I went on the CAS koh chang trip during the last week of september. Despite the weather being gloomy and rainy, I was very excited to go to the trip with all my friends and spend a wonderful weekend at the IDEALS centre. The first day, we experience a minor touble in the allocation of the bungalows; however, the problem was resolved quickly and easily with cooperation.
Throughout the 5 days, I did various activities, where the following day, I did cycling and kayaking. This was a new experience I had because althought the rain was pouring massively, I still managed to cycle my way to the destination required. The adversity faced was my body temperature falling because of the constant rain and cycling, which eventually lead to a headache, but enduring this agonising pain I still managed the way to the location for kayaking.
On the way to the kayaking area, we stopped to plant some mangroves in the swam which would later enhance the marine life of the river. I wasn't sure how or where to plant the mangroves in the soil since it was my first time planting such plant, but as I saw the demonstrations of the teachers, I was soon able to plant my own mangroves in the swamp.
As I reached the kayaking centre, I had a painful stain in my leg muscles. The weather was horrific; there were strong winds blowing, hight tidal waves and my body was freezing because I was soaked by the rain. Because the circumstances were so challenging, I spotted people who were just giving up and leaving to do something else. However, I decided to take on the challenge. I was a hard decision and soon I realised it was going to be much harder work than I have anticipated, but I still eventually at the end arrived at the student centre safely
Throughout the 5 days, I did various activities, where the following day, I did cycling and kayaking. This was a new experience I had because althought the rain was pouring massively, I still managed to cycle my way to the destination required. The adversity faced was my body temperature falling because of the constant rain and cycling, which eventually lead to a headache, but enduring this agonising pain I still managed the way to the location for kayaking.
On the way to the kayaking area, we stopped to plant some mangroves in the swam which would later enhance the marine life of the river. I wasn't sure how or where to plant the mangroves in the soil since it was my first time planting such plant, but as I saw the demonstrations of the teachers, I was soon able to plant my own mangroves in the swamp.
As I reached the kayaking centre, I had a painful stain in my leg muscles. The weather was horrific; there were strong winds blowing, hight tidal waves and my body was freezing because I was soaked by the rain. Because the circumstances were so challenging, I spotted people who were just giving up and leaving to do something else. However, I decided to take on the challenge. I was a hard decision and soon I realised it was going to be much harder work than I have anticipated, but I still eventually at the end arrived at the student centre safely
. While kayaking my way, I was almost at risk of giving up because of the severe pain in my legs. I had gotten a cramp and I wasn't able to bend them and our kayak had tipped over because of the wind. As the rescue boat came, I wasn't sure whether to just get on the rescue boat or to get back on the kayak. But I didn't want to give up just yet, because to think of how far I had come already and I was a few kilometers away from the centre. Thus, with the help of eric; my partner, I got back on the kayak and made it back to the centre even though we were the last to make it there, I couldn't help myself from feeling proud of myself.
The next day, the whole year 12 were in teams and were playing several games with other teams. Although a day had past, the pain I had in my legs still hadn't disappeared, but I still decided to try my best and not let the people in my group be disappointed by me not able to perform my best. I played the
The next day, the whole year 12 were in teams and were playing several games with other teams. Although a day had past, the pain I had in my legs still hadn't disappeared, but I still decided to try my best and not let the people in my group be disappointed by me not able to perform my best. I played the
games fair and with passion, I took on the role of swimming, which I resented doing in my life after the incident where I got a bad injury during my childhood in the pool. But during the games we played, I dived, swam and was in the pool most of the time and overcame the fear I had in swi
mming. At this point, my whole body was aching and it was hard to even believe that I had made through the whole day without collapsing. But, at the end, all the hard effort from me and my team had paid off because we came first in the bungalow competition and I was able to have something I was longing for so long: a hot shower. 
After all the hard and challenging tasks we were asked to do, we got a rather easy day the following day(friday). The whole of year 12 got on a boat
and went to an island which is close by Koh Chang. Before going on the actual island we had time to jump off the boat in to the sea and enjoy our time there. It might have seemed like a normal day with relaxation, but there had been an occurrence which boasted my confidence. I managed to do a trick which I failed to do previously and it was the back-flip. When I did it before, I landed on my head and had a severe pain in the neck which caused nausea for a long period of time. However, this time it was different, I was encouraged by the people on the boat and I gathered up the courage to once again try the back-flip. As I was taking my breath, the fear approached me and the fiasco in my first attempt and soon my mind had split into two thoughts. One which told me to have a go because this time there was the sea tat would protect me, but the other thought was that I might have a bad fall and embarrass myself. However, I bent down and with all my strength in my legs, I leaped backwards. The jump made all the things go all silent and in slow motion I saw the world spin around me and before I knew what happened I was facing back at the ship and into the blue transparent sea. As I came out of the water was when I had discovered that I had succeeded in the jump and the feeling I had was priceless. It felt wonderful and the ecstasy overflowing within the blood of my body gave me delight and joy. Most of all I was amazed by the courage I had to overcome the painful history I had before and that I had gained more self-confidence when I was to tackle challenges that I would have to face. The following back-flips I did after my first try was now simplistic and I had indeed been proud to show my tricks to the people on the boat.
After the stay in the island, we came back and when it was time for dinner, I was told to make my own dinner. People were given basic equipment and food; however, because there wasn't enough for everyone, me and Eric gathered the noodles we had prepared and had dinner with that instead. I did feel a bit annoyed by the fact that there wasn't enough supplies for everyone but me and Eric transcended the situation by using some common sense and adaptation to the situation. Although the food wasn't tasty, enough or healthy but I think by being able to acclimate to the adversity is a skill which is also required as an IB student and thus it was shown through the resolution we came up with.
During the stay in Koh chang, I experienced many qualities and potential within myself and it was a self-awakening event for me. The centre provided certain walls which I had to face and overcome and during this endeavor, I found out that I had the capability to perform hard tasks and I had the potential to develop these qualities which would later lead me to a more mature being. I overcame fear I had of swimming, physical hardship during the kayaking and felt the joy of overcoming these adversities thus I believe that throught the trip, I have learnt more about myself. The lesson I learnt from the trip was: "Never hesitate to try, and Never back down".
