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- Amethyst-animation
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
SWC Co-Leader Application
About Me
A Bird’s Flight (10 Jan 2020) - ‘And then,’ Oscar said. ‘They beat their wings once. Connect with the air. Feel yourself as light as a balloon. Do not push too much muscles into action. Beat your wings again. Feel as light as your feathers. Beat them three times, faster. Then continue until you rise in the air, and then beat your wings twice. Turn your head down, spread your wing like a sheet, glide down, and only flap when you’re gathering speed. Do you think you can do that?’
Hi! My name is Amethyst-animation, though please call me Amethyst. I’m a Christian girl (she/her) who’ll be turning 13 in February, and am lamenting the fact that I won’t have the “Juniors” privilege anymore. My timezone is AEST, Australia. Because it I can connect with people who have similar time zones in the day, and also chat with my American, British and generally other-side-of-the-world cabinmates in the morning. It also makes me very tired during cabin wars, whilst most of my cabin is asleep!
Have You Previously Participated in SWC?
The Furwum (27 Oct 2020) - Sweat was running in hasty rivulets down my aching back. I looked ahead, eyes tinging. My wavering eyes spotted emerald green sweeping plains, stretching as far as my eye could see. I looked back, thick smoke trailing from the blackening forest. Smell of burnt wood and black charcoal took over my burning nostrils. My eyes were watering with hot pain, and water was about to spill out of them.
Yes, I have, 4 wonderful times, in March 2022, July 2022, November 2022 + November 2023.
In another Scratch camp called SMC, I’ve been 2x host, 1x co-host, and 1x leader. For in-real life experience, I was the Citizenship Captain for my school, which is like a vice-captain.
Some things that count towards my writing experience is when I won Juniors Category November 2023 SWC. I also won Writer’s Award for my school last year - I can vividly remember being simultaneously surprised, elated, and cringing as my story was read to a crowd of 1500 people. school last year - I can vividly remember being simultaneously surprised, elated, and cringing as my story was read to a crowd of 1500 people.
Which Cabins Would You Prefer To Lead?
Lion Hunt (13 Nov 2020) - Glancing around in the setting that was cast around him, his sharp, light blue eyes quickly spotting that others were drooping in exhaustion, he put up a burst of speed aided by the whistling wind, and his sturdy wings glided towards Tanthu. Tanthu’s dot grew bigger and bigger until finally a skinny small dragon with bony wings was attempting to fly to the horizon.
I don’t have any preference, other than not to be sorted in “scary” themes. For example: Horror, Thriller, Tragedy, Mystery, all of those are a little too much for me. Things like Dystopian or Action are totally fine though! I also would rather not colead TCTWNW.
Secret Light - Excerpt of Novel
It was dark, and Atlas didn’t like it.
It was gloomy and miserable and smelt of sulphur. The skies were green-tinted and the sands were drenched in oppression.
He sensed the change in the atmosphere immediately. Gone were the innocent, tucked away meadows. The sands that the realm had been named after were no longer golden. They were like tarnished metal - once beautiful, now corrupted.
Even standing on the desolate lands far away from the active battlefields, Atlas heard the sounds that the villages had so strictly told the children to run away from. The skies constantly flashed red. Even once or twice, he caught the trail of something red crashing down into some faraway village.
He examined the land closest to him. It spoke of a world long-gone. Trampled, dead flowers with sad broken stems, and tufts of grass were blown across the land unnaturally. Sands drenched in darkness. There was even the occasional dark thorn. Atlas knew that being pricked even once could result in winged light being lost. It was one of the genetically modified weapons that Eden harnessed.
Breathing was already difficult. Chunks of ash flew into his mouth faster than he could close them. The smell of death and disease overwhelmed him.
Atlas shifted his eyes slowly to his companion. Faithful Rhea had tagged along with him for two whole realms, but would she leave now? Her face didn’t depict much emotion - just a mask of wistful imagination.
“Missing your grandmother?” Atlas asked sympathetically at one point. Rhea looked up at him in surprise - they had walked most of the journey in brooding silence.
“Oh, yeah.” She was quiet for a few more footsteps. “I… I regret not leaving her with a proper goodbye. In case something happens…”
Atlas took out the jar, nudging her. “Look, look. We’ve got this Arklight. And this Arklight will keep us nice and safe…” He took the flame outside of the jar and threw it casually into the air once, twice. “It’ll keep our Light full to the brim.”
Rhea laughed as he fashioned the flame into a ball-like shape and tossed it to her. They played catch with it, and briefly their stark surroundings were forgotten in the innocent games they used to play all the time. And, just for a moment, he heard childlike laughter and gentle rain and the innocence of a time lost with the disappearance of his father.
What Amount Of Time Do You Expect To Be Able To Dedicate To SWC?
Frostcicle (29 Dec 2020) - Her whole life was dedicated to being the first place, first circle IceWing. Starting as a peasant dragonet, she’d climbed her way up, above the names of her third and second circle parents, up to being one of the youngest but highest ranked dragonet there had ever been.
On average, I would say 2-3 hours a day. This number can of course go higher if necessary! I will be having school until the 28th of March, but I have plenty of time to spare on other days. I can also bring my iPad or laptop if I go somewhere for a prolonged period of time (for example, a holiday to the beach). I don’t have anything major planned for any of the three months to come!
What Are Your Skills And Shortcomings In Time Management
Roaring Waters (27 Sep 2021) - The lake was rippling with silver, peacefully passing and flowing, giving life to all that surrounded it. The wind thrummed over the surface of the water and rushed past Reedpaw, whispering amongst the trees as it continued its long, vast journey.
I can tend to get my priorities mixed up, and can work on one thing when I should be working on another. This is usually by a drive of what is more fun and obvious. However, if I understand what I’m doing, I’m relatively quick at doing things. If I set my mind to do something, I typically either decide to do it all at once, or spread it out evenly over a couple of days. This application used the latter one, as I wanted to get the quality as good and unrushed as possible. SWC has certainly helped me battle procrastination and getting things done on time!
What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses in Working with Others?
Alys (18 April 2021) - In the distance, blotted against the weak glow of the sunset, there was a silhouetted shape of a young dot darting across a small ledge on a mountain. The creatures knew it was a girl. Shyrgerth smiled slyly at the slim possibility that this small human could save its own life — let alone the entire dragon colony.
I absolutely love working with others who are keen and productive. Since I am so eager, however, I often end up being the only one who is doing the work. This can get very frustrating. However, if my teammates are earnestly trying to help but just don’t know how to, I am patient with them. In a group setting I usually am the one who assigns roles and checks in with people to make sure they understand.
What One Quality Do You Value Most In A Leader
Lone Wolf (March 23 2023) - An arctic wolf bends his white head down, searching through the ground desperately. No grass; no prey. Starvation is surely to come. The wind rushes down on this lone wolf, but the wolf just puffs his fur out in retaliation. The fur that his ancient ancestors had passed down on, so he could survive.
I believe supportiveness is a great quality in a leader. It’s important for everyone, but especially for a leader, to be kind, patient and helpful to everyone under their charge. If the leader is bossy, cranky and is impatient with people, then people’s motivation drains as it is based on fear rather than interest. On the other hand, supportiveness lifts people up, encouraging them to try their hardest. I intend to be as patient, respectful and kind to both my fellow (co)leaders, and the cabinmates under my charge, if I am selected!
What Cabin Atmosphere Do You Aim To Create?
Secret Light (Oct 12 2023) - “They don’t understand. They’re too short-sighted and look for things to jump right at them. But if you relax, and just know to listen… you’ll start to hear Orbit’s faint, wonderful voice…” Her words trailed off, and he distinctly heard a soft hum, emitted from the stars. They huddled together, listening, being.
I would help create a cabin atmosphere that is both relaxed, cheerful and warmth, whilst also having pride in our own cabin and being productive! Somewhere with lots of inside jokes, supportiveness and teamwork, but also a place to battle procrastination (perhaps there could be mangoes…) I will do this by creating a project “chain” that you can favourite to put on your profile, custom pfps, banners, and other things that celebrate the cabin I’m in. I will also be an active part of the community - chatting and talking with everyone. My goal is to get to know everyone well in my cabin!
Checklist
Unfair (Nov 15 2023) - “There’s a mad dash to the ladders, and I’m amongst those people. I’m honestly just furious that Isla’s loyalty runs so shallow. I had thought it was deep, but apparently I haven’t tested those waters enough. It was blind trust. It was a misplaced trust.”
Number 1 (cross)
Number 2 (tick)
Number 3 (tick)
I can cover all leadership responsibilities.
Activity Issues
The Five Islands (Jan 12 2024) - “You haven’t heard?” the old lady, leaning heavily against her rake, looked gravely at her. “The farmlands. The animals. The trees. They’re all dying. And there are whispers, rumours…” she shook her head as though dislodging an unwelcome thought.
Firstly, if it were someone else, I would reach out to the person and ask what’s going on. If it was just a blip, I would just increase both of our productivity and spend a little more time to catch up on lost work. If it’s something personal and sudden that will take a prolonged period of time to process, I would give them the space they require and have another co-leader substitute until they feel comfortable enough to come back <3. If they don’t respond within a few days, I would appoint another co-leader to take over until they come back. And finally, if the issue keeps happening again and again, I’d gently remind the (co)leader that we need to contribute a suitable amount to help SWC go on!
If it were myself, I would always let everyone know and help my leader find a good substitute for me if it affects the workflow dramatically. If I somehow couldn’t get onto Scratch, I would work on SWC IRL (flesh out daily/weekly ideas, cabin themes, upcoming project designs etc.) When I could come back online, I would explain the situation, and increase my productivity to make up for the lost time. In fact, the latter would be my response for many scenarios.
Thank you for reading!
About Me
A Bird’s Flight (10 Jan 2020) - ‘And then,’ Oscar said. ‘They beat their wings once. Connect with the air. Feel yourself as light as a balloon. Do not push too much muscles into action. Beat your wings again. Feel as light as your feathers. Beat them three times, faster. Then continue until you rise in the air, and then beat your wings twice. Turn your head down, spread your wing like a sheet, glide down, and only flap when you’re gathering speed. Do you think you can do that?’
Hi! My name is Amethyst-animation, though please call me Amethyst. I’m a Christian girl (she/her) who’ll be turning 13 in February, and am lamenting the fact that I won’t have the “Juniors” privilege anymore. My timezone is AEST, Australia. Because it I can connect with people who have similar time zones in the day, and also chat with my American, British and generally other-side-of-the-world cabinmates in the morning. It also makes me very tired during cabin wars, whilst most of my cabin is asleep!
Have You Previously Participated in SWC?
The Furwum (27 Oct 2020) - Sweat was running in hasty rivulets down my aching back. I looked ahead, eyes tinging. My wavering eyes spotted emerald green sweeping plains, stretching as far as my eye could see. I looked back, thick smoke trailing from the blackening forest. Smell of burnt wood and black charcoal took over my burning nostrils. My eyes were watering with hot pain, and water was about to spill out of them.
Yes, I have, 4 wonderful times, in March 2022, July 2022, November 2022 + November 2023.
In another Scratch camp called SMC, I’ve been 2x host, 1x co-host, and 1x leader. For in-real life experience, I was the Citizenship Captain for my school, which is like a vice-captain.
Some things that count towards my writing experience is when I won Juniors Category November 2023 SWC. I also won Writer’s Award for my school last year - I can vividly remember being simultaneously surprised, elated, and cringing as my story was read to a crowd of 1500 people. school last year - I can vividly remember being simultaneously surprised, elated, and cringing as my story was read to a crowd of 1500 people.
Which Cabins Would You Prefer To Lead?
Lion Hunt (13 Nov 2020) - Glancing around in the setting that was cast around him, his sharp, light blue eyes quickly spotting that others were drooping in exhaustion, he put up a burst of speed aided by the whistling wind, and his sturdy wings glided towards Tanthu. Tanthu’s dot grew bigger and bigger until finally a skinny small dragon with bony wings was attempting to fly to the horizon.
I don’t have any preference, other than not to be sorted in “scary” themes. For example: Horror, Thriller, Tragedy, Mystery, all of those are a little too much for me. Things like Dystopian or Action are totally fine though! I also would rather not colead TCTWNW.
Secret Light - Excerpt of Novel
It was dark, and Atlas didn’t like it.
It was gloomy and miserable and smelt of sulphur. The skies were green-tinted and the sands were drenched in oppression.
He sensed the change in the atmosphere immediately. Gone were the innocent, tucked away meadows. The sands that the realm had been named after were no longer golden. They were like tarnished metal - once beautiful, now corrupted.
Even standing on the desolate lands far away from the active battlefields, Atlas heard the sounds that the villages had so strictly told the children to run away from. The skies constantly flashed red. Even once or twice, he caught the trail of something red crashing down into some faraway village.
He examined the land closest to him. It spoke of a world long-gone. Trampled, dead flowers with sad broken stems, and tufts of grass were blown across the land unnaturally. Sands drenched in darkness. There was even the occasional dark thorn. Atlas knew that being pricked even once could result in winged light being lost. It was one of the genetically modified weapons that Eden harnessed.
Breathing was already difficult. Chunks of ash flew into his mouth faster than he could close them. The smell of death and disease overwhelmed him.
Atlas shifted his eyes slowly to his companion. Faithful Rhea had tagged along with him for two whole realms, but would she leave now? Her face didn’t depict much emotion - just a mask of wistful imagination.
“Missing your grandmother?” Atlas asked sympathetically at one point. Rhea looked up at him in surprise - they had walked most of the journey in brooding silence.
“Oh, yeah.” She was quiet for a few more footsteps. “I… I regret not leaving her with a proper goodbye. In case something happens…”
Atlas took out the jar, nudging her. “Look, look. We’ve got this Arklight. And this Arklight will keep us nice and safe…” He took the flame outside of the jar and threw it casually into the air once, twice. “It’ll keep our Light full to the brim.”
