My first months of BKB have been really rough. I want to be honest, the coaches seem to have a lot of preferences with their old students, and I feel I don't connect with them. Nevertheless, I guess I have built a really good relationship with my teammates, but as a scholar, they tend to ignore me, but I think we will be able to pass that barrier soon.

Joining Kahaani felt like stepping into that world for the very first time. However, behind the excitement was a deep sense of fear. I was terrified of speaking to so many new people, worried about whether I would fit in, and unsure if I was capable of learning a dance style so different from anything I had experienced before. Every rehearsal felt intimidating at first, yet it was within that discomfort that I began to grow. Slowly, the fear transformed into confidence, and the unfamiliar faces turned into friends. Through shared rehearsals, laughter, mistakes, and late-night practices, I forged friendships that became deeply meaningful to me, connections that I still cherish to this day.

A huge part of what made this experience so special was my two dance leaders, Katy and Palchinn. I still remember how kind, patient, and encouraging they were throughout the entire process. They never made me feel out of place or incapable; instead, they created a safe and welcoming environment where I felt seen and valued. Their leadership extended far beyond teaching choreography; they showed me the importance of empathy, inclusivity, and leading with compassion. Their kindness inspired me not only as a dancer but as a person, and it planted a seed in me that would later grow into a desire to give back.

Kahaani became more than just a dance showcase for me. It was a space where culture was celebrated, stories were shared, and identities were embraced. It taught me that dance can be a universal language, capable of connecting people from entirely different backgrounds. Most importantly, it showed me the power of community and leadership built on care and respect. Because of this experience, I found the courage to step forward and envision myself as a leader.

That is why Kahaani holds such a special place in my heart. It was the experience that transformed fear into belonging, admiration into participation, and inspiration into action. The kindness and guidance I received during that journey are what ultimately inspired me to lead my own Kahaani in 2026, hoping to create the same sense of joy, safety, and connection for others that was once given to me.

If I needed to highlight some key strengths that have allowed me to fulfill and make the most of my CAS I'll definitely start with my enthusiasm.

When joining the service, I thought I was going to work with young children because I had seen some students working with children before, but when I arrived on the first day, I realized I would work with the elderly from Simei. I have worked for years with kids, but I have never had the opportunity to work with the elderly. Immediately after the first day, I knew it was my place. 

Some days I was really exhausted after school, as on Tuesdays I had activities before school and after the service, but overall, when serving in the infant pool of my problems flew away, and I just tried to give my best to the members. It was amazing the way they enjoyed some of the games that, as a team, we have always prepared for the members. Through this activity, I practiced my leadership skills and the way I need to be careful about certain comments or provide certain information that could be sensitive to the members. I learned how grateful I need to be for being here at UWC and to give back to the community. To conclude, I think this experience is transferable to many areas of my life; it taught me to find quick solutions to unpredictable problems and how to express my culture better.

For me, learning the names of the members was a bit hard but then after knowing them more and more, their names just got stuck in my mind because of how memorable and kind they were. The main goal of the service was to help the members have an enjoyable time out of the center and training with them in their creative skills, Motor abilities, and public interactions while having fun at the same time. The main contribution of my service to the community was how much the members got engaged with us and how they expressed that they appreciated the relationship created.

One of the highlights of my service experience was when we collected donations as a school, and we went to the center to give them in person. I can remember when one of the members called Agnes, came up to me and sayin,g “We always come to your place, so this time feel welcome to our home”, that little phrase really made my day; I understood how important our commitment was for them and learning how they live day to day was just amazing and it made me think about how many possibles ways there exists to be grateful about all the blessings we receive day to day. But overall, the best experience was Hari Raya day, it was so cute that this time the members had something to teach us and allowed us to celebrate their culture; having the chance to serve them and make them have a good moment was so rewarding, the day of the event we all went up to stage and dance a really cute Hari Raya dance with all the members.

I think one idea to improve the service is also having little Zumba sessions in the water, so they can also stay active while having fun, allowing them to relieve stress and enjoy some good music.

