Summer journal entry (Provided a service)

Over this summer as part of developing my CAS project which will eventually help provide a better life for animals in need I met with Dr. Gilberth to be able to begin my project. After being in contact through whatsapp we were able to have a short meeting where I basically just layed out my ideas to him and was able to get his thoughts and information. This meeting allowed me to basically make my ideas more tangible as he said we could collaborate and encouraged my project. It felt really great to get his support and approval because if they weren’t open to collaborating with my project I would have been lost. During this meeting he mentioned I should come by the shelter to visit and understand more about how the place works and what I want to do with it. After coordinating with doctor Gilbreth to go visit, I knew I wanted to make little dog treats for the animals there so a couple nights before I made frozen dog treats that my own dogs love to eat especially when it’s hot with peanut butter yoghurt and banana. Unfortunately Gilberth has been super busy working at the veterinary so he wasn’t able to be there but I was greeted by the extremely nice and welcoming worker. It was pouring rain when I got there but he was so nice and still left his little hut to come and show me around. He guided me to the structure where all the dogs stay, and as we were walking down the sort of halfway between two sides with the sort of large cages with the dogs he told me about each of them. I was very surprised to learn how many of the dogs were rescued and up for adoption, they even had dogs all the way from Nicoya. I’m pretty sure only two of them had an owner. Then I was able to give them treats and play with them for a while. The worker let me know that I was welcome any time and explained that they had volunteers who often come walk the dogs which I wanted to do but wasn’t able to since it was raining but definitely will be back soon to do so. I connect this experience with LO 3 and LO 4 because through my summer I was actively thinking about my cas project and took some first important steps including the ones I talked about that are necessary to begin my project. I took my idea for this project and began to take the steps necessary to make it realistic and possible. I relate this entry to the Ib profile of caring because in this story I show my deep care and empathy towards animals. I also relate it to risk takers because it was sort of intimidating showing up to these places to introduce my project without knowing how reactions would be. Talking to someone I don’t know and having to pitch them my idea and try to explain my project was scary to me but I took the risk and went because I knew I had to eventually take the first steps to begin my project. Working independently forces me to be able to assume many different roles and gain many new experiences.