Round Square Conference 2010 - Steering Committee April 2009 - Oct. 2010

The Worldwide Round Square Conference is an event held once a year annually and participants come from around the world. All members of Round Square organisation usually all try to send delegates this year there were around 800 delegates. Round Square is a philosophy which quite a few school follow which have 6 aspects (pillars) IDEALS (Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership, Service). For approximately 2 years I have been planning for this event and each and every detail as a member of the Steering committee I have seen almost every detail of the conference and contributed to it as much as I can. The planning of the conference would be my biggest and most meaningful activity of all and this is why it will be my final post. 

My objectives of the conference were to meet new people from different cultures and different works of life, create a conference where the theme was emphasized enough that this could've started more service projects, convey a powerful message through different form of stimulus, show myself that I have ability to organize a major event, challenge myself in different ways, discover abilities I never knew I had.

As a team, the responses of the conference were very strong and everyone had a very memorable conference which touched them in so many ways, there were many positive response to everything that happened at the conference and the different aspects of the conference and although our main Pillar we focused Service we managed to incorporate all pillars into the conference. In the personal aspect I believe accomplished so much; far more than I could've ever imagine. I think that I discovered many abilities like behind the scenes work and event planning I've never knew I had. I challenged myself in so many ways that I surprised myself at times when I would conquer these challenges. For example, I consider myself as a somewhat socially awkward person, and find it quite difficult to bond with someone am also quite timid so challenging myself to meet people was a task that quite intimidated me, howeverge I overcame this task by getting enough courage to socialize.

I am proud of what I have accomplished, I know that all challenges that I had set myself were successful and all challenges as a team were successful. I would not change anything from the conference and any action I did with the exception of me being the delegate so I can experience the great Job I did on the conference. I think we were so successful because we worked together so well even though a lot of us were in different year and different ages, our team chemistry was high and everyone was open to constructive criticism, and we usually made collective decision. We were sort of a family, through time we developed bond with each other which is why we were so cooperative with each other.

1 Day LEFT!! apparently one person can't count :)

I think this very long activity developed me into a more confident, competent, cooperative, adaptive leader ; in general I would say all areas of possibly growth increase greatly. It definitely meant a lot to myself because it was so long and we developed bonds with each and we basically was always kept busy juggling our schedule to balance everything and we had to make sacrifices, all to come to the point of completion. This experience for me is an unforgettable one and one I would cherish my whole life. It has also opened a whole lot of doors for me present and future. Knowing I did this gives me the satisfaction of accomplishment, and if I know this I know I can conquer all obstacles to whatever it maybe. 

Senior Games (2011) Feb. 2011

This was my final set of games before I finally retire from being in the Senior Football Team as after I would need to focus on My Exams, so this tournament was very important to me this was also my first game after finishing the conference. The task I aimed to achieve was to finish each match satisfied with my performance. I aimed to socialize a bit more this year as well. To be honest though, I wasn't expecting a podium position finish from my team this year (coach decided that he would put the best into one team, although I reckon if my fitness was on par, I would've been selected for team A)

This year I was selected for team B again, and we weren't a very good team but I wanted to make he best of it because it was my final tournament of the year and playing for the school. So I gave it my 100% in every match but unfortunately this old man fitness level was just to low to keep up with the pace and don't give up attitude failed him at time. Although, These unfortunate moment occurred I did some good moment as well.

communicating with my
 teammate defender

In consideration that I wasn't as fit as I required and wanted I think technically I had a decent game and playing the game was satisfactory too. I think it was my overall fitness that let me down when playing. Therefore, When I finish with IB studies, I have decided to bring my fitness level up during my summer holiday and my gap year. And when I will try getting into my favorite sport again.

This final Tournament was a big deal to me because as football is my favorite sport and playing in the school team for all my secondary life, I wanted a gold medal but I had to make prior decision which lead to prior commitment to other activities this lead me to being dropped from the 1st team and I had to accept the consequences of my action. But I do not regret the decisions I've made because to me studies comes first but sports still stay close to my heart.  The lesson that I would associate with this is mainly don't live life with regrets because as I reflect on this activity knowing how everything lead me to become a Team B player, although I couldn't get the best of both world, I had a choice and took the opportunity that would excel and advance me in future goals. Even though, I didn't get a medal, in make a better prior decision ill get better opportunities in the future. This does help me become content with what I got, because there was a possibility that might not have been able to play. So if I apply this to different situation, I know that an opportunity that closes is another opportunity that open and reflecting on this activity has shown me that.