Rhea laughed as he fashioned the flame into a ball-like shape and tossed it to her. They played catch with it, and briefly their stark surroundings were forgotten in the innocent games they used to play all the time. And, just for a moment, he heard childlike laughter and gentle rain and the innocence of a time lost with the disappearance of his father.
What Amount Of Time Do You Expect To Be Able To Dedicate To SWC?
Frostcicle (29 Dec 2020) - Her whole life was dedicated to being the first place, first circle IceWing. Starting as a peasant dragonet, she’d climbed her way up, above the names of her third and second circle parents, up to being one of the youngest but highest ranked dragonet there had ever been.
On average, I would say 2-3 hours a day. This number can of course go higher if necessary! I will be having school until the 28th of March, but I have plenty of time to spare on other days. I can also bring my iPad or laptop if I go somewhere for a prolonged period of time (for example, a holiday to the beach). I don’t have anything major planned for any of the three months to come!
What Are Your Skills And Shortcomings In Time Management
Roaring Waters (27 Sep 2021) - The lake was rippling with silver, peacefully passing and flowing, giving life to all that surrounded it. The wind thrummed over the surface of the water and rushed past Reedpaw, whispering amongst the trees as it continued its long, vast journey.
I can tend to get my priorities mixed up, and can work on one thing when I should be working on another. This is usually by a drive of what is more fun and obvious. However, if I understand what I’m doing, I’m relatively quick at doing things. If I set my mind to do something, I typically either decide to do it all at once, or spread it out evenly over a couple of days. This application used the latter one, as I wanted to get the quality as good and unrushed as possible. SWC has certainly helped me battle procrastination and getting things done on time!
What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses in Working with Others?
Alys (18 April 2021) - In the distance, blotted against the weak glow of the sunset, there was a silhouetted shape of a young dot darting across a small ledge on a mountain. The creatures knew it was a girl. Shyrgerth smiled slyly at the slim possibility that this small human could save its own life — let alone the entire dragon colony.
I absolutely love working with others who are keen and productive. Since I am so eager, however, I often end up being the only one who is doing the work. This can get very frustrating. However, if my teammates are earnestly trying to help but just don’t know how to, I am patient with them. In a group setting I usually am the one who assigns roles and checks in with people to make sure they understand.
What One Quality Do You Value Most In A Leader
Lone Wolf (March 23 2023) - An arctic wolf bends his white head down, searching through the ground desperately. No grass; no prey. Starvation is surely to come. The wind rushes down on this lone wolf, but the wolf just puffs his fur out in retaliation. The fur that his ancient ancestors had passed down on, so he could survive.
I believe supportiveness is a great quality in a leader. It’s important for everyone, but especially for a leader, to be kind, patient and helpful to everyone under their charge. If the leader is bossy, cranky and is impatient with people, then people’s motivation drains as it is based on fear rather than interest. On the other hand, supportiveness lifts people up, encouraging them to try their hardest. I intend to be as patient, respectful and kind to both my fellow (co)leaders, and the cabinmates under my charge, if I am selected!
What Cabin Atmosphere Do You Aim To Create?
Secret Light (Oct 12 2023) - “They don’t understand. They’re too short-sighted and look for things to jump right at them. But if you relax, and just know to listen… you’ll start to hear Orbit’s faint, wonderful voice…” Her words trailed off, and he distinctly heard a soft hum, emitted from the stars. They huddled together, listening, being.
I would help create a cabin atmosphere that is both relaxed, cheerful and warmth, whilst also having pride in our own cabin and being productive! Somewhere with lots of inside jokes, supportiveness and teamwork, but also a place to battle procrastination (perhaps there could be mangoes…) I will do this by creating a project “chain” that you can favourite to put on your profile, custom pfps, banners, and other things that celebrate the cabin I’m in. I will also be an active part of the community - chatting and talking with everyone. My goal is to get to know everyone well in my cabin!
Checklist
Unfair (Nov 15 2023) - “There’s a mad dash to the ladders, and I’m amongst those people. I’m honestly just furious that Isla’s loyalty runs so shallow. I had thought it was deep, but apparently I haven’t tested those waters enough. It was blind trust. It was a misplaced trust.”
Number 1 (cross)
Number 2 (tick)
Number 3 (tick)
I can cover all leadership responsibilities.
Activity Issues
The Five Islands (Jan 12 2024) - “You haven’t heard?” the old lady, leaning heavily against her rake, looked gravely at her. “The farmlands. The animals. The trees. They’re all dying. And there are whispers, rumours…” she shook her head as though dislodging an unwelcome thought.
Firstly, if it were someone else, I would reach out to the person and ask what’s going on. If it was just a blip, I would just increase both of our productivity and spend a little more time to catch up on lost work. If it’s something personal and sudden that will take a prolonged period of time to process, I would give them the space they require and have another co-leader substitute until they feel comfortable enough to come back <3. If they don’t respond within a few days, I would appoint another co-leader to take over until they come back. And finally, if the issue keeps happening again and again, I’d gently remind the (co)leader that we need to contribute a suitable amount to help SWC go on!
If it were myself, I would always let everyone know and help my leader find a good substitute for me if it affects the workflow dramatically. If I somehow couldn’t get onto Scratch, I would work on SWC IRL (flesh out daily/weekly ideas, cabin themes, upcoming project designs etc.) When I could come back online, I would explain the situation, and increase my productivity to make up for the lost time. In fact, the latter would be my response for many scenarios.
Thank you for reading!
Last edited by Amethyst-animation (Jan. 19, 2024 11:09:42)
- starunicorn_5
-
Scratcher
100+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
Kat's (starunicorn_5) Leader Application: Text version
|About me|
Hello! You can call me Kat, a 10-year-old girl! I live in the Indian Timezone (IST) and use she/her pronouns. I love reading, writing, cats, and science! I play badminton and chess and hang out with my friends in my free time. I study all sorts of mythologies, including Hindu, Greek, Egyptian and Norse! I'm learning to speak Hindi, Marathi, and hopefully French. I have arachnophobia, yet think some spiders are fascinating. I'm part of a juvenile girl band and am the songwriter as well as one of the keyboard players. My favorite subjects in school are English and Science. I'm a night owl! Also, I'm really excited for the upcoming session of SWC, since I really enjoyed the previous one! My favourite genre in books is Fantasy- because I love the way writers can use their imagine to no limits. I love learning more and more animal facts, since some can be very fascinating! My hobbies include reading, writing and playing chess!
|Experience|
This session is my second session. I was in the November 23' session as a camper. This would be my first leading experience online. IRL, I've led many of the school project groups. I was the last class monitor and got really good experience from that!
|Preferences|
I feel that I would do good in Fantasy, Sci-fi, and really any genre that is light-hearted and can take place out of this world! These aren't placed in order of preference. I wouldn't prefer dystopian, suspense, or horror. I think The Cabin That Will Not Win is a great idea for campers who are looking to practice without competition, though I think I'd like to lead another cabin, since I think I would prefer sticking to the competition.
|Excerpt|
Kiara dashed through the narrow library corridors, flanked with towering bookshelves. Pawsteps came nearer and nearer. Kiara found a winding passage through the bookshelves. She sprinted through it, only to find a dead end. Luckily, there was an empty niche in a bookcase, which Kiara
stuffed herself into. As the sound of the creatures came closer, Kiara tucked herself in, breathing heavily. A shadow loomed across the narrow passage.
Kiara didn't dare to peek. A screech echoed through the deserted library. The padding of heavy paws thudded nearer. There were brief wing beats, and
more creatures landed onto the marble floor. Kiara stiffened and turned her head slightly. Mighty lions with the head of eagles and large, feathery wings
stood at the head of the passage. One stared at the shadowed passage for longer than Kiara liked. Finally, with a piercing stare, it rose into the air. Kiara let out a sigh of relief. She pressed herself into her nook. Suddenly, a griffin let out a high-pitched cry. There was a thud… coming from above Kiara. Horror crept down her spine. The bookcase shook, as if great weight was on it. She gulped. A griffin had landed right on the bookshelf she was under. It was probably a young griffin- if it was older, it would have flattened Kiara. The next few minutes were hurried and eventful. A small griffin swooped down and landed right in front of Kiara. It cocked its head, as if it was deciding what to do. Kiara swallowed. The baby griffin did a surprising thing. Instead of arousing the adults, it squawked quietly. Kiara tilted her head to one side, confused. Maybe the griffin… no, she couldn't think of anything logical. The griffin stared at her in a way that could be described as warmly. It bowed down, exposing its back to her. Kiara thought she knew what it was trying to do. Taking a deep breath, she climbed onto its back. It padded onward almost immediately. Navigating silently through the passages, the griffin stopped at a glass doorway. Kiara gasped. This was the exit. She slid off the baby griffin's back. “This is the way out. Why'd you take me here?” Kiara whispered to the griffin, cuddling its beak. It gave a little whine. Determination and a bit of pride shimmered in its eyes. It nudged Kiara to the exit. She smiled and pushed the door open. Sunlight hit her like a refreshing burst of breeze. Walking
home after the eventful afternoon, she began wondering why the little griffin did that kind act. Part of her knew. The other part of her would keep wondering on forever.
|Time dedication|
I would be able to contribute at least 45 minutes a day. I go to school everyday, but come back before long. I also am part of a band, which I mentioned in the introduction. Writing songs and occasionally shooting videos might take quite some time, but I can probably balance it out on most days. Other than that, March is an uneventful month for me.
|Time management|
My skills are that I can multitask and work fast when I put my mind to it. I can check tasks off quickly, and get over the next ones. I usually take a specific amount of time for a specific activity, depending on its priority. My shortcomings in time management are that I tend to put the unpleasant activities at the very end of my schedule, and when its time to do them, I procrastinate and end out not doing them at the last minute. I'm trying to fix this currently by focusing more on my schedule and making myself get over the unpleasant activity.
|Teamwork|
My strengths in teamwork are that I can balance out the work equally, and brainstorm good ideas. I give equal time for every thought, and am capable of listening attentively. My weaknesses are that I try to please people too much- and end up most of the time giving their idea favor over mine. I'm not really good at confrontations and going up against people. The assets I can provide are that I am organized and set priorities accurately.
|Qualities|
One quality I value most in leaders is compassion. A leader should always remember that another human is behind the screen. They should remember to always support a healthy IRL lifestyle over SWC, and never push someone over their limits. I will embody this by being supportive of IRL>SWC. I will never ask a camper to write beyond their capacity.
|Atmosphere|
A warm and welcoming cabin with exciting competition and friendly rivalry to keep motivation up, and make lasting ties with friends new and old!
|Checkboxes|
A. I am applying for both leader and co-leader. I am willing to share a promotional project for SWC.
B. None!
C. If I cannot continue (co)leading a cabin, I will make sure I notify the hosts, and inform my cabin of any further changes.
|About me|
Hello! You can call me Kat, a 10-year-old girl! I live in the Indian Timezone (IST) and use she/her pronouns. I love reading, writing, cats, and science! I play badminton and chess and hang out with my friends in my free time. I study all sorts of mythologies, including Hindu, Greek, Egyptian and Norse! I'm learning to speak Hindi, Marathi, and hopefully French. I have arachnophobia, yet think some spiders are fascinating. I'm part of a juvenile girl band and am the songwriter as well as one of the keyboard players. My favorite subjects in school are English and Science. I'm a night owl! Also, I'm really excited for the upcoming session of SWC, since I really enjoyed the previous one! My favourite genre in books is Fantasy- because I love the way writers can use their imagine to no limits. I love learning more and more animal facts, since some can be very fascinating! My hobbies include reading, writing and playing chess!
|Experience|
This session is my second session. I was in the November 23' session as a camper. This would be my first leading experience online. IRL, I've led many of the school project groups. I was the last class monitor and got really good experience from that!
|Preferences|
I feel that I would do good in Fantasy, Sci-fi, and really any genre that is light-hearted and can take place out of this world! These aren't placed in order of preference. I wouldn't prefer dystopian, suspense, or horror. I think The Cabin That Will Not Win is a great idea for campers who are looking to practice without competition, though I think I'd like to lead another cabin, since I think I would prefer sticking to the competition.
|Excerpt|
Kiara dashed through the narrow library corridors, flanked with towering bookshelves. Pawsteps came nearer and nearer. Kiara found a winding passage through the bookshelves. She sprinted through it, only to find a dead end. Luckily, there was an empty niche in a bookcase, which Kiara
stuffed herself into. As the sound of the creatures came closer, Kiara tucked herself in, breathing heavily. A shadow loomed across the narrow passage.
