As part of my CAS experience, I participated in the Global Odyssey event, where I set up a food stall. This opportunity allowed me to apply entrepreneurial skills, interact with customers, and experience business management firsthand. Managing the stall involved handling finances, ensuring customer satisfaction, and coordinating with my peers. Through this experience, I learned valuable skills related to teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving.

Learning Outcome 1 – Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

This experience helped me recognize my strengths in communication, organization, and financial management while also highlighting areas for improvement. Handling high customer demand required quick decision-making and multitasking, which I initially found challenging. Over time, I learned to manage time more effectively, improve my customer service skills, and balance multiple responsibilities under pressure.

Learning Outcome 3 – Initiate and plan a CAS experience

Planning and managing a food stall at the Global Odyssey event required careful preparation and organization. From selecting the menu to ensuring an inviting setup, every step involved strategic decision-making. I had to consider budgeting, sourcing ingredients, and maintaining hygiene while making sure the stall attracted customers. Managing stock while keeping up with fluctuating demand was challenging, as was coordinating with my team to ensure smooth operations. Additionally, handling transactions efficiently while providing good customer service required adaptability. This experience gave me insight into real-world entrepreneurship, teaching me the importance of planning, flexibility, and problem-solving in executing a successful event.

Learning Outcome 4 – Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience

Balancing my academic workload alongside the responsibilities of managing the stall was challenging, but my commitment to making the event a success kept me motivated. There were moments when stock management, customer flow, and operational challenges felt overwhelming, but I remained focused and adapted to the situation. My perseverance was evident in how I continuously found ways to improve and ensure smooth operations throughout the event.

Learning Outcome 5 – Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively

Running the stall required effective teamwork, as I had to coordinate with my peers for setting up, serving customers, and handling finances. Clear communication and a fair division of responsibilities were essential in ensuring that the stall operated efficiently. This experience reinforced the importance of collaboration, as working together helped us complete tasks more effectively while also making the process more enjoyable.

Through this CAS experience, I developed essential life skills such as adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving. Additionally, it provided me with practical insights into business operations and customer interactions, making it a valuable learning experience.

Learning Outcome 6 – Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

Beyond simply packaging and selling cupcakes, I aimed to make a positive impact by considering sustainability and ethical choices. To align with global responsibility, I minimized waste by using eco-friendly packaging and ensuring efficient portioning to reduce excess. Additionally, the Global Odyssey event itself promoted cultural exchange, as students showcased diverse culinary influences and entrepreneurial ideas inspired by global markets. Through this experience, I realized how small business practices, such as sustainable packaging and mindful resource use, contribute to broader global issues like environmental conservation and responsible consumption.