International Day World Cup (Organizer) Feb. 2011

On International day, there were several events planned for the day, one of the most popular activities included is the International Day World Cup. As I was part of the international day committee and Adventure Pillar leader it was my task to organize this event with Pae Keturman. As he is a close friend it was easy to co-operate with him. Even though the football itself is entertaining its fairly difficult behind the scenes because I had to make sure the leader board was to be updated after each match, get the commentators ready (in terms the microphones and speaker were working), make sure each team arrived on time and etc.

Some Action of the day!!

I wanted the whole event to run smoothly and me and Pae planned it so that everything should've run smoothly. But as we all know, that will never happen when planning event and there were some speed bumps.  Some teams showed up late, even some didn't even show up. I found being an event organizer isn't as easy as I initially thought, partly because I thought I planned everything well and that other people could listen to instructions and keep to their word of actually showing up on time or even at all. I also didn't take into account that I would be as lenient as I was. However, a winner did emerge at the end and my task was over, which was joyous. It did also involve me having to go on stage and announce the winners later on which is always a nerve racking experience.

I feel in the end I did a superb job as this small event organizer, but it was never an easy task for me. I found that sometimes you can always rely on other people with simple instructions therefore next time it either have to be a plan B or I must be more strict on the rules and regulation so that if a team does not listen they are automatically disqualified.

I learn't the struggles of event planning and organizing, it also good to not be so naive in thinking that this task would've been easy. In fact, I think the task would have been easier if I anticipated the worse because I would be prepared if something were to go wrong (which did). I can apply this to numerous situation like friendly surprise party or a corporate dinner which I would be hosting or any like those. It is never wrong the expect the worst, because it would allow us the prepare on what to do but I must have in mind the being optimistic is also a good thing if I can balance them too it would really help myself mentally and possibly physically as well.

Videographer (Cameraman) for Welcome to Thailand opening video Feb 2010 - Oct. 2010

This activity I was basically the cameraman/ director which got all the footage for The 'Welcome to Thailand opening Video'. I have a passion for creating videos and this was an opportunity for me to improve on these skills and productively communicate a message in the conference as well. My objectives included gaining experience in videoing as this may relate to my future profession in term of possibly advertising, TV/ Film /Radio production, Public Relation or anything relevant to communications. I also wanted to send a very important message (The theme of the conference; We Walk Together) to the participants of the conference in this form of the media and I had vision what the video should look like and tried my best to keep to my vision.

Everyone loved the finished video, I had collaborated with Mr. Graeme Kennedy in devising and creating the video. Although most editing did come from him, I think that he both had a similar vision and thought we where very successful in making our vision come true. I also am happy that I got to use and gain more experience as a cameraman and this will definitely help and put me at an advantage compared to other people doing a degree in communications.

We did encounter a few problem, the main problem was that there was a point of time where it seemed that we didn't have enough footage to create our vision but we overcame this by getting some last minute videoing and we pushed it to the very last second but we did manage to get through.

This activity in particular mean't a lot to me because I was basically the mastermind behind all the ideas which was included in the video. I was also the person who came up with the idea of making a video for opening ceremony and the main idea of the video. So I was the person that came up with the idea and soon later Mr. Kennedy came on board. This was kind of my own semi-private project so I felt like I accomplished a lot after this was all done.

I can take my experiences from this activity into my studying for future career and I also get the experience of owning and managing a project like this which will be also very helpful in my future potential career. It seems by the title that the project doesn't seem so important however, it was one of the most significant tasks I could have been doing throughout the whole CAS experience. And this sense of accomplishment will forever stay with me and no one can take that away from me.

Baan Jing Jai Center Service day Oct. 2010

"Bann Jing Jai is an orphanage in Pattaya Thailand which houses 60 orphaned children, children who without the care and attention of the workers would no doubt be street children and sold into the sex industry the children range from 9 months to 17 years and am happy to be a part of this cause." - Baan Jing Jai Facebook page (made by supporter of the project)


For a day I had the fortunate opportunity to Join these kids for a day and painted the building a much brighter creamy pink colour. To know where these kids would've been heading if this center didn't exist, it just makes me appreciate more the life I was extremely fortunate to have with parents who give me the love and care and who are financially stable. I can't be begin to get close to imagining what these kids would be  going through, if they weren't saved by Baan Jing Jai Center.


Our objective of the day was to bring some brightness to the center of Baan Jing Jai, originally it was dark orange colour, and we painted it a creamy pink colour. This was for only half the day, for the send part, they taught us how to make some of these really nice looking bracelet which they sold to get some money for the orphanage. We also got to converse with them and have a bit of fun.


We were very successful terms of our objectives, I think we covered most of the building with our bright paint and the kids had a blast with us. We did run into some difficulties in terms of painting the building the surface was very dirty if it was quite tedious cleaning it up but as a team we got through it and we completed the task.