Kiara didn't dare to peek. A screech echoed through the deserted library. The padding of heavy paws thudded nearer. There were brief wing beats, and
more creatures landed onto the marble floor. Kiara stiffened and turned her head slightly. Mighty lions with the head of eagles and large, feathery wings
stood at the head of the passage. One stared at the shadowed passage for longer than Kiara liked. Finally, with a piercing stare, it rose into the air. Kiara let out a sigh of relief. She pressed herself into her nook. Suddenly, a griffin let out a high-pitched cry. There was a thud… coming from above Kiara. Horror crept down her spine. The bookcase shook, as if great weight was on it. She gulped. A griffin had landed right on the bookshelf she was under. It was probably a young griffin- if it was older, it would have flattened Kiara. The next few minutes were hurried and eventful. A small griffin swooped down and landed right in front of Kiara. It cocked its head, as if it was deciding what to do. Kiara swallowed. The baby griffin did a surprising thing. Instead of arousing the adults, it squawked quietly. Kiara tilted her head to one side, confused. Maybe the griffin… no, she couldn't think of anything logical. The griffin stared at her in a way that could be described as warmly. It bowed down, exposing its back to her. Kiara thought she knew what it was trying to do. Taking a deep breath, she climbed onto its back. It padded onward almost immediately. Navigating silently through the passages, the griffin stopped at a glass doorway. Kiara gasped. This was the exit. She slid off the baby griffin's back. “This is the way out. Why'd you take me here?” Kiara whispered to the griffin, cuddling its beak. It gave a little whine. Determination and a bit of pride shimmered in its eyes. It nudged Kiara to the exit. She smiled and pushed the door open. Sunlight hit her like a refreshing burst of breeze. Walking
home after the eventful afternoon, she began wondering why the little griffin did that kind act. Part of her knew. The other part of her would keep wondering on forever.
|Time dedication|
I would be able to contribute at least 45 minutes a day. I go to school everyday, but come back before long. I also am part of a band, which I mentioned in the introduction. Writing songs and occasionally shooting videos might take quite some time, but I can probably balance it out on most days. Other than that, March is an uneventful month for me.
|Time management|
My skills are that I can multitask and work fast when I put my mind to it. I can check tasks off quickly, and get over the next ones. I usually take a specific amount of time for a specific activity, depending on its priority. My shortcomings in time management are that I tend to put the unpleasant activities at the very end of my schedule, and when its time to do them, I procrastinate and end out not doing them at the last minute. I'm trying to fix this currently by focusing more on my schedule and making myself get over the unpleasant activity.
|Teamwork|
My strengths in teamwork are that I can balance out the work equally, and brainstorm good ideas. I give equal time for every thought, and am capable of listening attentively. My weaknesses are that I try to please people too much- and end up most of the time giving their idea favor over mine. I'm not really good at confrontations and going up against people. The assets I can provide are that I am organized and set priorities accurately.
|Qualities|
One quality I value most in leaders is compassion. A leader should always remember that another human is behind the screen. They should remember to always support a healthy IRL lifestyle over SWC, and never push someone over their limits. I will embody this by being supportive of IRL>SWC. I will never ask a camper to write beyond their capacity.
|Atmosphere|
A warm and welcoming cabin with exciting competition and friendly rivalry to keep motivation up, and make lasting ties with friends new and old!
|Checkboxes|
A. I am applying for both leader and co-leader. I am willing to share a promotional project for SWC.
B. None!
C. If I cannot continue (co)leading a cabin, I will make sure I notify the hosts, and inform my cabin of any further changes.
- smartypantschlo
-
Scratcher
500+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
My application!
1: Hello! I’m Chloe or Phoenix, she/her, and I live in the Central Time Zone! I’m a Christian girl, who loves music, reading, writing, art, and the book series Ranger’s Apprentice! I play french horn, mellophone, piano, and sing. My favorite musician is currently Rich Mullins, with some of my favorite songs being Eljah and While the Nations Rage by him, and Never Say Die by Neoni. I’m currently working on a book, and hope to improve on that over the next couple of months.
2: I have! I have been a camper the November 2022 session, and every 2023 session. I have a lot of experience in writing, with my google docs having stories all the way back to 3rd grade, and paper trails even farther. More recently, I have a large varieties of writing, including non-fiction essays, poetry, short stories, large stories, fantasy, and more, all of which can be found on my scratch account, or my write the world account, as well as the choose your own adventure section of this project and my example I will give later. As for leadership, I’ve been president of my Jr. beta club for a year, am currently the section leader of the brass section in my band, secretary for the library club, worship leader of my church for just about 4 years now, and several other IRL leadership roles. On Scratch, I’m currently Co-leader of the Astronaut cabin for JWC and Host for SHC (as well as Leader of the Music and writing cabins).
3: I’m good with quite a few cabins, but I like the idea of: Action, Adventure, Dystopian, Fairy Tales, Fan-Fi, Fantasy, Hi-Fi, Illu-Fi, Lyric, Mystery, Mythology, Non-Fi, Poetry, Novel, Real-Fi, Script, or Sci-Fi. I have a variety of ideas, such as a Harry Potter or KOTLC themed Cabin for Fan-Fi, or a Magical journey for Fantasy, but I’m always up for the challenge of coming up with a fun theme, and like to also talk it out with my partner(s) before setting anything in stone. I would be good with (Co)leading the cabin that would not win, but it also might not be the best fit for me, as I am very competitive.
4: “I heard the bells on Christmas Day.”
Last Christmas, I sang these words out loud. A poem turned hymn written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, made modern by Casting Crowns. For once the words came close to home, as I was battling darkness, doubt, and pain. Thinking I could never be good enough, never do well enough, never be enough for anyone. Yet, my familiar church bells rang every hour on the dot and always gave me peace.
“I heard the bells on January 21st.”
One of the first times my doubts became words. The first poem that I wrote changed the feelings into words. ‘Am I Good Enough?’ I asked the world, broken and bleeding. Stretched beyond all measures, yet ignored when my pain finally showed. Finally, the words poured out, while tears soaked my computer keys.
“I heard the bells on April 5th.”
I heard the bells a lot that day, working tirelessly at the church. The tornado swept through so quickly and cut a wound so deep. My town was broken, five lives were lost, and fears became reality. That silent noon, when the bells started to toil, tears rolled down my face. Peace was long gone, and only sorrow remained.
“I heard the bells on May 4th.”
How could I recover from such a storm? How could I hold my sorrow inside? I couldn't sleep! I couldn't breathe! The sorrow was eating me away from the inside. What made matters worse was the people who failed to see the true me, the real me, hidden behind my hazel eyes. No one remembered my birthday, which came two days later. How could I still keep going, when the world wanted to see me cry?
“I heard the bells in June.”
My broken heart bled deeper while on my trip to Europe. The two juniors I was rooming with insulted me when they thought I was asleep. They never saw the tears that fell, they never saw my broken self, because I hid it all behind a brilliant mask. They don't know that I still remember that June night when the bells were so far away.
“I heard the bells on August 14th.”
We'd thought we'd seen it all. But the floods were too much, sweeping my town away. I heard the bells a lot that day, clinging to the little bit of peace I had left. Because peace was gone, hate was strong, I had nothing left.
“I heard the bells in September.”
Band class brought back joy. A new band teacher, kind, friendly, fun, yet cared for his class. He knew how to teach the instruments, and pushed his band harder each day. I grew stronger, my sorrow faded, and the bells kept ringing.
“I heard the bells on Christmas Day.”
Again, it's Christmas time once more. The bells are still ringing, and I'm still singing this song I love to share. Yes, I sang it last year, but the story is just as clear:
“The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
5: I should be able to develop plenty of time for SWC. I don’t have any major plans that would affect my activity (I have had things come up…like a flood and a tornado, but that was last year. This is a new year…hopefully). If I do have something come up, I will be sure to notify my fellow leaders asap.
6: My skills are the fact that I never miss a deadline, and always produce quality work. I do struggle with procrastination and distractions, but I’ve been fighting to manage my time better and overcome it. However, I have been able to balance a healthy school, scratch balance, and have the advantage of living in a rural district. February will be a great time for me to work on everything, as I am almost guaranteed to get snow, and have gotten over 2 weeks off before (I am currently off for snow. It snowed on Sunday. I still don't have school tomorrow, due to their being ice on gravel roads, giving me countless hours to work.)
7: My strengths in working with others include my willingness to do almost any task, and the creativity I bring to the table. When there's a whole list of tasks for a group of people to do, I’m willing to do almost anything. I’m also creative, a bit of a daydreamer. I will come up with fun approaches, and unique ideas. I’ve been on multiple teams, and I know how to be a leader but also a follower. My weaknesses are the fact I am a people pleaser, so I sometimes second guess myself and my decisions, and sometimes I'm afraid to step out of my comfort zone to take the lead in a tough situation.
8: One quality I value most in a leader is their ability to put themselves in others' shoes. The ability to see others feelings even when they differ from your own. I embody this trait as a leader because I’ve been through many different situations, have talked to a wide range of people, and try to imagine myself in other’s unique situations. As a pastor's daughter, I’ve learned this firsthand, especially during the flood and tornado that recently hit my town. Sometimes the silent people aren’t silent because they don't want to participate, it's because they are scared to be shot down for their feelings and ideas, while the loud ones are trying to hide the pain they feel everyday. Everyone has their own stress, their own pain, their own fears, and no one deserves to be made fun of for these.
9: The cabin atmosphere I hope to create is a fun and competitive cabin, with emphasis on the storyline and making bonds with fellow campers.
10: A: Applying for both leader and Coleader, I am willing to share a promotional project.
B: None!
C: I will try to notify my fellow leaders as well as Hosts. If I’m the one absent, I will give as much notice as possible as well as a date I will try to return by. If it's a fellow leader, I will try to cover the loose ends as much as possible until I can find someone else or my leader returns.
1: Hello! I’m Chloe or Phoenix, she/her, and I live in the Central Time Zone! I’m a Christian girl, who loves music, reading, writing, art, and the book series Ranger’s Apprentice! I play french horn, mellophone, piano, and sing. My favorite musician is currently Rich Mullins, with some of my favorite songs being Eljah and While the Nations Rage by him, and Never Say Die by Neoni. I’m currently working on a book, and hope to improve on that over the next couple of months.
2: I have! I have been a camper the November 2022 session, and every 2023 session. I have a lot of experience in writing, with my google docs having stories all the way back to 3rd grade, and paper trails even farther. More recently, I have a large varieties of writing, including non-fiction essays, poetry, short stories, large stories, fantasy, and more, all of which can be found on my scratch account, or my write the world account, as well as the choose your own adventure section of this project and my example I will give later. As for leadership, I’ve been president of my Jr. beta club for a year, am currently the section leader of the brass section in my band, secretary for the library club, worship leader of my church for just about 4 years now, and several other IRL leadership roles. On Scratch, I’m currently Co-leader of the Astronaut cabin for JWC and Host for SHC (as well as Leader of the Music and writing cabins).
3: I’m good with quite a few cabins, but I like the idea of: Action, Adventure, Dystopian, Fairy Tales, Fan-Fi, Fantasy, Hi-Fi, Illu-Fi, Lyric, Mystery, Mythology, Non-Fi, Poetry, Novel, Real-Fi, Script, or Sci-Fi. I have a variety of ideas, such as a Harry Potter or KOTLC themed Cabin for Fan-Fi, or a Magical journey for Fantasy, but I’m always up for the challenge of coming up with a fun theme, and like to also talk it out with my partner(s) before setting anything in stone. I would be good with (Co)leading the cabin that would not win, but it also might not be the best fit for me, as I am very competitive.
4: “I heard the bells on Christmas Day.”
Last Christmas, I sang these words out loud. A poem turned hymn written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, made modern by Casting Crowns. For once the words came close to home, as I was battling darkness, doubt, and pain. Thinking I could never be good enough, never do well enough, never be enough for anyone. Yet, my familiar church bells rang every hour on the dot and always gave me peace.
“I heard the bells on January 21st.”
One of the first times my doubts became words. The first poem that I wrote changed the feelings into words. ‘Am I Good Enough?’ I asked the world, broken and bleeding. Stretched beyond all measures, yet ignored when my pain finally showed. Finally, the words poured out, while tears soaked my computer keys.
“I heard the bells on April 5th.”
I heard the bells a lot that day, working tirelessly at the church. The tornado swept through so quickly and cut a wound so deep. My town was broken, five lives were lost, and fears became reality. That silent noon, when the bells started to toil, tears rolled down my face. Peace was long gone, and only sorrow remained.
“I heard the bells on May 4th.”
How could I recover from such a storm? How could I hold my sorrow inside? I couldn't sleep! I couldn't breathe! The sorrow was eating me away from the inside. What made matters worse was the people who failed to see the true me, the real me, hidden behind my hazel eyes. No one remembered my birthday, which came two days later. How could I still keep going, when the world wanted to see me cry?
“I heard the bells in June.”
My broken heart bled deeper while on my trip to Europe. The two juniors I was rooming with insulted me when they thought I was asleep. They never saw the tears that fell, they never saw my broken self, because I hid it all behind a brilliant mask. They don't know that I still remember that June night when the bells were so far away.
“I heard the bells on August 14th.”
We'd thought we'd seen it all. But the floods were too much, sweeping my town away. I heard the bells a lot that day, clinging to the little bit of peace I had left. Because peace was gone, hate was strong, I had nothing left.
“I heard the bells in September.”
Band class brought back joy. A new band teacher, kind, friendly, fun, yet cared for his class. He knew how to teach the instruments, and pushed his band harder each day. I grew stronger, my sorrow faded, and the bells kept ringing.
“I heard the bells on Christmas Day.”
Again, it's Christmas time once more. The bells are still ringing, and I'm still singing this song I love to share. Yes, I sang it last year, but the story is just as clear:
“The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
5: I should be able to develop plenty of time for SWC. I don’t have any major plans that would affect my activity (I have had things come up…like a flood and a tornado, but that was last year. This is a new year…hopefully). If I do have something come up, I will be sure to notify my fellow leaders asap.
6: My skills are the fact that I never miss a deadline, and always produce quality work. I do struggle with procrastination and distractions, but I’ve been fighting to manage my time better and overcome it. However, I have been able to balance a healthy school, scratch balance, and have the advantage of living in a rural district. February will be a great time for me to work on everything, as I am almost guaranteed to get snow, and have gotten over 2 weeks off before (I am currently off for snow. It snowed on Sunday. I still don't have school tomorrow, due to their being ice on gravel roads, giving me countless hours to work.)
7: My strengths in working with others include my willingness to do almost any task, and the creativity I bring to the table. When there's a whole list of tasks for a group of people to do, I’m willing to do almost anything. I’m also creative, a bit of a daydreamer. I will come up with fun approaches, and unique ideas. I’ve been on multiple teams, and I know how to be a leader but also a follower. My weaknesses are the fact I am a people pleaser, so I sometimes second guess myself and my decisions, and sometimes I'm afraid to step out of my comfort zone to take the lead in a tough situation.
