My CAS project was to organize a laser tag competition in my school with one of my friends. Laser tag is a tag game played with guns which fire infrared beams. Infrared-sensitive targets are commonly worn by each player and are sometimes integrated within the arena in which the game is played. Each team had 4 players and they had to compete against each other to win the match. The winning team would get a cash prize of ₹5000 and the runners up will get ₹3000. Each team will get a chance to play a minimum 2 games in the first 2 rounds and based on that we had to decide the top 8 teams qualifying.
Learning Outcomes achieved:
LO1: Identify own strengths and areas of growth
While organizing this tournament I had identified my strengths and weaknesses. I found out my major strength to be management and creativity. I had used my management skills while planning for the event in tasks such as collecting the names of the teams participating and coordinating with the school teachers and sir helping us in our event. On the event day as well, I had used my management skills to start the matches on time and getting teams ready before their match. I had used my creativity in making posters and social media advertisements for the event and setting up hippodrome with obstacles to create a proper laser tag arena. However, at times I feel that I could have improved my management skills by working more calmly in difficult situations which can be considered as my weakness. I was happy that I knew my strengths and weaknesses because on the bases of that I and my partner were able to divide the work amongst ourselves and work more efficiently.
LO2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
According to me, the most challenging task faced during the event was to find sponsors. Initially, we thought that it would be an easy task to get sponsors for our event. However, this was not true when many firms rejected us. So, the very next day we noted down our points to negotiate and eventually got 4-5 sponsors for our event. Also, making the tournament schedule was a challenging task because we had a plan to play with 14 teams but gradually as time passed we ended up with having 22 teams. However, we managed to create a schedule where everyone gets to play their matches as soon as possible. This situation helped me in enhancing my management skills which will help me in the near future. It is important to learn new skills because it helps one develop as a person and also helps us during tough times.
LO3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
It was quite tough to decide a CAS project because in our grade the majority of the people had organized cricket, football and art competitions. Then one day I and my friends went to play laser tag and that time my friend suggested me to plan a laser tag competition and this is where the idea came from. The very next day I went to my CAS advisor and the support staffs to talk about the event and everyone mutually agreed on that. After some days I and my partner started planning the competition. We decided the probable dates when the majority of the people are comfortable to attend the event and coordinated with the school for providing transport and lunch to the participants and also booked the venue as soon as we studied a normal laser tag arena. Moreover, we also started off with marketing by making posters to stick in the school and post on social media and finding sponsors. It is important for one to plan beforehand to prevent last moment problems for any event or task. I also believe that planning an event like this would be comparatively easy for me in the future because of an experience like this.
LO4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
To design the venue for the event we had come early to school a which was a commitment in itself. Moreover, because of planning for this tournament I had to compromise on my studies and my regular schedule for a period of time as well as take days off from school. Moreover, not giving up to find sponsors and regularly approaching people to register and know about our tournament was also a great example of perseverance. Also, it was important to regularly let my advisor know about the progress of the event. Usually, it is easy for me to commit to things but this event required far more commitment and for a longer period of time which was a difficult but achievable task.
LO5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
Generally, it is easy for me to work as a team because I personally believe that this makes a task easy and gives a better outcome. For this event, as my partner was good at managing finance I took up the job to market the event and make people aware of the event. However, none of us hesitated to approach each other for help which was a good thing if working as a team.
LO6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
This was a fundraising event but we had not donated the profit to any school or orphanage. Instead, we provided beggers with food and clothes. This would help us in solving the issue of poverty in society but at a minor level. It is important to know about global issues in order to take the necessary social actions to solve them.
LO7: Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
We had made the event the way we had told the participants about. Moreover, many teams requested us to make their matches early but sticking to our ethics (equality with all the teams) we followed the schedule and made sure that each team gets equal opportunities. Also, as promised we had made each team play a minimum of 2 matches in the league stage. Before the event itself, we had decided to stick by the schedule and did the same during the event as well. Both of us felt great because every team had got equal opportunities.
Overall, the event was a success and each team enjoyed. Both of us were very happy that we organized a good and unique event. Also, the main reason for happiness was the challenges that we overcame and the new skills we learned while organizing the event. Organizing an event like this has helped me in developing management and decision making skills which will help me in the future.