The activity was special to me because it made me appreciate how fortunate I am to have such good parents who are wealthy enough to give me good education, food, shelter, clothes and anything I could ask for. To help the people who don't get the same thing I get, its nice and I feels that as a species it is our duty to help the ones in need. 


I learnt a bit about painting like that we suppose to mix paint with thinner in order to get that glossy finish and a more permanent surface. but I also got the opportunity to learn how to make their cool bracelets.


I can apply painting for the future when I get my own place and renovation need to happen or when I want to get thing done by myself. Learning how to make the bracelet even though I probably won't need that skill in the future, it does give me some experience in working with these very tedious techniques and in the future any task similar to that won't be a overwhelming and difficult to grasp.

Kiteboarding Lessons Nov. 2009

Click image to view the company's Official Website

My objectives were to successfully learn how to kiteboard; learn to operate the kite, how to land launch, how to water launch, safety features, theory behind the kite and riding the board.
The course is a 3-day course which should be able to bring me to at least IKO (International Kiteboarding Organisation) level 1 Certified. During the course, I learnt with to kiteboard with another person as this was the cheaper option. Therefore, I would only get half the time with the instructor.

I believe I was able to complete the task having been able to get on the board and fly the kite around for few seconds before having crashed the kite. I think as time passed I started getting the hang of it and started changing that few seconds into few minutes. Unfortunately, I didn't get time to be able to increase that time and I never was able to go switch or do any airs.

The difficulties I encountered were rather minor and quite quick to overcome. This included mainly operation of the kite; the different moves required in flying the kite took some time to conquer because these concept were new to me and estimating when to turn the kite had to take me a bit of attempts to master the feeling, but my determination to get it right and ability to adapt to different situation quickly found this easy once a few successful tries. I did have to share the instructor with another student and this slowed me down because at times I had just observe however, to some extent it helped because I not only learnt from my mistakes but his mistakes as well (a concept that he didn't grasp too well). During the time I was doing the course, the water was infested with jelly fish, although protected and these were baby and harmless creatures there were an absolute irritation (at times got the best of me and lost my concentration).

Compared to the other student, I think I was more prepared and more enthusiastic for the sport. I think this is what in the end made me able to learn more and become more successful in being able to kiteboard than him. Although, he was a nice man, he did tell me about himself I got a small sense of his culture (Indian) in a way of his career (Bollywood). I think this activity mean't a great amount to me because it was a new experience and is a sport that is filled with excitement, adrenaline, euphoria, happiness, innovation and so much more all at the same time. This sport is now one of my favourite sport, although it been a while since I last kiteboarded, I do wish to continue kiteboarding after my exams.

One of the most useful thing I learnt from the activity is the power of not just learning from one own mistakes but improve upon and learn from other peoples mistakes. This point of view seems so clear but by doing the activity it became so much clearer how effective it is. This can be applied to any situation relevent to this situation and I am 100% this will be an extremely useful tool in the future.

Currently, I am planning to try promote this relatively new sport by just kiteboarding and encouraging others to try but After I finish my IB I intend to become a qualified IKO certified instructor where I would be able to teach the values and experiences my instructor gave me.

Pattaya to Phi Phi Challenge June 2010

My objectives were to raise money for charity, get 25 times around the oval (10,000 meters) and as collective travel the distance from Pattaya to Phi Phi Island. This event was organized by the PE department of The Regents School. Any money collected would go to charity Koh Phi Phi Laem Tong Resource center project from the Monten Sea gypsy village. This event Kind of came out of no where so I quickly assembled to team, we were aloud to skateboard, Cycle, roller blade, run and swimming. 

It was a tough event especially taking a toll on my overall fitness but I managed to just complete the task of 10,000 meters. As a collective, we completed The pattaya to Phi Phi challenge quite quickly in in fact in the space of 4 hours we had done this 5 times back and forth, making a total distance travelled of 6,171 km. We also raised quite a lot for the Koh Phi Phi project. 

In my personal goal of perseverance and determination to go 25 times around the oval was a tough challenge for me but I kept going when I thought I couldn't go no more and in my final 2 laps I suddenly had a burst of energy and ran to the finish my goal with a strong finish. I didn't run into any particular difficulties except the challenge itself wasn't so easy. 

The activity shows how perseverance and determination can overcome challenges and obstacles. The attitude of never giving up can only be within us and if we don't embrace this we won't feel success because they is no such thing as an easy task and if so then you're not doing well. Going through the pain and persevering makes the accomplishment that much sweeter. I can take this lesson learn't into mentality of anything I set my mind on and as an ambitious young man to get the mentality to succeed.