8: One quality I value most in a leader is their ability to put themselves in others' shoes. The ability to see others feelings even when they differ from your own. I embody this trait as a leader because I’ve been through many different situations, have talked to a wide range of people, and try to imagine myself in other’s unique situations. As a pastor's daughter, I’ve learned this firsthand, especially during the flood and tornado that recently hit my town. Sometimes the silent people aren’t silent because they don't want to participate, it's because they are scared to be shot down for their feelings and ideas, while the loud ones are trying to hide the pain they feel everyday. Everyone has their own stress, their own pain, their own fears, and no one deserves to be made fun of for these.
9: The cabin atmosphere I hope to create is a fun and competitive cabin, with emphasis on the storyline and making bonds with fellow campers.
10: A: Applying for both leader and Coleader, I am willing to share a promotional project.
B: None!
C: I will try to notify my fellow leaders as well as Hosts. If I’m the one absent, I will give as much notice as possible as well as a date I will try to return by. If it's a fellow leader, I will try to cover the loose ends as much as possible until I can find someone else or my leader returns.
- opheliio
-
Scratcher
100+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
about me
good morning! or evening, if you’re partial to breakfast for dinner as i am. i’m lio, a booklover, college freshman, and aspiring polymath. i am a very curious and passionate person, whose interests range from geography and worldbuilding to linguistics to infectious diseases to fashion history to cooking, and i particularly appreciate connecting all of these fixations through writing, both fiction and nonfiction. in my free time, i enjoy such activities as reading and writing (of course), hiking, drawing and painting, and rock climbing. though i can be very introverted in real life, online i am much more outgoing, and i’m always happy to chat!
at the moment, my media hyperfixations include jet lag: the game (a web game show i highly recommend everyone check out), the new percy jackson television series, and all the young dudes, the marauders fanfiction (thank you, soki, for getting me to read it). some of my current favorite musical artists are lord huron (hence the pfp and the songs in this app), lucy dacus (one member of the marvelous boygenius), and florence + the machine (whose lyrics are breathtaking and heartbreaking all at once). my favorite books are the giver by lois lowry and the locked tomb series (harrow the ninth, in particular) by tamsyn muir.
i use they/them pronouns and live in the eastern time zone (est/edt).
experience
march 2024 will be my twelfth swc session. over the past three and a half years, i’ve led three times, coled four times, and campered four times. additionally, i was a member of the daily team two times, a writing comp panelist once, and participated in the memory book committee and quails / sorting team in nine and seven sessions respectively. in fewer words, i have a lot of experience with swc, in many different roles.
previous sessions, in reverse chronological order:
november 2023 — mystery camper, led by finley, clev, and mabel
july 2023 — lit-fi coleader, with fae
march 2023 — fantasy leader, with soki and river
november 2022 — folklore coleader, with ryann, faer, and vee
july 2022 — script leader, with fae, mayhem, and piper
march 2022 — adventure leader, with finley and cettie
november 2021 — contemporary camper, led by mech, viara, and ozzie
july 2021 — horror coleader, with pi and pie
march 2021 — sci-fi coleader, with kat and soft
november 2020 — thriller camper, led by cara, wats, and cj
july 2020 — hi-fi camper, led by soft and cj
beyond swc, i started writing for fun over ten years ago with no breaks since. i have much leadership experience, including volunteering each summer beginning in 2019 as a day-camp counselor for a week, and in high school i directed several one act plays.
genres
my top recommendations for new genres are epic, episoltary, furry sleuth, memoir, and noir. other possible genres include bildungsroman, comedy, flash fiction (flash-fi), gothic fiction (goth-fi), melodrama, paranormal, saga, satire, solarpunk, spy fiction (spy-fi), surrealism, utopian, and western fiction (west-fi). as for previous genres i’d love to see return, hi-fi, bi-fi, and tragedy. wowow so many cabin possibilities!!
for the sake of cabingo, i would prefer to colead a cabin i haven’t participated in before. otherwise, i have no preference. i would be interested in coleading the cabin that will not win.
excerpt
creaks echoed through the hall, dust coated every once-shining surface, and a deep chill set over felicity. he slipped from room to room, following some lazy curiosity as a real cat might follow the scent of a mouse, or so he assumed. in all his years, the imaginary cat called felicity conditions had never met a real cat.
it was a fact which sometimes gave him deep anxiety. what if he met a real cat, and didn’t even know it? what if real cats were nothing like him? what if being an imaginary cat made all of these questions pointless? whenever unanswerable, existential questions swirled in his head, felicity followed his heart instead. as on the chilly today, he traced a path across the expanse of the mansion.
floorboards creaking and dust shifting and air chilling brought only comfort to him. he supposed he was meant to love this place. he was inherently a part of it; he never, never considered leaving. though felicity would often find himself on the roof, tiptoeing along the widow’s walk, considering himself a widow. but that word, he decided later while reading a dictionary, did not quite fit him. he was a caretaker, no doubt. perhaps a child, though it seemed he could not grow up.
once, he found the word remembrance. a warmth flooded through him, recognition immediate. felicity was remembrance, he simply knew it. he wasn’t quite sure what, exactly, it was he kept the memories of. something important. something emotional, grand. something of a family, a child, laughter and tears and mornings in the expansive library.
at unpredictable intervals, felicity would catch a glimpse of the memories. once, the smoky scent of bacon wafted through the kitchens, and felicity certainly did no cooking. another time, indecipherable whispers and intermittent giggling filled the nursery, and felicity fell asleep to the comforting warmth of childhood mischief. today, dust piled higher than ever before, a picturesque snow falling beyond the paned-glass windows, felicity sought more snippets. months had passed since he last captured one, another cause of worry.
time
throughout the month of march, i will be able to dedicate between one hour and two hours, non-consecutively, each day specifically to swc responsibilities. with the exception of midterms near the end of february, the same is true for the planning period leading up to march.
my spring break is the first week of march, though i do not have any plans during that time that would change my activity.
i cannot and will not promise all of my time to swc — after all, sleep, health, and real life come first.
time management
skills
dedication, which i have both for swc and coleading, allows me to both get a lot done on a project in a short amount of time and stick with said project for longer amounts of time. i value every minute i get to spend working on swc and don’t want to “waste” any of it with poor time management.
allotment of time is something i’ve worked on a lot the past year and a half; i’ve strengthened my proficiency with proper allocation of my time and prioritization of my tasks. with this improvement, i am more productive even under time constraints.
shortcomings
procrastination is my largest challenge, stemming from my perfectionism. it leads to tasks taking far longer than needed, but i combat it by reminding myself that doing something imperfect is better—and a better use of my time—than doing nothing at all!
distraction goes hand in hand with both procrastination and dedication. i tend to get distracted from tasks i don’t want to do or ones that make me anxious by other, more exciting or familiar tasks, and often while doing things i am passionate about i lose track of time.
recently, i have used this to my advantage, rotating through varying tasks to keep from getting bored with any one activity.
collaboration
strengths
passion — i deeply care about swc and the success of my leadership team and cabin and i value the processes and products of collaboration. this informs my every action as a team member and coleader, from working through disagreements to properly scheduling my time according to tasks.
open-mindedness — i am open to new ideas and discussion during the process of cabin planning and throughout camp. I want the cabin to reflect the work of the entire leadership team, and the camper as well, and this cannot be done without compromise and connection.
weaknesses
communication is something that, despite valuing it greatly, i am very bad at. i overthink even the simplest of messages and can be bad at interpreting others’ emotions and sharing my own. i constantly push myself over this hurdle, but it remains a weakness.
perfectionism is a symptom of my striving to be the best. i care about every tiny detail, which can lead to me taking on more than i should, rather than allowing other team members to leave their mark. i worked on overcoming this over the past year, and furthering this work remains a goal of mine in march.
assets
creativity — my ideas are constantly flowing, for new cabin concepts and activities and storylines. i want to create a cabin full of imagination and innovation by developing these with a team.
art & design skills — hand in hand with my creativity is my proficiency with art and design — i have years of experience with both as well as the ability to design a unique look for a cabin. (plus I have access to canvapro
)
experience — i’ve been in swc for over three years in a variety of roles; i have the wisdom and vision that comes with such experience, as well as the desire to share both with my cabin and leadership team.
organization & spreadsheets — thanks to experience and personal interest, i have a good understanding of how to create systems for information and statistics, and an understanding of how to apply this to swc.
quality of leadership
one quality of leadership i greatly value is flexibility. the ability to adapt and go with the flow is important in a setting with as many variables and participants as swc. throughout the planning process and march’s session, i will be prepared for changes and to fulfill my responsibilities in the face of those changes. i will also look to keep my cabin compatible with the wants and needs of my campers and fellow leaders and not stress about “keeping up” with other cabins.
cabin atmosphere
a welcoming, inside-joke-filled environment, which adapts with camper feedback and prioritizes quality and fun over quantity.
(as an addition, i’m open to a competitive or a chill atmosphere — whichever the leader prefers!)
checkboxes, etc
a.
i am applying for both co and leader.
✓ i am applying only for co.
✓ i am willing to share a promotional project for swc.
b. no, there are no leadership responsibilities listed in the faq that i cannot complete
c. in the case of inactive leadership, whether by myself or by another leader on my team, i will prioritize clear communication with hosts, campers, and other leaders on what is happening, as well as attempting to contact whoever is inactive. then, i’ll work with the other members of my cabin leadership team to understand what we may need — whether a replacement leader is needed.
good morning! or evening, if you’re partial to breakfast for dinner as i am. i’m lio, a booklover, college freshman, and aspiring polymath. i am a very curious and passionate person, whose interests range from geography and worldbuilding to linguistics to infectious diseases to fashion history to cooking, and i particularly appreciate connecting all of these fixations through writing, both fiction and nonfiction. in my free time, i enjoy such activities as reading and writing (of course), hiking, drawing and painting, and rock climbing. though i can be very introverted in real life, online i am much more outgoing, and i’m always happy to chat!
at the moment, my media hyperfixations include jet lag: the game (a web game show i highly recommend everyone check out), the new percy jackson television series, and all the young dudes, the marauders fanfiction (thank you, soki, for getting me to read it). some of my current favorite musical artists are lord huron (hence the pfp and the songs in this app), lucy dacus (one member of the marvelous boygenius), and florence + the machine (whose lyrics are breathtaking and heartbreaking all at once). my favorite books are the giver by lois lowry and the locked tomb series (harrow the ninth, in particular) by tamsyn muir.
i use they/them pronouns and live in the eastern time zone (est/edt).
experience
march 2024 will be my twelfth swc session. over the past three and a half years, i’ve led three times, coled four times, and campered four times. additionally, i was a member of the daily team two times, a writing comp panelist once, and participated in the memory book committee and quails / sorting team in nine and seven sessions respectively. in fewer words, i have a lot of experience with swc, in many different roles.
previous sessions, in reverse chronological order:
november 2023 — mystery camper, led by finley, clev, and mabel
july 2023 — lit-fi coleader, with fae
march 2023 — fantasy leader, with soki and river
november 2022 — folklore coleader, with ryann, faer, and vee
july 2022 — script leader, with fae, mayhem, and piper
march 2022 — adventure leader, with finley and cettie
november 2021 — contemporary camper, led by mech, viara, and ozzie
july 2021 — horror coleader, with pi and pie
march 2021 — sci-fi coleader, with kat and soft
november 2020 — thriller camper, led by cara, wats, and cj
july 2020 — hi-fi camper, led by soft and cj
beyond swc, i started writing for fun over ten years ago with no breaks since. i have much leadership experience, including volunteering each summer beginning in 2019 as a day-camp counselor for a week, and in high school i directed several one act plays.
genres
my top recommendations for new genres are epic, episoltary, furry sleuth, memoir, and noir. other possible genres include bildungsroman, comedy, flash fiction (flash-fi), gothic fiction (goth-fi), melodrama, paranormal, saga, satire, solarpunk, spy fiction (spy-fi), surrealism, utopian, and western fiction (west-fi). as for previous genres i’d love to see return, hi-fi, bi-fi, and tragedy. wowow so many cabin possibilities!!
for the sake of cabingo, i would prefer to colead a cabin i haven’t participated in before. otherwise, i have no preference. i would be interested in coleading the cabin that will not win.
excerpt
creaks echoed through the hall, dust coated every once-shining surface, and a deep chill set over felicity. he slipped from room to room, following some lazy curiosity as a real cat might follow the scent of a mouse, or so he assumed. in all his years, the imaginary cat called felicity conditions had never met a real cat.
it was a fact which sometimes gave him deep anxiety. what if he met a real cat, and didn’t even know it? what if real cats were nothing like him? what if being an imaginary cat made all of these questions pointless? whenever unanswerable, existential questions swirled in his head, felicity followed his heart instead. as on the chilly today, he traced a path across the expanse of the mansion.
floorboards creaking and dust shifting and air chilling brought only comfort to him. he supposed he was meant to love this place. he was inherently a part of it; he never, never considered leaving. though felicity would often find himself on the roof, tiptoeing along the widow’s walk, considering himself a widow. but that word, he decided later while reading a dictionary, did not quite fit him. he was a caretaker, no doubt. perhaps a child, though it seemed he could not grow up.
once, he found the word remembrance. a warmth flooded through him, recognition immediate. felicity was remembrance, he simply knew it. he wasn’t quite sure what, exactly, it was he kept the memories of. something important. something emotional, grand. something of a family, a child, laughter and tears and mornings in the expansive library.