Months after arriving, I was introduced to Culturama, a vivid panorama of the many cultures represented at UWCSEA East. It is a large-scale dance showcase where students choreograph performances inspired by the culture of their home countries. Out of forty participating nations, only eight are selected each year, and for the 2025 edition, I was honored to be one of the chosen choreographers. Through my participation, I had the privilege of representing not just my country, El Salvador, but also Honduras, highlighting the deep historical and cultural ties shared between the two. Our dance piece, La Fiesta!, is more than a performance; it tells the story of two nations that once faced division, now finding unity through art. As UWC students, we chose to explore the Football War, a conflict that separated our countries, and transform it into a message of peace. Through the powerful rhythms of Garifuna punta and Salvadoran cumbia, we celebrated the beauty of our roots while honoring the pain and perseverance of our people.

By sharing this story on an international stage, my goal was to raise awareness about the cultural richness of Central America and the struggles of communities like the Garifuna, whose traditions and language are at risk of fading. Culturama has taught me that culture is a bridge that brings people together, challenges stereotypes, and reminds us that unity is possible even after conflict. This experience strengthened my commitment to community service through art. For me, representing my culture is an act of love and integrity. It’s about honoring those who came before us and inspiring others to see that through culture.

Through this experience, I learned the true value of giving back to the community and how strangers can become an important part of your life when you open your heart and mind. In a world often divided by discrimination and conflict, these moments of kindness remind me of the importance of empathy and understanding. Swimming with Simei also allowed me to learn about Singaporean traditions and celebrations, and one of my proudest moments was choreographing a dance for the Hari Raya festival, a beautiful expression of cultural unity and joy.

Dance was at the heart of my CAS experience. Joining Kahaani was my first real exposure to Indian dance, something I had admired for years but never imagined I would be part of. I was excited, but also terrified. I worried about fitting in, learning a completely new style, and talking to so many new people. The first rehearsals were intimidating, but slowly those fears faded. The unfamiliar movements began to make sense, and the strangers around me became friends. What made the biggest difference was the kindness of my dance leaders, Katy and Palchinn. They created a space where I felt supported and valued, reminding me that leadership isn’t about perfection, but about care and empathy. Because of them, Kahaani became a place where I truly felt I belonged, and it inspired me to want to lead and give back by creating that same environment for others in the future.

Dance also became my way of sharing my own culture. Through Culturama, I had the opportunity to choreograph a piece representing El Salvador and Honduras. Our dance, La Fiesta!, told a story of unity, turning a shared history of conflict into a message of peace. Being able to represent Central America on an international stage meant everything to me. It reminded me that culture is not just something we perform, but something we carry, protect, and share with pride.

Service was another unexpected highlight of my CAS journey. I began working with elderly members from Simei, even though I had only ever worked with children before. From the very first day, I knew this was where I was meant to be. Despite feeling tired after long school days, serving them gave me perspective and gratitude. Learning their names, sharing games, and celebrating events like Hari Raya together helped me realize how meaningful simple moments can be. One moment that stayed with me was when a member told me, “This time, welcome to our home.” That sentence made me understand how much our presence mattered to them.

Finally, triathlon challenged me physically and mentally. Being surrounded by athletes who had trained for years made me insecure, especially since swimming was my weakest discipline. However, I learned to stop comparing myself to others and focus on my own progress. Showing up, trying again, and not giving up became small but powerful victories.

Overall, CAS taught me that growth comes from discomfort, connection comes from kindness, and leadership starts with empathy. It helped me find my place in a diverse community and showed me that through creativity, service, and perseverance, I can make a meaningful impact while staying true to who I am.

During the trip, we had so much fun, but at the same time,e we learned through challenge. We were indeed faced with so much physical challenges, which were hard after staying in the school like lab rats just studying for months. This strong challenge made us fight so much as a group, but we were able to surpass our differences and make the best of our Project week, where, to be honest,t I think I worked a lot with my Essential Literacy when expressing myself, and taking the lead in group activities. Peacebuilding was totally nailed when we were able to surpass our differences and build a better relationship.

I think of myself as a Jack of all trades, so I tend to choose to join different activities of all the kind, at this point of the journey I dont really care about Universities but I truly hope I will be able to write about what I'm doing in the future for Universities applications.

After being scolded by my teacher I realized i needed to put more effort in writing my reflections because CAS must be understood as 18 month journey of growing not as an obligation or a IB requirement and just pictures dont demonstrate my growth I need to write more about all I have done.