As a part of my CAS journey, I joined the Decor Team for Garba Fest, an event organized in school on the 24th and 25th of September to celebrate Navratri. My role was to design and set up decorations that reflected the spirit of Garba, creating an atmosphere where students could enjoy and appreciate the cultural celebration. The experience gave me a chance to use creativity in a practical way and work collaboratively with my peers to bring our ideas to life.
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Learning Outcome 1: Identify Own Strengths and Develop Areas for Growth
While working in the decor team, I realized that one of my strengths is being able to visualize how a space can be transformed into something festive and engaging. I could picture how lanterns, drapes and hangings would look in different areas, and that helped me contribute meaningful ideas to the group.
At the same time, I noticed areas where I need to grow. For example, I sometimes got stressed when things did not go according to plan, like when a decoration didn’t look the way I imagined. For example when one of the photobooths did not turn out the way we wanted to. I realized that I need to become more flexible and patient in these situations.
This experience taught me that recognizing both strengths and weaknesses is equally important. By playing to my strengths and addressing areas for growth, I can improve not only in CAS but also in future teamwork and leadership opportunities.
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Learning Outcome 2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.
One challenge was working with limited resources. We did not have the exact materials we had planned, so we had to improvise with what was available. At first, this felt restrictive, but it also encouraged me to think creatively.
Another challenge was the limited time. Since we had early-inns to set up everything before our schools hours, we had to manage our time very carefully. I developed new skills in prioritizing tasks, staying organized, and working efficiently in a short span of time.
through these challenges, I realized that adaptability and problem-solving are just as important as creativity. The progress pushed me to think quickly and become more confident in handling unexpected situations.
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Learning Outcome 3: Demonstrate How to Initiate and Plan a CAS Experience.

During the planning stage, I actively contributed ideas about color schemes, layouts, and themes that would represent Navratri while keeping the decorations lively. I took the initiative to share design ideas for the various decorations we created and successfully executed them during the setup process.
I also participated in dividing tasks among the team. This helped make the process more organized, as everyone had a clear role. I learnt that planning isn’t just about ideas but also about execution and responsibility.
By helping to plan and initiate, I felt more invested in the outcome. It made me realize that being productive and taking responsibility leads to a stronger sense of achievement once the event is completed.
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Learning Outcome 4: Show Commitment to and Perseverance in CAS Experiences.
Preparing for garba Fest required dedication and consistent effort. We had early-inns everyday before the event to ensure everything was set up on time. Even though it meant reaching school earlier than usual, I stayed committed to completing my tasks and helping my team whenever needed.
There were moments when we faced delays or had to rework on certain areas, like when the fabric arrangements didn’t look right. Despite that, I remained patient or persistent, know that these small fixes would make a big difference to the final look.
This showed me that perseverance doesn’t always mean working long hours- it can also mean showing up consistently, staying focused, and doing your best every single time. The satisfaction of seeing the final decorations made all the effort worth it.
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Learning Outcome 5: Demonstrating Collaborative Skills and Recognizing the Benefits of Working in a Team
The decor team relied heavily on collaboration. Each person brought different ideas, whether it was about arranging pots, setting up the photobooths, or adding finishing touches. Working together allowed us to combine strengths and make the decorations more vibrant than what one person could have done.
I also learned that teamwork required good communication and compromise. Sometimes, my ideas were not chosen, and I had to support others instead. Other times, my suggestions were included and improved suther by the group. This process helped me understand the value of listening.
The benefits of teamwork were clear on the day of the event. Looking at the final decorations, I realized that the combined effort of many people made the event successful. It taught me that collaboration creates outcomes that are more impactful than individual work.
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Learning Outcome 6: Engagement with Issues of Global Significance
Garba Fest was more than just a school celebration, it was a cultural event that highlighted the traditions of Navratri, which is celebrated globally by people of Indian heritage. Being part of the decor team allowed me to contribute to an event that promoted cultural awareness and pride.
I realized that such events help preserve traditions while making them accessible to younger generations. Many students who may not know about Garba or Navratri were able to experience and enjoy it in a meaningful way.
This engagement with culture showed me that even small contributions like decorations, have a role in keeping traditions alive. It made me more aware of how creativity and culture can work together to address global significance by preserving heritage.
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Reflection:
Being a part of the decor time for Garba Fest on 24th and 25th of September was a meaningful and fulfilling experience. It allowed me to explore creativity while learning to collaborate and persevere. The early-inns, the planning, and the teamwork all taught me discipline and patience.
We also had pull-outs for two days before the event, and even with the extra time, we were quite stressed about whether everything would be finished on time. Balancing creativity with time pressure tested our teamwork and focus, but it also brought the team closer together Despite the stress, seeing the final decorations come together so beautifully made all the effort worth it.