Senior School’s Best Kept Activity Secrets
By Anintika B., Grade 9
When it comes to college applications, the spotlight usually shines on sports and popular clubs. But included in our very own Senior School are many unique programs that could set you apart—if you know where to look.
Whether it is varsity volleyball or the Junior School’s pop-up card club, after-school activities have almost always been a staple in our lives. Earlier, familiar options like sports teams or speech and debate clubs had always filled our schedules, but as we grow older, the focus shifts to pursuits that can shape our future. Thankfully, MIS has an impressive array of programs that can heavily enhance college applications, with the Senior School, especially, unveiling many exciting opportunities that were previously unknown.
Probably one of the most well-known Senior School programs, no list would be complete without mentioning the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE).
“Duke of Edinburgh has been a way of practicing new skills, and I’ve been incredibly grateful for all the new, fun things we get to do every day because of it. At the end of the year, we’re going to do a 3-day long hike. It’s all about the outdoors and discovering yourself”, a grade 9 Duke of Edinburgh participant said.
Where it differentiates from every other club or after school activity is that the DofE not only helps you, but also helps you help your community. The Duke of Edinburgh is a youth development program which helps its participants develop skills in teamwork, confidence, leadership, and self-sufficiency. Members are guided through activities in three key areas: Arts and Activities, Sports and Athletics, and Service. Additionally, they are taken on expeditions which help them learn essential life skills, such as wilderness survival and first aid. There are three levels of the DofE – Bronze, Silver, and Gold, each taking a year to complete. The main differences between the awards are the time commitment and level of challenge, with Bronze being the least and Gold the most demanding; there are however small differences in the itinerary, allowing for a fresh and exciting experience every year. Along with helping you grow as a person, the DofE is also very helpful for life after college. The award is highly respected by universities, employers, and organizations, and opens many new doors, as it not only shows that you are a well-rounded individual, but also that you can commit to long term goals. It is a very valuable addition to your resume and provides an interesting basis for your extended essay. While sign-ups are already over for this year, anyone who wishes to participate is free to join next year.
For anyone who has been wanting to try their hand at business, they are in luck because Shark Tank has arrived at MIS. Well, not quite, but Boston Consulting Group’s program: Business@School isn’t that far from it. Business@School is a year-long educational program for high school students, aimed at teaching them real-world business skills through hands-on experience.
“They research and develop a business plan that includes everything from a marketing plan to a financial plan for their business and develop a pitch to ‘sell’ it to the judges. We have presentations here at MIS for each phase and judges decide who was the winner for each phase, as well as offering feedback,” said Ms Williamson, MIS staff member and leader of Business at School.
The program is divided into three phases: analyzing a large company, studying a mid-sized company, and developing a business idea. In the first phase, students learn how to evaluate different company strategies, such as marketing and operating; in the second, they focus on operational and financial aspects of running a business. And in the third, they get a once in a lifetime opportunity to create their own business plan and present them to a panel of judges, who decide the team that gets to proceed to an international level competition. Mark Cuban of the Shark Tank would be proud. And while, of course, Business@School seems perfectly designed for any students looking to get into business after graduating, it can also be very helpful for students looking to get into any other career. Members of develop analytical thinking, teamwork, presentation, and entrepreneurship skills. These skills can enhance your academic and career prospects by fostering a practical understanding of business concepts. Unfortunately, this program is only for 11th and 12th Graders, but it is an incredible activity to look forward to.
A pathway to run your very own government, the Model United Nations (Model UN or MUN) is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“Participating in Model United Nations helped me develop key skills that are valuable for adulthood, such as public speaking, research, and diplomacy. It improved my ability to present arguments, negotiate, and analyze global issues from different perspectives,” MIS Alumni Rohit Shyam said.
The Model UN is a simulation where students role-play as delegates from different countries, representing their assigned nation’s stance in global politics. They debate universal problems, whether it is war or global warming, and try to find realistic solutions for them. Similarly to the real UN, the delegates are divided into different councils, including the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Security Council, and occasionally a Historical Security Council (a SC set in the past). The delegates are split into different committees/councils. Each committee has around 30 delegates (each with their own assigned country). Throughout their time in the UN, participants develop skills in research, public speaking, negotiation, and diplomacy as they work to draft resolutions and build consensus. Through Model UN, students gain a deeper understanding of international relations and improve their critical thinking and leadership abilities, making it a valuable experience for those interested in global affairs, law, or careers that require effective communication and collaboration. This program is also only available for 11th and 12th graders.
While, of course, all these activities are amazing once in a lifetime opportunities that teach many important skills, and look great on a college application, they are not all that MIS offers. Our school has an incredibly diverse range of after-school activities, and they should all be explored. Our sports teams especially have a lot of time and effort invested in them. If you want to find out more about MIS’s athletic side, be sure to check out Uma R.’s article: Get in the Game.
