent markers with different colors and a cutter), nor did we have an oven to bake it in. Also I was unable to even attend group meetings for this as I was very preoccupied during those times. However I must say, I really loved this idea so I did what I could: I donated all the plastic (of the kind needed) I had at hand. This really helped my family rid my home of plastic pollution as we keep a lot of plastic in case we have the opportunity to reuse it.
On October 4rth, I got an email from Hannah He who informed us of a service learning project from Ms Hedda, Mr Jeff, and Mr Olivier. They were going to the immigration detention center in Bangkok to help people who escaped to Thailand due to conditions in their own countries. The 'criminals' there are just immigrants without visa or had overstayed. As I couldn't take part in the physical aspect, I donated toiletries and amenities that my father's company gives for our family in bulk as they were often brands that we wouldn't use. My family doesn't much go on vacations since my brother is in college in Canada. So we only have what we brought back from hotels before that we just kept and didn't really use. But as an immigrant ourself and having to confirm visa this year, my family is particularly sympathetic to those 'criminals.' So we did what we could and donated shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.
Recently, I've been working on an article on Good Shepherd's Committee since the end of exams has freed up some time for me. So far I think I have a plan and organization: just have to write it now.
Throughout this semester, I believe I have accomplished the NHS objectives for this year which were:
So firstly, I decided on doing something on my laptop instead of physical activities which I couldn't do because of my disability. The "Thailand Teaches Texas" event that Ms Lindsey arranged, was perfect: it didn't require physical exertion, mostly taking place electronically, and also taught a lesson [which is something I rather liked]. I did a 10-minute Powtoon lesson or rather book report on Harry Potter. At first I wanted to go through all the books but later due to excess work from my AP Classes and the time it took to finish this one video, I simply decided to explain the explicit main characters of the books and then went through the main events of the first book. Since it was pretty difficult to organize the powtoon, I did often ask advice from Ms Lindsey on how it should be: how long, how many points, if it can be a book report, or more of a lesson, etc. As Texas was plagued by a Hurricane (the Hurricane Harvey), my book report was intended to brighten up their days. As a child, I was often found in the library: I loved books! And Harry Potter quickly became practically an obsession for me in fourth grade when I read it. It was amazing! This book report allowed me to, essentially, impart that love for reading through the fantastical fiction of Harry Potter. My book report was merely a summary but it was meant to spark their interest so that the audience would read it instead of simply watching the movie. Nowadays people always keep watching the movie instead of reading the book but the book can be just as scintillating if not more and inspire creativity and imagination. Harry Potter is a wonderful example of this. The movies are good but they are a bit flat and focus more on plot. In the book, readers can discover the very thoughts of the characters—their reasoning as to why they made the decisions they did—you can map it all out. Moreover the stories and events finish up to significant messages. Harry Potter is a fantastical book but it is also philosophically and psychologically amazing. Throughout this book report, I wanted to inspire the students to look into how the events happened—the background and rationale behind it. Also these days children and teenagers prefer movies and video games and sometimes sport but mostly the former two. I desired to relay the beauty of the written word (electronically and physically). I aspired to curtail some of this electronic need and instead nurture the tactile and social nature of humanity. If this book report inspires a love of reading in one person, then for me, it has been a success. Literacy, after all, is key to education and education is key to life.
Moving along the line of education: RIS exams are tough. And for students, exam week is stressful, to say the least. So this year, NHS hosted a series of Stress Relief activities. In that they also sold 'care packages' for which they required a specific type of plastic to create charms. Since my family rarely goes out, it was pretty difficult for me to find that type of plastic but I found some and submitted them for the 'group.' When the video for how to make those charms was posted online, I did try to make them at home. However I was unable to do much because we neither had the art supplies (permanent markers with different colors and a cutter), nor did we have an oven to bake it in. Also I was unable to even attend group meetings for this as I was very preoccupied during those times. However I must say, I really loved this idea so I did what I could: I donated all the plastic (of the kind needed) I had at hand. This really helped my family rid my home of plastic pollution as we keep a lot of plastic in case we have the opportunity to reuse it.
On October 4rth, I got an email from Hannah He who informed us of a service learning project from Ms Hedda, Mr Jeff, and Mr Olivier. They were going to the immigration detention center in Bangkok to help people who escaped to Thailand due to conditions in their own countries. The 'criminals' there are just immigrants without visa or had overstayed. As I couldn't take part in the physical aspect, I donated toiletries and amenities that my father's company gives for our family in bulk as they were often brands that we wouldn't use. My family doesn't much go on vacations since my brother is in college in Canada. So we only have what we brought back from hotels before that we just kept and didn't really use. But as an immigrant ourself and having to confirm visa this year, my family is particularly sympathetic to those 'criminals.' So we did what we could and donated shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.
Recently, I've been working on an article on Good Shepherd's Committee since the end of exams has freed up some time for me. So far I think I have a plan and organization: just have to write it now.
Throughout this semester, I believe I have accomplished the NHS objectives for this year which were:
- To identify my strengths and areas for growth - I have identified technology, videos, teaching and such administrative works as my strength. On the other hand, I believe collaboration is an area for improvement as I do not have much chance to really socialize with students besides my classmates (and even they are mostly for group work).
- To demonstrate initiative and planning in my service experiences - I reached out to both Ms Lindsey, Ms Nicole Sabet, and Hannah to inquire about their service activities. Most of my work is planned (especially the book report and the article).
- To demonstrate the skill of working collaboratively - I have, again, reached out to the 'managers' of the service activities in which I participated. I learned of the charms in LINE and provide the plastic which they made into charms. I have also tried reaching out to other NHS members to inquire about any work needed.
- To engage with issues of global significance - My book report was to address the issue of teaching Texas during a natural disaster of a huge magnitude, the domination of technology in children and teenager's lives, the hesitance in reading, and physical interaction. The charms addressed the issue of plastic pollution. And the toiletries, while a bit personal (especially since I took AP Human Geography and studied this), was also to address the issue of immigration and refuge. An article on Good Shepherd's Committee creates publicity for them and informs people of actions to take to help orphan children.
- To recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions - My book report can also address the ethics of parents and others advertising video games, sports, and technology instead of books which can do in one go what all those previously listed do together. The charms address the ethics of exams. Is it really healthy for teenagers to stress so much? Is there another choice? Also it can address pollution. If they can make charms out of plastic, what more can be made? And is it ethical to not to use plastic in such a way by using other materials instead? Immigration: As an immigrant myself, is it really ethical to deny immigration? Or should be case by case? What limits would work for immigrants (can they immigrate for job opportunities, refuge, etc?)? For the Good Shepherd Orphanage article, what more can we do to help them? If we don't do anything, isn't that bystander apathy?
