Hello all. I, Taylor Fasolo, am now taking over the position of Blog Writer for the next couple of posts!

The magic continues here at Island School as we students work our way through our fourth week. On Tuesday, every student either ran towards the nearest settlement, Deep Creek, or swam a mile towards the Cape. Then many prepared for a Marine Ecology class, where we would be diving to our specific patch reef that we choose the previous week, studying invertebrates and biodiversity. This amazing form of research, for me, is not only more in-depth, but is also much more fun because you are down in the water, learning about the things you are studying face to face with them. After drying off from the dive, many students went to their afternoon Art class, in which we are creating our “Art for Advocacy” pieces. After having attended a few plastics lectures and participating in beach cleanups, the Art classes are taking plastic that we found on the beach and turning it into a piece that gives the message of sustainability. Continue reading →

Friday morning we had our first timed run-swim. There was a sense of anxiousness around the girl’s dorm for the feeling that this morning exercise would feel like a “race”. But as we began the track of plunging in and out of the water, hopping over branches while running through the woods, and climbing up and leaping off rock walls, it turned out to be an adventure. It was one of the most fun and exciting morning exercises we have had yet. Some finishers completed the exercise in the top of the pack, and I think I finished somewhere in the middle. The incredible thing about finishing later is how many cheering fans you will have within your peers. When I was running to the flagpole, my run quickly flipped into a sprint because I heard Isabel and Ann Gray telling me that I could do it. Therefore no matter where you finish, it feels really good! John Schatz’s explained that it wasn’t a race against each other; it was a race against ourselves. Knowing that I will improve only leaves me excited to attack the next timed run-swim.

We also had a community meeting yesterday morning, a time for all of the students and faculty to be together and discuss one common theme. First, we divided into small groups to discuss qualities of leadership and how influential leaders would fit those adjectives. It was interesting to discuss with my group, especially because I ended up in a group with students who I don’t have a lot of classes with. Then, we all grouped up again. The caciques led a self-reflective game where we had to identify what type of leader we were. For example, you could be “a driver”, who is a natural leader and loves control or a “relationship master” who is very good at working with people. Again, we were jumbled up so I was discussing with a great mix of a group. We all got to share what leadership meant to us and how we thought we did or didn’t fulfill that role. Many of my peers spoke eloquently about the topic. For example, members of our group spoke on how being a very emotionally invested leader can have both its pros and cons. It was really cool to hear fellow students and teachers explain their definition of leadership, because not a single one was similar. It just shows that there is no specific mold to being a leader, and it is a position that every student can fulfill in their own unique way.

Yesterday was a huge day for the island school community and for all of us students! We went to Deep Creek Middle School, which is one of the three parts of the Island School, to meet our little buddies. Each student has a buddy from the 7^th-9^th grade. I met my buddy, Kesyla. Although shy at first, she really opened up by the end of the day. Each buddy pair is working on a bigger project which focuses on issues in the local communities: cancer, diabetes, shadism, plastics, or building a new community center. My buddy and I are working on the Diabetes project. Although she is only 12, Kesyla presented to the entire group why this issue was important globally and locally. One thing that particularly struck me was how high the rates of Diabetes were in The Bahamas. She described was a typical Eleutheran dinner was, and eloquently spoke about how the island needed to start making more healthy choices. Later, she told me that some of her family members are diabetics, making this project for important for her. I am excited that I get to work on a community outreach project with my buddy, because working towards one common goal will help us bond throughout this semester. I love that we can both teach each other throughout this community outreach experience.

At Deep Creek Middle School, we got to know many other kids besides our buddies. We played basketball games and had arts and crafts time to do so. Continue reading →