Theory of Knowledge is a compulsory core subject in IB and plays a crucial role in developing the skills of students for a better understanding of the world around them. I decided to sign up for the volunteering role for planning the TOK exhibition for our batch of Grade 11. 

LO-1 (Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth)

While performing as a volunteer, I had to come up with solutions to immediate problems and meet deadlines. During this time, I was able to understand my strengths and work in their favor. When I got criticism, I worked upon my weaknesses and grew from those opportunities. I was able to provide inputs and creative criticism to match the event requirements. I was able to visualize myself as someone with various abilities and skills like management which helped me with the event. 

LO-2 (Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process)

Although I had some experience in volunteering, creative management was a personal challenge for me along with the event. I took part in volunteering as it was a new experience for me that would help me acquire new skills and abilities on the run. With this experience, I was able to gain better expertise in the area of volunteering and (creative) management and used it to develop skills in the area of the event. 

LO-3 (Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience)

We had to plan the event from the start and execute the entire event. Throughout the timeline, different changes helped me launch new ideas and share creative ideas among my team members. For every problem, we shared ideas and solutions that could be implemented. I was aware of my role assigned and stuck with it while designing the event and reflecting on my thoughts and ideas. 

LO-5 (Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively)

I shared my creative inputs and ideas with my team members and took up a role amongst them. I kept participating in the meetings and planning of the event and it helped me understand the importance of participating and discussing ideas to plan a well-flowed event that everyone can enjoy. 

LO-6 (Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance)

We made sure that while designing the event, planning the decoration, we kept the decoration sustainable and re-used the already made decorations. This helped us save a lot of resources that would have gone to waste otherwise. The event was planned to meet all the required expectations while being responsible for the resources and waste generated. The decoration could again be used for the next year and so on and this would help us save loads of resources over the years that could have a huge impact on the local issue of waste generation and resource depletion. 

LO-7 (Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions)

Planning a sustainable event while making it interactive and fun for all was a huge task for us, however, we tried our best at all times to save resources. Once used, we returned all the resources. For the most part of the exhibition decoration, we used already owned artifacts from the school. We took all responsibility for them and ensured they were not broken or damaged. We used all types of objects to ensure it was inclusive for teachers as well as students to have a clear and fun experience. 

The event was a great way to make the TOK exhibition unique and different. It helped me develop new skills and learn new ideas and creative management that I will be using in the future.