at unpredictable intervals, felicity would catch a glimpse of the memories. once, the smoky scent of bacon wafted through the kitchens, and felicity certainly did no cooking. another time, indecipherable whispers and intermittent giggling filled the nursery, and felicity fell asleep to the comforting warmth of childhood mischief. today, dust piled higher than ever before, a picturesque snow falling beyond the paned-glass windows, felicity sought more snippets. months had passed since he last captured one, another cause of worry.
time
throughout the month of march, i will be able to dedicate between one hour and two hours, non-consecutively, each day specifically to swc responsibilities. with the exception of midterms near the end of february, the same is true for the planning period leading up to march.
my spring break is the first week of march, though i do not have any plans during that time that would change my activity.
i cannot and will not promise all of my time to swc — after all, sleep, health, and real life come first.
time management
skills
dedication, which i have both for swc and coleading, allows me to both get a lot done on a project in a short amount of time and stick with said project for longer amounts of time. i value every minute i get to spend working on swc and don’t want to “waste” any of it with poor time management.
allotment of time is something i’ve worked on a lot the past year and a half; i’ve strengthened my proficiency with proper allocation of my time and prioritization of my tasks. with this improvement, i am more productive even under time constraints.
shortcomings
procrastination is my largest challenge, stemming from my perfectionism. it leads to tasks taking far longer than needed, but i combat it by reminding myself that doing something imperfect is better—and a better use of my time—than doing nothing at all!
distraction goes hand in hand with both procrastination and dedication. i tend to get distracted from tasks i don’t want to do or ones that make me anxious by other, more exciting or familiar tasks, and often while doing things i am passionate about i lose track of time.
recently, i have used this to my advantage, rotating through varying tasks to keep from getting bored with any one activity.
collaboration
strengths
passion — i deeply care about swc and the success of my leadership team and cabin and i value the processes and products of collaboration. this informs my every action as a team member and coleader, from working through disagreements to properly scheduling my time according to tasks.
open-mindedness — i am open to new ideas and discussion during the process of cabin planning and throughout camp. I want the cabin to reflect the work of the entire leadership team, and the camper as well, and this cannot be done without compromise and connection.
weaknesses
communication is something that, despite valuing it greatly, i am very bad at. i overthink even the simplest of messages and can be bad at interpreting others’ emotions and sharing my own. i constantly push myself over this hurdle, but it remains a weakness.
perfectionism is a symptom of my striving to be the best. i care about every tiny detail, which can lead to me taking on more than i should, rather than allowing other team members to leave their mark. i worked on overcoming this over the past year, and furthering this work remains a goal of mine in march.
assets
creativity — my ideas are constantly flowing, for new cabin concepts and activities and storylines. i want to create a cabin full of imagination and innovation by developing these with a team.
art & design skills — hand in hand with my creativity is my proficiency with art and design — i have years of experience with both as well as the ability to design a unique look for a cabin. (plus I have access to canvapro
)experience — i’ve been in swc for over three years in a variety of roles; i have the wisdom and vision that comes with such experience, as well as the desire to share both with my cabin and leadership team.
organization & spreadsheets — thanks to experience and personal interest, i have a good understanding of how to create systems for information and statistics, and an understanding of how to apply this to swc.
quality of leadership
one quality of leadership i greatly value is flexibility. the ability to adapt and go with the flow is important in a setting with as many variables and participants as swc. throughout the planning process and march’s session, i will be prepared for changes and to fulfill my responsibilities in the face of those changes. i will also look to keep my cabin compatible with the wants and needs of my campers and fellow leaders and not stress about “keeping up” with other cabins.
cabin atmosphere
a welcoming, inside-joke-filled environment, which adapts with camper feedback and prioritizes quality and fun over quantity.
(as an addition, i’m open to a competitive or a chill atmosphere — whichever the leader prefers!)
checkboxes, etc
a.
i am applying for both co and leader.
✓ i am applying only for co.
✓ i am willing to share a promotional project for swc.
b. no, there are no leadership responsibilities listed in the faq that i cannot complete
c. in the case of inactive leadership, whether by myself or by another leader on my team, i will prioritize clear communication with hosts, campers, and other leaders on what is happening, as well as attempting to contact whoever is inactive. then, i’ll work with the other members of my cabin leadership team to understand what we may need — whether a replacement leader is needed.
- RoseReef
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
About Me:
Hiya! I’m Nat, a lectiophile, bibliophile, bookworm, bibliomaniac, and literate teen! I’m also INFJ-T, in the timezone of EST, and I use she/they pronouns. I’m been scratching for about 8-9 years now, and for the past 3 years I’ve been honored to have and fulfill the joyful job of community helping.
The Scratch community is huge and awesome. There’s the Scratch Design Studios, the Scratch event studios, there is the original Scratch Camp (2017-2024) - and there are camps like the amazing SWC! As an official community helper, my job is to curate the community event studios, such as Scratch Activity Swap, Scratch Story Swap, Scratchtober, A Year In Review, Comedy Club, Scratch Week, Black History Month, Pride Month, Somewhere In Time, Spreading Kindness, Pi Day, and etc by being invited by the Scratch Team (usually @algorithmar* and @ceebee*). I take pride in my role, not only because very few scratchers can even earn it, but having the opportunity to help others out is a wonder that I enjoy very much <3
Realistically, helping people is one of the things I love most.
Besides that, some of my other hobbies are music, volleyball, art, theater, writing, baking, cooking, and of course, participating in Scratch camps. I play piano in a jazz band, and I’m going to be playing for a volleyball team this spring!
So that’s me! Thanks for reading my application, I hope you have a fabulous new year <3
- Nat
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Participation:
Ohoho ;] There are too many experiences to write a story for every one, so here’s a list - but I’ll make a section at the end for some of them <3
jan 2016 - joined Scratch
mar 2022 - SSC camper (genetics)
apr 2022 - SRC camper (sci-fi)
june 2022 - SAC camper (fandom)
july 2022 - SWC camper (non-fi)
aug 2022 - SRC leader (mystery)
oct 2022 - SAC camper
nov 2022 - SWC camper (bi-fi) & SSC Leader (medicine)
dec 2022 - SRC leader (fantasy)
jan 2023- JWC camper (rebel)
feb 2023 - SAC camper (comic)
mar 2023 - SWC camper (fan-fi, leader app was declined)
apr 2023 - SRC co (thriller) & SRC host + main cabin host
june 2023 - SAC leader (acrylic)
july 2023 - SWC leader (mystery)
aug 2023 - SRC leader (dystopian) & executive SRC host
oct 2023 - SAC co by choice (graffiti)
dec 2023 - SRC Leader (bangsian) & executive SRC host + main cabin host
feb 2024 - SAC leader (monochrome)
apr 2024 - SRC leader & executive SRC host
may 2024 - a certain ‘war’ - you’ll see soon enough ;]
In april 2022, I signed-up for my first session of SRC. Little did I know, that was the start to something big! This April will be by fourth session hosting and third session being the executive host of the reading camp. In SRC, I’ve (co)lead alongside Raya (@lokiously), Finley (@essayist), Soki (@Rey_venclaw), and Lee (@cloudy-club).
My first time leading in SWC was not my favorite session. I was offline for most of the month, and neither were my co-leaders. I regret it, and I’ve tried to move on. Last November, I co-lead with Stingray (@Whirlygig)! That experience was amazing, and it really taught me a lot aboutmanaging my time and working with others. I’m really glad I wasn’t accepted as leader again, as Horror with Stingray was an experience I’ll never forget <3
Besides Scratch camping, I have lots of experience in administrative work and supervising. I've been entrusted with many roles in the past such as student director, co-director, and co-host for a large Zoom Webinar performance, due to my skills in superintending and supervising. I have also taken quite a few writing classes, including a two-month long playwriting course from my theater and a a handful english classes from Outschool.
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Cabins:
Since I’m applying for co-leader, I don’t have any preferences! I’d love to co-lead any genre, including The Cabin That Will Not Win <3
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Excerpt:
This is an excerpt from the storyline of my favorite SRC session - Thriller Rollercoaster with Finley.
_______
“Congratulations! This is the last clue, and you've found it so fast, I underestimated you. You'll find the exit, behind a cherry nose, behind the rainbow - dressed in peculiar clothes! Find it by April's 27th at twelve, open the door that afternoon, no sooner and no later - I'll be seeing you soon.” Soki read aloud. It was the last clue, and they desperately wanted to find the exit - they couldn't stand being stuck in the Koranat Amusement Park any longer!
“Time to get brainstorming…” She grumbled, and the group started plotting out all the places the clue would lead to.
rollercoaster trapdoor - nope
hat shop - not it
ballon stand - nuh-uh
circus tent - nothing
candy stand - no
At least they were crossing things off the list. But is was 11:43am, when their big discovery happened. They were walking toward the clown tent, when Bree looked up at the sign.
“Cherry nose… a clown? I know we've said this a few times already with the other clues, but this is really similar to what it says in this last clue…” Bree says.
“Yeah, and the clown is usually dressed in colorful clothes, it could be the rainbow!” Rose says, everyone's excitement accelerating by the second.
“Let's not get our hopes up too much… but yeah, that is all true… very well could be. We just have to go in.” Soki says, pointing to the little opening in the silk flag door. She shuddered and asked, “Who should go first?”
“Maybe… YOU SHOULD!” Iri exclaimes. “Your idea, you should.” Iri says, passing her a flashlight and nodding her head furiously.
“Wait, you had that the whole time we were in that trapdoor a few minutes ago?” Skye says, palming her forehead.
“I was saving it, it has like, 3% battery.” Iri says matter-of-factly.
“Totally making be feel better,” Soki says. She then stares at the door for a moment, then starts to walk calmly-but-not-calmly toward the silk door, now rustling from a sudden and convenient wind. She sucks in a breath, and walks through the door.
The second Soki stepped through, torches that were lining the perimeter of the clown tent lit up bright, revealing an actual clown in the far end of the tent. It had its hands behind its back, a sly smile painted on its face, and a colorful jumpsuit. It cocked its head at Soki, almost mischievously. But only when the clown revealed the two sticks it was holding behind its back did Soki start looking scared.
“Guys?” Soki said, backing away. The rest of the group piled in, then froze.
“This just got real. Really fast.” Skye said.
“Thanks for rubbing it in.” Amul replied, not taking her eyes off the clown.
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Time:
This is likely the last time I’ll be applying for SWC. March is my last month that I can be really active in before I have to start some in-real-life responsibilities. Realistically, I’m on Scratch for about an hour a day and I can dedicate about 30 minutes of that toward cabin planning! I will have weekend classes, volleyball practice at night, apartment looking on weekends, jazz band rehearsals, but nothing should get in the way of me being inactive for days. I’ll still be homeschooled for March (unless things change), so I have quite a bit of time to check my Scratch, answer messages, and write for a storyline.
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Time Management Skills and Shortcomings:
Skills: 1) I'm a good organizer, I like to keep things neat and in order (to-do lists, timelines, etc, however my leader would like to organize our cabin) so things don't get messy and we have to start scrambling. 2) Even though I'm a perfectionist, I'm still pretty efficient. 3) I understand SWC < Life, and take it seriously, but I also understand that I must be active at least 4/7 days a week to fulfill my co-leader duties.
Shortcomings: 1) Yes, I procrastinate, of course I procrastinate - I think everyone has procrastinated once in their lifetime, hah. But, I do not do so for long, and I can get back on track easily and start again. 2) I do get distracted - I really try not to, but if something is more important or it's bothering me, I'll really feel the need to get that done first. The unfortunate side effects of procrastination, hah.
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Strengths, Weaknesses, & Assets:
Strengths:
Enthusiasm & Mindfulness: I genuinely want to create an amazing experience for all SWC participants! Helping and supporting others brings me absolute joy, and being able to work in that field of writing with a group and helping others would just be dream come true. On top of that, I'm very mindful of how much work my (co)leader and I have. I always make sure neither of us is burdened, and if they are, I always ask if I can be of assistance in any way, or if I can take some of the weight off their shoulders <3
Open Mindedness: I'm very open to ideas, possible changes, and I'm very receptive to new developments and modifications. I am super easygoing and I love listening to others' ideas! If my leader has a different idea than me for something, we can find a compromise or mix our ideas, or just go with one we agree on.
Weaknesses:
Perfectionism: I really need whatever I'm doing to be the ultimate best that I can. I'll really hate myself if I completed something and realized after that I should have done it a different way, or the outcome could have been better if I added this one extra thing - and I'll likely go back and fix everything all over again just because of that.
Self-doubt: I have high expectations for my own self, and if I do not meet those requirements, I'll get really frustrated and annoyed with the fact that I can't do something, or that I'm not good enough for something. I try my hardest, but sometimes I still fall down that rabbit hole of low self esteem.
Anxiousness: If something is not being completed by my (co)leader in a timely manner, or we're fast approaching a deadline and something isn't done yet, I'll get anxious and work to complete it myself if they aren't active.
Assets:
Experience & Knowledge: I have a lot of experience in Scratch camps. This would be my sixth session of SWC, and over the past couple years I've learned a lot about how the activities work, managing and developing a cabin, etc. On top of that, I have a heavy load of expertise on Scratch in general! I've been scratching for eight years now (including my past account) so I know a thing or two about it, hah. Last session, forums went down right when everyone was trying to post their writing competition entries, but I know a few Scratch team members, and I asked them to put the forums back up - and a few hours later, they were back up and running!
