Gym and swimimg

Since the beginning of my IB diploma program I have been attending gym and swimming pool. I have improved my swimming skills last year, so my next step will be swimming for a longer time under water without breathing. At a steady swimming speed, I can swim for 40 second maximum now. By the end of the year 2012 I want to increase it to 55 seconds, or hopefully a minute. This is a very healthy exercise, as it makes my lungs work more efficiency. 

Going to the gym has not contributed to my body to the extent I wanted last year, that is why i am even more motivated to do it more seriously. Going to the gym once a week is definitely not enough, that is what I have understood from the last year experience, thus my next step in this activity is basically improving the frequency of going to the gym I have set a minimum of two times a week for my exercises in the gym, this way I want to gain 4 kilograms in the next two months. Basically, by the end of the year 2012, I want to get a significant result from my gym activity.

Playing tennis

I have been playing and improving my tennis skills since the beginning of my IB diploma course. The last year achievement was the results of my end of the year club competition. I have turned 18 this September, that means that at the end of this year i will be competing with the adults. I want to improve my service in particular, because I believe, that on the competition, a good service is a half of the success. In general, I have improved my backhand last year to a very good extent, but it is not enough for the competition I will have next May. That is why, apart from my service, I will focus on my backhand, as I still consider it as one of my weak points.

I play tennis regularly, once or sometimes twice a week with my father, tennis coach or friends. Also, in the beginning of the September I have started to teach my little brother, he is 6 years old, to play tennis. So every week, after palying tennis for myself, I am being a tennis coach for my brother for 30 minutes or 1 hour, depending on his mood. I really enjoy playing tennis and teaching my brother, as i like to spend the time with him.

The International Day

Our school is considered to be international, that is why there is an even taking place each year n our school - The International Day. This is the fest when the talents of the student are presented on the performance and different activities are run to enlarge the students' knowledge of different cultures. And of course, one the most important attributes is the international foods.

Our form's tasks were to guide parents to the room with different activities, to make a tour around the school and to prepare the dinning room for them to put their food. I have also used my knowledge of russian language to translate to some russian speaking parents from english into russian, if it was necessary. 

During the international lunch, I was surveying the italian food too the students. And after the fest, i have cleaned up the room working collaboratively with other students of my form.

The international day was a success for the school, as it has shown to the student and their parents the variety of different cultures, and I was glad to offer my service to help organizing and running the fest.

Continuing to play piano

By the beginning of november I have already made some decent success in learning the composition "valse d'Amelie". It was very hard in the beginning, I had to repeat some places again and again, but as the result, I have almost learnt the first two parts of the composition. It was extremely hard, but enjoyed it very much, and in addition, my finger became stronger! Repeating and practicing the composition frequently and permanently has helped me to become more patient in a way, I even think that it has contributed to my revising for the exams techniques, as I am used to do something again and again without stopping, until I learn it perfectly, without making any mistakes. I will continue learning the composition, and on the New Year's Eve I will surprise my parents and play it to them.

Playing piano

I have been playing piano for approximately a year now. I can see that I have improved my skills, but there is more and more for me to learn. My next step, from playing simple melodies and reading notes, is going to be playing the original sound track from the movie "Amelie", the name of which is "valse d'Amelie". I have been inspired to learn to play this composition after watching this movie. This composition is very difficult to play, especially considering my current level, however I will definitely learn to play the first two parts of it. I will have to work hard and show a lot of perseverance.