GLO Portfolio

Thank you for taking the time to have this conference with me (: Here's my GLO portfolio for sophomore year
http://www.wix.com/tatiluvsu14/gloportgr10

Project Icarus: Journal #4

Before I even chose my topic for this project, I knew I wanted to create a video as a way of showing my audience what it is that I was learning. As paddling came into the picture, I knew I wanted to capture my coach and his thoughts on paddling. Nothing is more personal in a sport, than the words of someone who has been involved in it for almost their whole life. 

I had to set up an appointment with Coach Kevin so I could video tape his thoughts and answers to my questions. I had a difficult time during the interview because I used a camera that required me to have it hooked up to a laptop at the same time. Lighting was a problem at first but I just had to change the angle of my camera then I was good to go! 

My impact activity is basically showing the video I created and then letting the class participate in a imaginary paddling session. I will bring six paddles to class, sit six students(teacher if she’s interested) in a row of chairs, and teach them how they would look like if they were to paddle. 

Project Icarus Journal #3

What are my passions? What motivates me toward genuine learning? What skills have I mastered that will support me as a lifelong learner? What’s the point of school? These questions ran through my head as I developed my project. Through my learning process, I came to realized that there is more to paddling then just a race. 

I have developed a lot physically as a paddler since the day I started when I was in the 7th grade. Despite the fact that I gained more power and strength in the boat, I feel that I moved a level up after learning the true meaning of paddling and how to do turns. My coach always tells my team and I that the stroke is one of the most important elements in paddling. Without a good pace, the boat won’t get anywhere. Many people may think that starting off a race fast, as if you were in track, would get you to the finish line first, but according to coach Kevin, that’s false. 

Doing this project helped me realize more about myself as a learner. I have the ability to be patient while learning a new skill. I’m a good listener which makes it easier for me to listen to my mentor while he was teaching me how to do turns. I also found myself enjoying the process of listening to stories of how my coach began paddling and the history of paddling itself. 

I feel that as I continue my journey in paddling, I will take this experience with me. I will always keep in mind the specific things my coach has told me while teaching me turns and the background of paddling itself. Doing this project has improved my mind set when I’m involved in this sport. It gave me a greater understanding of what it takes to be a true paddler. 

This I believe

We all have a fingerprint. It’s something we can claim as our own. It’s something that makes us unique. It’s something that makes us different from every other human being on our planet. The word fingerprint is defined as an impression or mark made on a surface by a person’s fingertip. Well in my eyes, imagination and creativity works the same way as a fingerprint does. We have the ability to leave our mark on this world by the things we do through our imagination and creativity. Without these two elements, society would be living day by day in the same routine.

The summer before my sophomore year of high school, I experienced a magnificent wake up call. I met someone that opened my eyes to the creative side of me, the part of me that was begging for an adventure. I’ve known this person my whole freshmen year but it wasn’t until summer that I really “met” him, where I got to understand who he was deep inside and what goes on in his mind. 

I was going through a time where my imagination and creativity was not cutting it. I was very serious about everything I was experiencing in my life. When I would be stressed, he would use his humor and imagination to try to get me out of that state of mind. This friend taught me that sometimes we need to let go of our worries and let our imagination and creativity take us somewhere beyond the norm. 

As I started to really spend my time into talking to this friend, I noticed a change in my heart and a change in my mind. I realized I started to think more outside of the box. I found myself laughing a little bit more, having a little more hope in myself, and using a little more of my creative machines in my head. I let my imagination and creativity guide where I wanted to go and I was satisfied with the things I’ve experienced. I tried new things, and lived my teenage life a little more. 

I will be forever thankful for this friend of mine. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be the type of person I am today. I thought about how much time he devoted into making me happy and helping me to get my imagination and creativity working again, just like how it was when I was a little girl. Along with his wide range of creativity, he taught me how to put others before myself. This I believe. I believe that imagination and creativity can take you anywhere in life! 

Project Icarus Journal #2 : Data & info gathering

I chose paddling as my topic for this project because I wanted to go into depth of my passion. I wanted to know more about the spiritual and meaning behind a paddle, canoe, and most importantly, team! I wanted to learn how to turn; or as I learned “uni” , the canoe. As a paddler in the 15 girls crew for my club Olelo O Keola, we are now moving a level up in our races. We were always racing for a quarter of a mile but this summer we will be paddling a half mile. This causes us the need to learn how to turn the boat. 

When I first chose this topic, I knew who I wanted to interview and use as my  mentor. I needed someone who has been at the sport for a very long time and that is very close with the club. I decided to use my coach as my mentor. He has been a coach in paddling for over 25 years, which opens a huge door for me as in getting to know everything I need to know about being a paddler and the skills it requires. 

During the practices that we’ve been having, I’ve been writing down certain things he says about turns. The stroker (seat 1) has to stick her paddle on the right side of the boat, near her knee. Her arm needs to be locked so that the paddle was as if it were glued to the boat. This is to help turn the nose of the canoe to the left. Seat 2 has to kahi. This is basically paddling in a sidewards direction, pushing water under the boat. seats 3, 4, and 5 keeps paddling their hardest to get the boat going. seat 6 is the steersman so that person needs to know when to tell seats 1 and 2 to stop the “uni” and to paddle. 

Learning this technique didn’t only teach me a new skill, but it taught me how to understand how each person in the canoe feels as they are paddling as a team.

Project Icarus Journal #1

1. Many people are involved in some kind of sport and they stick with that sport for a very long time. For me, MY sport that I'm very passionate about would be paddling. It's one of my ways I escape from stress. I met so much people while being involved in this sport. It also taught me leadership skills as well.

2.I will use my coach as my "mentor". I will also use my teammates and adults who paddle in my club. I have practice 2-3 days of the week. I will be able to access these people during those days. My coach might not have all the time in the world to be interviewed but I will set up an appointment with him outside of practice time.

3. what's your motto while paddling?
    What inspired you to keep paddling?
    What's some important things to have as a paddler?, spiritually

4. I will put my video skills to use and make a documentary on my topic. I will bring 6 paddles to school on my presentation day to show the class how a paddler feels while using the equipment.

Black, White, and shades of gray

After doing this chart, I understand more of my morals. I noticed that I put family and church before anything else. This is because towards the "darker" side I inserted being disrespectful in church and yelling at my parents as one of the cruel wrong doings I've committed in my lifetime.

I realized that I also have done some things that I'm actually very proud of. I'm proud that I helped that little girl find her dad when she came out of the store crying. I'm proud of it more so because it was in a state where I don't live in. I could be on vacation but still have a good heart to help others instead of myself.