Helping: The one thing I probably do most on scratch is help people. In fact, my job (being a community helper) is to literally help people! I'll always be there to lend help, answer questions if I know the answer to them otherwise I'll refer it to a host (but still tell them I'm working on an answer so they don't think I'm ignoring them or being ignorant or unaware), and just be there for everyone in general. A great portion of my time is dedicated to being of support and assistance to others, and I would be more than glad to do so in SWC as well <3
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Leader Quality:
Last session I said that it was empathy and kindness, and although those are very good traits in a leader, my point of view has changed. I believe a (co)leader should have adaptability. New challenges will come often, and being able to problem solve and embrace new changes with an open mind is a great skill and quality I believe every leader should have. It's amazing if you have that ability already, but you can also learn how to be adaptable as long as you're willing to have an receptive and open mind! Being able to bend and adjust really helps when adapting to new changes/challenges in cabin development is as well, and I know I can embody that trait by embracing challenges with an open mind and finding solutions towards it rather than sticking to a rigid plan; I value a leader's open mindset and how they adapt to change <3
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Atmosphere:
I aim to have a cabin geared toward bonding friendships with other participants, but will also have an active storyline campers can read and make their own choices in! (167 characters)
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Last Questions:
A:
✖ I am applying for both leader and co
✔ I am applying for only co-leader
✔ I'm willing to share a promotional project for SWC
B:
No. I understand and agree to all conditions and responsibilities of a co-leader, and I know I can fulfill them in a timely manner! <3
C:
Firstly, I'll inform the hosts and leaders prior to my inactivity, and make sure my leader can cover my time that I'll be away (including tracking my word group and duties). Additionally, if it's for a longer and extended period of time, I shall back down as co-leader. Though, I would of course first make sure my leader has everything set before I completely leave my place - assuring all records of word counting are counted, they have studio hosts of any studio that I'm managing, etc. In the case my leader has to drop out, I will first ask the hosts how to should move forward, and see how my leader wants to progress with our roles, and move from there. If it was in the middle of the session, I would also explain it to my campers, and assure that the transition doesn't impact too much for them.
Hiya! I’m Nat, a lectiophile, bibliophile, bookworm, bibliomaniac, and literate teen! I’m also INFJ-T, in the timezone of EST, and I use she/they pronouns. I’m been scratching for about 8-9 years now, and for the past 3 years I’ve been honored to have and fulfill the joyful job of community helping.
The Scratch community is huge and awesome. There’s the Scratch Design Studios, the Scratch event studios, there is the original Scratch Camp (2017-2024) - and there are camps like the amazing SWC! As an official community helper, my job is to curate the community event studios, such as Scratch Activity Swap, Scratch Story Swap, Scratchtober, A Year In Review, Comedy Club, Scratch Week, Black History Month, Pride Month, Somewhere In Time, Spreading Kindness, Pi Day, and etc by being invited by the Scratch Team (usually @algorithmar* and @ceebee*). I take pride in my role, not only because very few scratchers can even earn it, but having the opportunity to help others out is a wonder that I enjoy very much <3
Realistically, helping people is one of the things I love most.
Besides that, some of my other hobbies are music, volleyball, art, theater, writing, baking, cooking, and of course, participating in Scratch camps. I play piano in a jazz band, and I’m going to be playing for a volleyball team this spring!
So that’s me! Thanks for reading my application, I hope you have a fabulous new year <3
- Nat
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Participation:
Ohoho ;] There are too many experiences to write a story for every one, so here’s a list - but I’ll make a section at the end for some of them <3
jan 2016 - joined Scratch
mar 2022 - SSC camper (genetics)
apr 2022 - SRC camper (sci-fi)
june 2022 - SAC camper (fandom)
july 2022 - SWC camper (non-fi)
aug 2022 - SRC leader (mystery)
oct 2022 - SAC camper
nov 2022 - SWC camper (bi-fi) & SSC Leader (medicine)
dec 2022 - SRC leader (fantasy)
jan 2023- JWC camper (rebel)
feb 2023 - SAC camper (comic)
mar 2023 - SWC camper (fan-fi, leader app was declined)
apr 2023 - SRC co (thriller) & SRC host + main cabin host
june 2023 - SAC leader (acrylic)
july 2023 - SWC leader (mystery)
aug 2023 - SRC leader (dystopian) & executive SRC host
oct 2023 - SAC co by choice (graffiti)
dec 2023 - SRC Leader (bangsian) & executive SRC host + main cabin host
feb 2024 - SAC leader (monochrome)
apr 2024 - SRC leader & executive SRC host
may 2024 - a certain ‘war’ - you’ll see soon enough ;]
In april 2022, I signed-up for my first session of SRC. Little did I know, that was the start to something big! This April will be by fourth session hosting and third session being the executive host of the reading camp. In SRC, I’ve (co)lead alongside Raya (@lokiously), Finley (@essayist), Soki (@Rey_venclaw), and Lee (@cloudy-club).
My first time leading in SWC was not my favorite session. I was offline for most of the month, and neither were my co-leaders. I regret it, and I’ve tried to move on. Last November, I co-lead with Stingray (@Whirlygig)! That experience was amazing, and it really taught me a lot aboutmanaging my time and working with others. I’m really glad I wasn’t accepted as leader again, as Horror with Stingray was an experience I’ll never forget <3
Besides Scratch camping, I have lots of experience in administrative work and supervising. I've been entrusted with many roles in the past such as student director, co-director, and co-host for a large Zoom Webinar performance, due to my skills in superintending and supervising. I have also taken quite a few writing classes, including a two-month long playwriting course from my theater and a a handful english classes from Outschool.
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Cabins:
Since I’m applying for co-leader, I don’t have any preferences! I’d love to co-lead any genre, including The Cabin That Will Not Win <3
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Excerpt:
This is an excerpt from the storyline of my favorite SRC session - Thriller Rollercoaster with Finley.
_______
“Congratulations! This is the last clue, and you've found it so fast, I underestimated you. You'll find the exit, behind a cherry nose, behind the rainbow - dressed in peculiar clothes! Find it by April's 27th at twelve, open the door that afternoon, no sooner and no later - I'll be seeing you soon.” Soki read aloud. It was the last clue, and they desperately wanted to find the exit - they couldn't stand being stuck in the Koranat Amusement Park any longer!
“Time to get brainstorming…” She grumbled, and the group started plotting out all the places the clue would lead to.
rollercoaster trapdoor - nope
hat shop - not it
ballon stand - nuh-uh
circus tent - nothing
candy stand - no
At least they were crossing things off the list. But is was 11:43am, when their big discovery happened. They were walking toward the clown tent, when Bree looked up at the sign.
“Cherry nose… a clown? I know we've said this a few times already with the other clues, but this is really similar to what it says in this last clue…” Bree says.
“Yeah, and the clown is usually dressed in colorful clothes, it could be the rainbow!” Rose says, everyone's excitement accelerating by the second.
“Let's not get our hopes up too much… but yeah, that is all true… very well could be. We just have to go in.” Soki says, pointing to the little opening in the silk flag door. She shuddered and asked, “Who should go first?”
“Maybe… YOU SHOULD!” Iri exclaimes. “Your idea, you should.” Iri says, passing her a flashlight and nodding her head furiously.
“Wait, you had that the whole time we were in that trapdoor a few minutes ago?” Skye says, palming her forehead.
“I was saving it, it has like, 3% battery.” Iri says matter-of-factly.
“Totally making be feel better,” Soki says. She then stares at the door for a moment, then starts to walk calmly-but-not-calmly toward the silk door, now rustling from a sudden and convenient wind. She sucks in a breath, and walks through the door.
The second Soki stepped through, torches that were lining the perimeter of the clown tent lit up bright, revealing an actual clown in the far end of the tent. It had its hands behind its back, a sly smile painted on its face, and a colorful jumpsuit. It cocked its head at Soki, almost mischievously. But only when the clown revealed the two sticks it was holding behind its back did Soki start looking scared.
“Guys?” Soki said, backing away. The rest of the group piled in, then froze.
“This just got real. Really fast.” Skye said.
“Thanks for rubbing it in.” Amul replied, not taking her eyes off the clown.
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Time:
This is likely the last time I’ll be applying for SWC. March is my last month that I can be really active in before I have to start some in-real-life responsibilities. Realistically, I’m on Scratch for about an hour a day and I can dedicate about 30 minutes of that toward cabin planning! I will have weekend classes, volleyball practice at night, apartment looking on weekends, jazz band rehearsals, but nothing should get in the way of me being inactive for days. I’ll still be homeschooled for March (unless things change), so I have quite a bit of time to check my Scratch, answer messages, and write for a storyline.
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Time Management Skills and Shortcomings:
Skills: 1) I'm a good organizer, I like to keep things neat and in order (to-do lists, timelines, etc, however my leader would like to organize our cabin) so things don't get messy and we have to start scrambling. 2) Even though I'm a perfectionist, I'm still pretty efficient. 3) I understand SWC < Life, and take it seriously, but I also understand that I must be active at least 4/7 days a week to fulfill my co-leader duties.
Shortcomings: 1) Yes, I procrastinate, of course I procrastinate - I think everyone has procrastinated once in their lifetime, hah. But, I do not do so for long, and I can get back on track easily and start again. 2) I do get distracted - I really try not to, but if something is more important or it's bothering me, I'll really feel the need to get that done first. The unfortunate side effects of procrastination, hah.
──── ஓ๑ ∘ ๑ஓ ────
Strengths, Weaknesses, & Assets:
Strengths:
Enthusiasm & Mindfulness: I genuinely want to create an amazing experience for all SWC participants! Helping and supporting others brings me absolute joy, and being able to work in that field of writing with a group and helping others would just be dream come true. On top of that, I'm very mindful of how much work my (co)leader and I have. I always make sure neither of us is burdened, and if they are, I always ask if I can be of assistance in any way, or if I can take some of the weight off their shoulders <3
Open Mindedness: I'm very open to ideas, possible changes, and I'm very receptive to new developments and modifications. I am super easygoing and I love listening to others' ideas! If my leader has a different idea than me for something, we can find a compromise or mix our ideas, or just go with one we agree on.
Weaknesses:
Perfectionism: I really need whatever I'm doing to be the ultimate best that I can. I'll really hate myself if I completed something and realized after that I should have done it a different way, or the outcome could have been better if I added this one extra thing - and I'll likely go back and fix everything all over again just because of that.
Self-doubt: I have high expectations for my own self, and if I do not meet those requirements, I'll get really frustrated and annoyed with the fact that I can't do something, or that I'm not good enough for something. I try my hardest, but sometimes I still fall down that rabbit hole of low self esteem.
Anxiousness: If something is not being completed by my (co)leader in a timely manner, or we're fast approaching a deadline and something isn't done yet, I'll get anxious and work to complete it myself if they aren't active.
Assets:
Experience & Knowledge: I have a lot of experience in Scratch camps. This would be my sixth session of SWC, and over the past couple years I've learned a lot about how the activities work, managing and developing a cabin, etc. On top of that, I have a heavy load of expertise on Scratch in general! I've been scratching for eight years now (including my past account) so I know a thing or two about it, hah. Last session, forums went down right when everyone was trying to post their writing competition entries, but I know a few Scratch team members, and I asked them to put the forums back up - and a few hours later, they were back up and running!
Helping: The one thing I probably do most on scratch is help people. In fact, my job (being a community helper) is to literally help people! I'll always be there to lend help, answer questions if I know the answer to them otherwise I'll refer it to a host (but still tell them I'm working on an answer so they don't think I'm ignoring them or being ignorant or unaware), and just be there for everyone in general. A great portion of my time is dedicated to being of support and assistance to others, and I would be more than glad to do so in SWC as well <3
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Leader Quality:
Last session I said that it was empathy and kindness, and although those are very good traits in a leader, my point of view has changed. I believe a (co)leader should have adaptability. New challenges will come often, and being able to problem solve and embrace new changes with an open mind is a great skill and quality I believe every leader should have. It's amazing if you have that ability already, but you can also learn how to be adaptable as long as you're willing to have an receptive and open mind! Being able to bend and adjust really helps when adapting to new changes/challenges in cabin development is as well, and I know I can embody that trait by embracing challenges with an open mind and finding solutions towards it rather than sticking to a rigid plan; I value a leader's open mindset and how they adapt to change <3
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Atmosphere:
I aim to have a cabin geared toward bonding friendships with other participants, but will also have an active storyline campers can read and make their own choices in! (167 characters)
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Last Questions:
A:
✖ I am applying for both leader and co
✔ I am applying for only co-leader
✔ I'm willing to share a promotional project for SWC
B:
No. I understand and agree to all conditions and responsibilities of a co-leader, and I know I can fulfill them in a timely manner! <3
C:
Firstly, I'll inform the hosts and leaders prior to my inactivity, and make sure my leader can cover my time that I'll be away (including tracking my word group and duties). Additionally, if it's for a longer and extended period of time, I shall back down as co-leader. Though, I would of course first make sure my leader has everything set before I completely leave my place - assuring all records of word counting are counted, they have studio hosts of any studio that I'm managing, etc. In the case my leader has to drop out, I will first ask the hosts how to should move forward, and see how my leader wants to progress with our roles, and move from there. If it was in the middle of the session, I would also explain it to my campers, and assure that the transition doesn't impact too much for them.
Last edited by RoseReef (Jan. 20, 2024 18:02:27)
- Flowerelf371
-
Scratcher
500+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
co-leader app answers
about me
Why hello there! I’m Niko, I use they/them pronouns and currently reside in the wondrous EST timezone. I’m a big lover of books, gummy candies, and tea. I am also a bit of a musical fanatic with some of my favorite shows including SIX, Wicked, and Hamilton. Onto some of my hobbies, I’m a person who likes to try and always stay busy and I’ll often begin random hobbies that will last for less than a week. Some of these short-lived hobbies include roller skating, flower pressing, and scrapbooking. For some more committed activities, I have been rock climbing for almost seven years and climb competitively. I also love crocheting, a few months ago I decided I wanted to learn to crochet and went out to buy some yarn, then spent the rest of the day watching videos and teaching myself how to do it. One of my favorite things to do now is sit down and work on some crocheting project that will probably end up turning into a gift for a friend.
