For my Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) experience, I volunteered at the International Schools Sports Organisation (ISSO) tournament hosted by our school for U-14 and U-17 girls. This event brought together young athletes from different schools, and as a volunteer, I had the opportunity to assist in organizing, managing logistics, and supporting the teams. While I initially joined to contribute to the event, I ended up gaining valuable skills in leadership, teamwork, and adaptability.
Strand: Service
Learning Outcomes in Action
LO2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
Volunteering at an ISSO tournament was not as simple as I expected. The event required constant coordination, quick decision-making, and effective communication. My role involved assisting with scheduling, guiding teams to their matches, managing score sheets, and handling unexpected challenges like last-minute changes in fixtures.
One of the biggest challenges was ensuring that all the games ran smoothly and on time, despite delays caused by weather conditions. Through this, I developed problem-solving skills, patience, and adaptability—qualities that will help me in future leadership roles.
LO4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
The tournament lasted multiple days, requiring long hours of work and unwavering commitment. Despite fatigue, I remained focused, ensuring that teams had everything they needed and that the event progressed efficiently. I learned that commitment is about staying dedicated even when things get tough—whether it was standing for hours in the sun, resolving disputes between teams, or staying late to help with clean-up.
This experience reinforced the importance of perseverance, responsibility, and teamwork, showing me that success in any event requires consistent effort from everyone involved.
LO5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
A sports tournament is a team effort—not just for the athletes, but also for the volunteers, referees, coaches, and event organizers. Working with fellow volunteers, I learned how important it is to divide tasks, communicate effectively, and support each other.
For instance, when a scoring dispute arose in one of the matches, I worked with my teammates to gather official records, communicate with the referees, and resolve the issue professionally. This experience reinforced that collaboration is key to ensuring fairness and efficiency in any event.
Final Reflections
Volunteering at the ISSO U-14 and U-17 girls’ tournament was an enriching experience that taught me valuable lessons in teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. I gained real-world experience in event management, developed problem-solving and communication skills, and most importantly, contributed to creating a positive sporting environment for young athletes.
