Our school had the opportunity to host the IC3 Regional Conference this year, an event focused on promoting the importance of career counselling in schools. The conference consisted of two main segments: one where leaders from various schools in Surat came together to discuss the importance of structured career guidance, and the other, a university fair featuring representatives from institutions around the world, including the USA, UK, India, Australia, and the UAE. My responsibilities involved reaching out to schools across Surat to invite them, and helping manage the event on the day it took place to ensure everything ran smoothly and professionally.

LO3 – Demonstrate How to Initiate and Plan a CAS Experience

My involvement began in the initial planning stages of the conference. I was responsible for identifying potential schools in Surat and creating a detailed contact list of their principals or decision-makers. After shortlisting, I contacted them via email and phone calls with a formal invitation to the event. This required not only organizing outreach in a structured way but also maintaining professionalism in every interaction. I coordinated with school staff and my peers to make sure the invitations were sent on time and tracked the confirmations to help our team prepare for the scale of attendance. The process made me realize how much planning goes into even a single part of an event, and how important it is to be detail-oriented when reaching out on behalf of the school.

LO4 – Show Commitment to and Perseverance in CAS Experiences

Coordinating with several schools and following up repeatedly required patience and consistency. Some school heads took time to respond, while others needed multiple reminders. On the day of the event, I arrived early and remained actively involved throughout, ensuring logistics ran smoothly. Whether it was helping direct school delegates, resolving last-minute confusions, or assisting the university representatives, I stayed attentive to any issues that came up. This experience reinforced the importance of staying focused and seeing responsibilities through to the end.

LO5 – Demonstrate the Skills and Recognize the Benefits of Working Collaboratively

Organizing the conference involved close collaboration with my peers, school staff, and even external organizers. From dividing up the outreach responsibilities to setting up the venue on the day of the event, we worked as a team to manage the workload efficiently. There were moments where tasks overlapped or required quick problem-solving, and we communicated regularly to avoid confusion. Working together not only helped lighten the load but also allowed us to support each other under pressure. I learned how crucial collaboration is in event planning, especially when dealing with professionals and large audiences.

LO6 – Demonstrate Engagement With Issues of Global Significance (Quality Education)

The conference’s focus on promoting career counselling highlighted a key aspect of quality education—guiding students toward informed decisions about their future. Many schools in India still lack structured counselling systems, which can limit students’ access to opportunities aligned with their skills and interests. By inviting local school delegates and creating a space for dialogue, the event aimed to bring attention to this gap and encourage actionable change. Being part of this initiative gave me insight into how educational inequalities can exist not just in academics, but also in the lack of guidance and exposure. It made me realize that supporting quality education also means helping students navigate their career paths with the right resources.