I’m a big bibliophile with some of my favorite books including Six of Crows, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Silent Patient, and Caraval. I normally dive into the fantasy world which is often reflected in my writing, however I also can always enjoy a good historical fiction or realistic fiction book.
participation
This March session will be my ninth time participating in SWC, three of which include me being a part of the leadership team so far co-leading twice, and leading once.
november 2021 and july 2021 | inactive camper
march 2022 | camper | real-fi
july 2022 | camper | mystery
november 2022 | camper | mystery
march 2023 | co-leader | sci-fi
july 2023 | co-leader | poetry
november 2023 | leader | real-fi
Previously I have also led two cabins in SRC, led and co-hosted a small camp called FWC, and co-hosted SNC. Outside of Scratch, I have had various leading roles, I usually am the one to take lead in school projects and have had experience communicating and managing with other people to work on whatever assignment we have. I am also a part of Leadership Team in Stage Crew meaning I have had to instruct and watch over many small groups as we created our show’s set.
cabins
I do not have too many strong preferences for cabins however I find I work better on coming up with ideas for more fictional genres, my top pick would probably have to be Fantasy. Some genres that also pique my interest are Lit-Fi, Folklore, Script, and Thriller. I have a few base ideas for all of these cabins which could all be grown to something else depending on other people’s thoughts. I love planning and seeing camper activities and games and I think they just really add to the cabin so things like Trivia Night, collaborative tasks, and other games are all things I would like to bring to life as they can all help create a more close knit cabin that can help create friendships. And also just having a cabin with lots of storyline and progression something I really enjoy working on.
I would prefer not to co-lead TCTWNW as the competitive part of SWC is something I really like.
Excerpt
The candle danced, lightly illuminating the small room Inya had picked. The wind howled in the window attacking the house with its army of rain. Below Inya her sister would be peacefully sleeping under the covers having easily fallen asleep to the sound of the raindrops. But Inya stayed there, huddled in the corner of the attic, her candle providing little light as she furiously scribbled away in her notebook. Eventually, drowsiness would hit her and she’d have no choice but to close her eyes and fall asleep but for now she was safe.
Time Dedication
While I do not have any too large commitments in March or February they are both school months so I will have to work on balancing school work and SWC which I am positive I can do. February might be a little more busy as I will be doing a lot of training for upcoming climbing competitions but I also will have at least one time each day where I can check in and update who I’m working with. In March I have spring break and my family will be going on a trip so my activity may decrease a little however I will still be able to log on to Scratch every day just not for as long as I can at the beginning of the month.
On an average day, I think I can dedicate anywhere from thirty to multiple hours on Scratch. I quite frequently check on it but may not respond immediately and will wait until I can actually sit down and fully answer. I usually check in the morning but most of my activity comes from near midnight UTC and that’s when I can do any word-adding or answer any questions plus work on any cabin planning activities. My activity might also fluctuate depending on how urgent is for me to be on, for example, I may spend multiple hours on a Cabin Wars day but only a few minutes when there’s not anything going on. Overall I do have a few things happening but I am very confident in my ability to manage everything and I’ll be sure to notify both the hosts and whomever I’m working with about anything that may come up.
Time Management
This school year I’ve really had to work hard to be able to manage everything as my school work amount increased and I had other side projects going on, because of this I was forced to focus on learning strategies and ways to manage the limited time I have after school to finish a lot of work. While I still really struggle with procrastination and not having motivation I find ways to get things done in time and am working to balance multiple responsibilities.
Organization (advantage) -
One thing I’ll do is make a plan for the day giving me enough time to finish my work but also not forcing me to not have to work for six hours straight. I struggle a lot with not being able to keep working on a task for a long period of time which often poses a problem with any fast-approaching deadlines. I fight this weakness by managing my time in a way where I can work on something in many short intervals of time instead of doing everything at once. My usual habit when I get home from school is to write down any tasks I have to work on or get done in order of most important to least I then check each thing I finish off and doodle a little next to it which is something that can help me motivate myself further.
Procrastination (disadvantage) -
I definitely find myself procrastinating quite often, may it be on completing assignments or simply doing my laundry. The way I work I don’t constantly have energy or motivation to do things even if they’re small and instead I get hit with random bursts of inspiration. And then even once I’ve begun working I can easily get distracted by anything. I’ve had to work around this many times and I think even though I still find myself procrastinating on important tasks I can find ways to force myself to finish something. I am also a bit of a perfectionist and I’ve noticed that often when I first start something I’m very excited about it and can work on it non-stop but when something goes wrong like it always does I no longer have that motivation and struggle to finish the task.
Collaboration
So far in my experience of (co)leading three times my favorite thing has probably been getting to know new people and getting close to them as we plan our cabin. I am very open to other people’s ideas and adapting to new things and I usually have no problem changing something. However, this while sometimes can be an advantage can also be bad as I have a hard time disagreeing with someone and will just go along with anything. As I mentioned in time management I am a perfectionist and this can lead to me taking up a lot of tasks instead of evenly distributing them because I think I know how to do everything perfectly. Recently I have really worked on that and have been able to get better at allowing others to do things. As for assets, I think I’m a very organized person and can clearly communicate with others to get things done. I also consider myself a creative person and think I can bring original ideas to the table while also allowing other people’s voices to be heard.
Leader Quality
For me I consider amicability to be one of the most important leadership qualities. Just having a leader who is kind and shows it well can make all the difference, for me the biggest part is just having someone you can go to ask questions without worrying about judgments. A way I can show this is just by being there and talking to campers, this could include in the cabin or weekly check-ins that let campers do what they want and just enjoy their session.
Cabin Atmosphere
A storyline-heavy cabin where you can grow your writing skills, work on goals, and make new friends while still enjoying friendly competition. (142)
I’m interested in having a cabin with a progressive storyline that doesn’t depend on campers and instead is an additional thing that happens along with anything campers work on. This way it doesn’t put pressure on campers and also can still happen even if not all campers are active.
Checkboxes
no - I am applying for both leader and co-leader
yes - I am applying only for co-leader
yes - I am willing to share a promotional project for SWC
b. I am confident I can complete all of the responsibilities listed.
a. In the event of a fellow (co)-leader going inactive I would first contact the hosts and let them know what is happening. If I find out that I may be extremely busy I would make sure to communicate with the people I’m working with as to not catch everyone off guard.
about me
Why hello there! I’m Niko, I use they/them pronouns and currently reside in the wondrous EST timezone. I’m a big lover of books, gummy candies, and tea. I am also a bit of a musical fanatic with some of my favorite shows including SIX, Wicked, and Hamilton. Onto some of my hobbies, I’m a person who likes to try and always stay busy and I’ll often begin random hobbies that will last for less than a week. Some of these short-lived hobbies include roller skating, flower pressing, and scrapbooking. For some more committed activities, I have been rock climbing for almost seven years and climb competitively. I also love crocheting, a few months ago I decided I wanted to learn to crochet and went out to buy some yarn, then spent the rest of the day watching videos and teaching myself how to do it. One of my favorite things to do now is sit down and work on some crocheting project that will probably end up turning into a gift for a friend.
I’m a big bibliophile with some of my favorite books including Six of Crows, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Silent Patient, and Caraval. I normally dive into the fantasy world which is often reflected in my writing, however I also can always enjoy a good historical fiction or realistic fiction book.
participation
This March session will be my ninth time participating in SWC, three of which include me being a part of the leadership team so far co-leading twice, and leading once.
november 2021 and july 2021 | inactive camper
march 2022 | camper | real-fi
july 2022 | camper | mystery
november 2022 | camper | mystery
march 2023 | co-leader | sci-fi
july 2023 | co-leader | poetry
november 2023 | leader | real-fi
Previously I have also led two cabins in SRC, led and co-hosted a small camp called FWC, and co-hosted SNC. Outside of Scratch, I have had various leading roles, I usually am the one to take lead in school projects and have had experience communicating and managing with other people to work on whatever assignment we have. I am also a part of Leadership Team in Stage Crew meaning I have had to instruct and watch over many small groups as we created our show’s set.
cabins
I do not have too many strong preferences for cabins however I find I work better on coming up with ideas for more fictional genres, my top pick would probably have to be Fantasy. Some genres that also pique my interest are Lit-Fi, Folklore, Script, and Thriller. I have a few base ideas for all of these cabins which could all be grown to something else depending on other people’s thoughts. I love planning and seeing camper activities and games and I think they just really add to the cabin so things like Trivia Night, collaborative tasks, and other games are all things I would like to bring to life as they can all help create a more close knit cabin that can help create friendships. And also just having a cabin with lots of storyline and progression something I really enjoy working on.
I would prefer not to co-lead TCTWNW as the competitive part of SWC is something I really like.
Excerpt
The candle danced, lightly illuminating the small room Inya had picked. The wind howled in the window attacking the house with its army of rain. Below Inya her sister would be peacefully sleeping under the covers having easily fallen asleep to the sound of the raindrops. But Inya stayed there, huddled in the corner of the attic, her candle providing little light as she furiously scribbled away in her notebook. Eventually, drowsiness would hit her and she’d have no choice but to close her eyes and fall asleep but for now she was safe.
Time Dedication
While I do not have any too large commitments in March or February they are both school months so I will have to work on balancing school work and SWC which I am positive I can do. February might be a little more busy as I will be doing a lot of training for upcoming climbing competitions but I also will have at least one time each day where I can check in and update who I’m working with. In March I have spring break and my family will be going on a trip so my activity may decrease a little however I will still be able to log on to Scratch every day just not for as long as I can at the beginning of the month.
On an average day, I think I can dedicate anywhere from thirty to multiple hours on Scratch. I quite frequently check on it but may not respond immediately and will wait until I can actually sit down and fully answer. I usually check in the morning but most of my activity comes from near midnight UTC and that’s when I can do any word-adding or answer any questions plus work on any cabin planning activities. My activity might also fluctuate depending on how urgent is for me to be on, for example, I may spend multiple hours on a Cabin Wars day but only a few minutes when there’s not anything going on. Overall I do have a few things happening but I am very confident in my ability to manage everything and I’ll be sure to notify both the hosts and whomever I’m working with about anything that may come up.
Time Management
This school year I’ve really had to work hard to be able to manage everything as my school work amount increased and I had other side projects going on, because of this I was forced to focus on learning strategies and ways to manage the limited time I have after school to finish a lot of work. While I still really struggle with procrastination and not having motivation I find ways to get things done in time and am working to balance multiple responsibilities.
Organization (advantage) -
One thing I’ll do is make a plan for the day giving me enough time to finish my work but also not forcing me to not have to work for six hours straight. I struggle a lot with not being able to keep working on a task for a long period of time which often poses a problem with any fast-approaching deadlines. I fight this weakness by managing my time in a way where I can work on something in many short intervals of time instead of doing everything at once. My usual habit when I get home from school is to write down any tasks I have to work on or get done in order of most important to least I then check each thing I finish off and doodle a little next to it which is something that can help me motivate myself further.
Procrastination (disadvantage) -
I definitely find myself procrastinating quite often, may it be on completing assignments or simply doing my laundry. The way I work I don’t constantly have energy or motivation to do things even if they’re small and instead I get hit with random bursts of inspiration. And then even once I’ve begun working I can easily get distracted by anything. I’ve had to work around this many times and I think even though I still find myself procrastinating on important tasks I can find ways to force myself to finish something. I am also a bit of a perfectionist and I’ve noticed that often when I first start something I’m very excited about it and can work on it non-stop but when something goes wrong like it always does I no longer have that motivation and struggle to finish the task.
Collaboration
So far in my experience of (co)leading three times my favorite thing has probably been getting to know new people and getting close to them as we plan our cabin. I am very open to other people’s ideas and adapting to new things and I usually have no problem changing something. However, this while sometimes can be an advantage can also be bad as I have a hard time disagreeing with someone and will just go along with anything. As I mentioned in time management I am a perfectionist and this can lead to me taking up a lot of tasks instead of evenly distributing them because I think I know how to do everything perfectly. Recently I have really worked on that and have been able to get better at allowing others to do things. As for assets, I think I’m a very organized person and can clearly communicate with others to get things done. I also consider myself a creative person and think I can bring original ideas to the table while also allowing other people’s voices to be heard.
Leader Quality
For me I consider amicability to be one of the most important leadership qualities. Just having a leader who is kind and shows it well can make all the difference, for me the biggest part is just having someone you can go to ask questions without worrying about judgments. A way I can show this is just by being there and talking to campers, this could include in the cabin or weekly check-ins that let campers do what they want and just enjoy their session.
Cabin Atmosphere
A storyline-heavy cabin where you can grow your writing skills, work on goals, and make new friends while still enjoying friendly competition. (142)
I’m interested in having a cabin with a progressive storyline that doesn’t depend on campers and instead is an additional thing that happens along with anything campers work on. This way it doesn’t put pressure on campers and also can still happen even if not all campers are active.
Checkboxes
no - I am applying for both leader and co-leader
yes - I am applying only for co-leader
yes - I am willing to share a promotional project for SWC
b. I am confident I can complete all of the responsibilities listed.
a. In the event of a fellow (co)-leader going inactive I would first contact the hosts and let them know what is happening. If I find out that I may be extremely busy I would make sure to communicate with the people I’m working with as to not catch everyone off guard.
- booklover883322
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
Tell us about yourself!
Hi there! I’m Bookie. I go by she/her and I’m in the Mountain Standard Timezone, or MST. I’m a teenage ball of chaos who is way too obsessed with Alex Fierro and Double Trouble, so do with that information as you see fit. I mainly use this site for writing, roleplaying, and SWC. Considering the fact that I’m applying for leader in a writing camp, you can probably assume that I enjoy writing. I’m working on the first book of a trilogy at the moment and have overflowing Pinterest boards for each of the characters (I don't say this lightly). I also enjoy doing speech and debate (specifically Lincoln Douglas debate), and I’ve participated in a few tournaments. I also enjoy learning more about my country through political literacy and active involvement. I play the piano and have just barely started learning guitar and violin. All in all, I love writing, reading, and other things that involve creativity. SWC has been a huge part of my online experience and it’s brought me so much joy.
