December 2015
Q: What activities are you
currently involved in at your
school or in your
community? Please
describe your role in these
activities. Please write a
minimum of 1000
characters.
A: Over the past four years I been volunteering as well as participating in organized activities. My involvement in competitive hockey has proved quite valuable as it requires me to demonstrate focus, discipline and self-regulation. This past summer I attended a soccer refereeing course which gave me the opportunity to referee competitive and house soccer for players aged 8 to 12. I was required to explain the rules of game to the younger players while refereeing as most did not understand the calls. I also was able to improve my communication and leadership skills as I had to deal with coaches and parents who could get easily upset over calls. Later on in the summer, my 6-year-old cousin was a part of a small skating camp within our community. My uncle had asked me if I would like to help out and I took the chance to teach a number of other young kids to skate as they were getting ready for hockey sort-outs. In order to teach skating, I had to be able to demonstrate the basics in a way they could follow – mostly it was demonstrate, have them try it, and them show the correct techniques again while showing what they needed to improve.
My three years in competitive hockey has helped me in a number of other ways due to the fast pace and quick thinking it requires – the game requires you to observe, process, and then react at high speed while maintaining your balance and thinking ahead to what you have to do next – it’s a lot like chess.
I also was a school monitor for a couple of years.
I found that participating in sports as well as refereeing and volunteering requires a lot of the same skills and it also teaches why it is important to be responsible and respectful of everyone – players, coaches, and referees – especially since I had the opportunity to do all three.
Q: What talents or skills would you bring to Colonel By? How do you see yourself being involved at the school? Please write a minimum of 1000 characters.
A: At Colonel By I can see myself involved with a variety of things including clubs, sports, and maybe even joining the student government. This past year I ran for class representative but was not successful so I’d definitely like to try again.
I want to get involved with many things that may peak my interest, and I would gladly take any challenges and opportunities available to me. As for what I can bring to Colonel By, I am a very curious person and I always try to find an explanation about the why and how of things. I consider that as an advantage as it’s always driving me forward to acquire new skills and knowledge. I have played competitive hockey for the past three years. During last year’s International Silverstick hockey tournament final I was named to the tournament all-star-team as one of only two defensemen. I would be glad to join school sports teams. In past years I have also been on the school track and field team and won numerous events in the regional finals.
Academically speaking, I am a voracious reader and feel I am capable of picking things up quickly and applying them efficiently. Other skills I have acquired over the years are my musical talents; I've played the piano up to Grade 9 in RCM; I played the tuba for the past two years in Senior Band - my music teacher, Mr. Kerry Steiner, has recommended me for the all-star band and feels certain I would make it; This year I also started playing bass guitar for school Jazz band.
 |
| 2014-1015 Silverstick International Finals PeeWee B All-star team |
2015 OCDSB Track and Field Board Finals.
1st in 200m, 4th in 100m, ? in relay
Q: Choose one activity from your first response; explain why it is important to you and what personal growth you have experienced while partaking in the activity. Please write a minimum of 1000 characters.
A: Hockey probably had the biggest effect on me. Eight years ago I took my first steps on the ice and it has shaped my life, teaching me many life skills while being a great physical and mental challenge for me every time I’m out there flying around on the ice.
One thing it has taught me is time management; getting my work done and planning a schedule every day in my head so I can go to practice or a game. Secondly it has taught me teamwork. Thirdly, is the importance of collaboration and communication as a very useful and important skill to have both on the ice and off the ice. Fourth is synergy, the creation of a whole that is greater than the simple sum of its parts. The ability to work with other people can achieve so many more things than we do things alone. Finally, hockey has taught me to work under pressure and make quick correct decisions or deal immediately with the results. It is a very fast and competitive game, especially at my level, and you have to plan ahead and in the moment. You have to apply different skills simultaneously and be able to make quick, correct decisions while under pressure, which is something I find has many correlations with life outside of hockey. Overall hockey has been and still is being a great lesson and teacher to me and aside from it being my main hobby I always learn from it and I hope one day opportunities will arise from it whether I am playing or not.