Have you previously participated in SWC? What experience do you have with writing and leadership on or off of Scratch?
Yep! I sure have! I’ve participated for about 4 years, though I don’t remember exactly how many sessions I’ve participated in. I’ve been a camper for all of them, except for one time when I co-led Fanfiction in Nov. 2022.
In terms of writing experience, I’ve been writing for several years. As mentioned in the first question, I’m working on a trilogy of novels that I hope to publish someday, and I’ve made appropriate steps to get me to this goal. I’ve had a passion for creative writing for a while. I also can write well-performing speeches and essays about a variety of topics.
(*dons fancy voice*) When it comes to other types of leadership experience, I’ve been able to have many opportunities to lead in different areas. I serve regularly at my church and have been a part of the student council at my previous church. I’ve been a part of a small student council body for an organization that specifically helped homeschooling students get needed resources. Recently, I’ve also been accepted for a youth leadership staffing position for a Christian organization that focuses on political literacy in young adults, as well as youth leadership. I’ve received training that has equipped me with the necessary knowledge and skills to properly lead one of their classes with a team of people my age. (*takes off fancy voice*) I could talk more about this class and the other ways it has equipped me in my three years of being a student, but that’s just the gist.
Which cabins would you prefer to lead?
My preferences aren’t in order, but I’d love to lead a fanfiction cabin. Some other preferences include fantasy, mystery, horror, and mythology. I have a bunch of ideas for these genres and would be able to expand them into an interactive theme that would match the vibe SWC goes for.
I would be content with any other genre, but the list above would be most preferred. My creativity would be strongest in those genres and I’d best be able to aid in creating an immersive atmosphere for the cabin.
Please provide an excerpt of your writing.
You know that whir that you hear when you’re in the car? That annoying buzz that comes from fluorescent lights? Those irritating noises that you really, really wish you could just get rid of with a snap of your fingers? Little annoyances that just oh, so inconvenience you.
Well, that’s how I feel about people.
“I don’t want words, Clance. I want results.” I hissed, looking over his report. A whole bunch of words on nothing.
He quivered in his seat as he replied, “I haven’t quite gotten results yet, ma’am. Please forgive me.”
I scoffed, “If I did forgive you, Clancey. Can I call you Clancey?” I didn’t wait for a response, “Good. Anyways, if I did forgive you, what message would that send to my people?”
“A… bad one?”
I grinned, pointing at him, “Good, you’ve got a brain inside that big head of yours. That’s exactly it.” I took a sip of the strong-smelling drink that sat in a small glass on the table next to me. I set it back down on the delicately made coaster, “What do you think they’ll do when they find out that I gave you mercy? Me, Empress Contessa, giving someone mercy.”
He fiddled with his fingers as he whispered, “Laugh?”
I giggled, beaming, “Seriously, it’s almost like you can read my mind. That’s it, once again. A good two for two score. Wow, Father would be proud. He was a telepath, y’know. Runs in the family.”
I peered into his eyes and dug deeper into his mind. His thoughts were all over the place, like a caffeinated hummingbird.
‘She’s going to kill me! No, no, I have to find a way to get out of here- but if I run, I’ll just be running away for the rest of my life! Ughh, I might as well-’
I stopped his thoughts short, shoving my own words into his head, ‘I can hear each and every one of your thoughts, Clance. Nothing in your mind is private.’ I stood up from my seat and outstretched my hand toward his face. He went pale and sweat dripped from his brow. I smirked and began the process. My thoughts swam into his mind.
‘Oh, you seem so scared.’ I remarked, sensing the pain building as more and more words pierced his mind. ‘It’ll all be over soon, Clancey. I’ve got to make an example of you. I’m sure you’ll understand. But, there is hope in your situation. You, even in your death, will continue to bolster my power. My reign over my empire. By dying, you will help me more than you ever did living.’
His eyes were those of a prisoner, and he knew then, that he wasn’t leaving that room alive.
My thoughts pushed further into his mind. You could feel the heat, just by standing in close proximity to him. The heat you feel when forging a sword, or when you’re standing next to a burning home. I’ve done both of these activities countless times and they’re both quite enjoyable.
Clance, the utter nuisance he was, soon became nothing more than sludge. A soldier of mine came in and swept up the eyesore that was in front of me.
I leaned back in my chair and looked at my secretary, “Hilda, would you mind reading me the military reports that we received today?”
She nodded shakily, “Oh, yes, of course.”
She rifled through a folder and brought out a report. She read through it, “General Victor reports good fortune in the East. He says that the army of King Howard is retreating at his command and there have been next to no casualties on our side.”
I grinned, “Oh, absolutely perfect. Everything is going exactly to plan.”
What amount of time do you expect to be able to dedicate to SWC?
I often have little bits of time throughout the day that I can dedicate to leadership activities, as well as big chunks that I’m able to take throughout the school day during breaks. During February, when planning will occur, I have no major plans that will hinder my activity greatly aside from school. The same applies to March.
What are your skills and shortcomings in time management?
I must admit that I procrastinate on certain tasks like cleaning my room or doing the dishes. I find it hard to find motivation and can get distracted easily. I’ve tried to make this better by constructing to-do lists with rewards that give me motivation, as well as making it a point to avoid distractions. It’s been a process but I’ve gotten much better at it. Cleaning my room, folding laundry, doing homework and other tasks have never really been my favorite, but thanks to encouragement from my family and from myself I can confidently say that I’ve bettered myself. I can prioritize things that are important while allowing myself to take breaks. Sometimes it gets out of hand but I’ve been improving.
What are your strengths and weaknesses working with others?
One thing that can be both a strength and a weakness is that I want to be a people pleaser. It means that I can be agreeable but I also may let my own opinions go down the drain because I want the other person or people to be happy. Other times I can try to take the lead, which does quite conflict from time to time.
What one quality do you value most in a leader?
One quality that I value in a leader is humility. This plays into everything concerning a leader. If you’re so self-absorbed, thinking you’re the greatest thing in existence, then you won’t be an effective or even likable leader. Everything that leadership requires needs humility.
What cabin atmosphere do you aim to create?
I aim to create a cabin that focuses on change, competition, and community. I want every camper to come out of this experience having improved themself. I would encourage campers to give it their all.
A: I am applying for both leader and co-leader. I am not applying only for co-leader. I am willing to share a promotional project for SWC.
B: No, I am able to fulfill all of the responsibilities well.
C: In the case of inactive leadership from myself, I would make sure to notify my cos and communicate with them how long the inactivity would be and for what reasons (if I’m able to give them. I don’t expect to be very busy in March but plans change frequently in my family and I might not be able to divulge reasons for inactivity). I would delegate tasks as needed as well. If one of my fellow leaders were to become inactive I would take on their tasks as needed and fill in wherever possible, though I wouldn’t overstep my role and what was assigned to me.
Hi there! I’m Bookie. I go by she/her and I’m in the Mountain Standard Timezone, or MST. I’m a teenage ball of chaos who is way too obsessed with Alex Fierro and Double Trouble, so do with that information as you see fit. I mainly use this site for writing, roleplaying, and SWC. Considering the fact that I’m applying for leader in a writing camp, you can probably assume that I enjoy writing. I’m working on the first book of a trilogy at the moment and have overflowing Pinterest boards for each of the characters (I don't say this lightly). I also enjoy doing speech and debate (specifically Lincoln Douglas debate), and I’ve participated in a few tournaments. I also enjoy learning more about my country through political literacy and active involvement. I play the piano and have just barely started learning guitar and violin. All in all, I love writing, reading, and other things that involve creativity. SWC has been a huge part of my online experience and it’s brought me so much joy.
Have you previously participated in SWC? What experience do you have with writing and leadership on or off of Scratch?
Yep! I sure have! I’ve participated for about 4 years, though I don’t remember exactly how many sessions I’ve participated in. I’ve been a camper for all of them, except for one time when I co-led Fanfiction in Nov. 2022.
In terms of writing experience, I’ve been writing for several years. As mentioned in the first question, I’m working on a trilogy of novels that I hope to publish someday, and I’ve made appropriate steps to get me to this goal. I’ve had a passion for creative writing for a while. I also can write well-performing speeches and essays about a variety of topics.
(*dons fancy voice*) When it comes to other types of leadership experience, I’ve been able to have many opportunities to lead in different areas. I serve regularly at my church and have been a part of the student council at my previous church. I’ve been a part of a small student council body for an organization that specifically helped homeschooling students get needed resources. Recently, I’ve also been accepted for a youth leadership staffing position for a Christian organization that focuses on political literacy in young adults, as well as youth leadership. I’ve received training that has equipped me with the necessary knowledge and skills to properly lead one of their classes with a team of people my age. (*takes off fancy voice*) I could talk more about this class and the other ways it has equipped me in my three years of being a student, but that’s just the gist.
Which cabins would you prefer to lead?
My preferences aren’t in order, but I’d love to lead a fanfiction cabin. Some other preferences include fantasy, mystery, horror, and mythology. I have a bunch of ideas for these genres and would be able to expand them into an interactive theme that would match the vibe SWC goes for.
I would be content with any other genre, but the list above would be most preferred. My creativity would be strongest in those genres and I’d best be able to aid in creating an immersive atmosphere for the cabin.
Please provide an excerpt of your writing.
You know that whir that you hear when you’re in the car? That annoying buzz that comes from fluorescent lights? Those irritating noises that you really, really wish you could just get rid of with a snap of your fingers? Little annoyances that just oh, so inconvenience you.
Well, that’s how I feel about people.
“I don’t want words, Clance. I want results.” I hissed, looking over his report. A whole bunch of words on nothing.
He quivered in his seat as he replied, “I haven’t quite gotten results yet, ma’am. Please forgive me.”
I scoffed, “If I did forgive you, Clancey. Can I call you Clancey?” I didn’t wait for a response, “Good. Anyways, if I did forgive you, what message would that send to my people?”
“A… bad one?”
I grinned, pointing at him, “Good, you’ve got a brain inside that big head of yours. That’s exactly it.” I took a sip of the strong-smelling drink that sat in a small glass on the table next to me. I set it back down on the delicately made coaster, “What do you think they’ll do when they find out that I gave you mercy? Me, Empress Contessa, giving someone mercy.”
He fiddled with his fingers as he whispered, “Laugh?”
I giggled, beaming, “Seriously, it’s almost like you can read my mind. That’s it, once again. A good two for two score. Wow, Father would be proud. He was a telepath, y’know. Runs in the family.”
I peered into his eyes and dug deeper into his mind. His thoughts were all over the place, like a caffeinated hummingbird.
‘She’s going to kill me! No, no, I have to find a way to get out of here- but if I run, I’ll just be running away for the rest of my life! Ughh, I might as well-’
I stopped his thoughts short, shoving my own words into his head, ‘I can hear each and every one of your thoughts, Clance. Nothing in your mind is private.’ I stood up from my seat and outstretched my hand toward his face. He went pale and sweat dripped from his brow. I smirked and began the process. My thoughts swam into his mind.
‘Oh, you seem so scared.’ I remarked, sensing the pain building as more and more words pierced his mind. ‘It’ll all be over soon, Clancey. I’ve got to make an example of you. I’m sure you’ll understand. But, there is hope in your situation. You, even in your death, will continue to bolster my power. My reign over my empire. By dying, you will help me more than you ever did living.’
His eyes were those of a prisoner, and he knew then, that he wasn’t leaving that room alive.
My thoughts pushed further into his mind. You could feel the heat, just by standing in close proximity to him. The heat you feel when forging a sword, or when you’re standing next to a burning home. I’ve done both of these activities countless times and they’re both quite enjoyable.
Clance, the utter nuisance he was, soon became nothing more than sludge. A soldier of mine came in and swept up the eyesore that was in front of me.
I leaned back in my chair and looked at my secretary, “Hilda, would you mind reading me the military reports that we received today?”
She nodded shakily, “Oh, yes, of course.”
She rifled through a folder and brought out a report. She read through it, “General Victor reports good fortune in the East. He says that the army of King Howard is retreating at his command and there have been next to no casualties on our side.”
I grinned, “Oh, absolutely perfect. Everything is going exactly to plan.”
What amount of time do you expect to be able to dedicate to SWC?
I often have little bits of time throughout the day that I can dedicate to leadership activities, as well as big chunks that I’m able to take throughout the school day during breaks. During February, when planning will occur, I have no major plans that will hinder my activity greatly aside from school. The same applies to March.
What are your skills and shortcomings in time management?
I must admit that I procrastinate on certain tasks like cleaning my room or doing the dishes. I find it hard to find motivation and can get distracted easily. I’ve tried to make this better by constructing to-do lists with rewards that give me motivation, as well as making it a point to avoid distractions. It’s been a process but I’ve gotten much better at it. Cleaning my room, folding laundry, doing homework and other tasks have never really been my favorite, but thanks to encouragement from my family and from myself I can confidently say that I’ve bettered myself. I can prioritize things that are important while allowing myself to take breaks. Sometimes it gets out of hand but I’ve been improving.
What are your strengths and weaknesses working with others?
One thing that can be both a strength and a weakness is that I want to be a people pleaser. It means that I can be agreeable but I also may let my own opinions go down the drain because I want the other person or people to be happy. Other times I can try to take the lead, which does quite conflict from time to time.
What one quality do you value most in a leader?
One quality that I value in a leader is humility. This plays into everything concerning a leader. If you’re so self-absorbed, thinking you’re the greatest thing in existence, then you won’t be an effective or even likable leader. Everything that leadership requires needs humility.
What cabin atmosphere do you aim to create?
I aim to create a cabin that focuses on change, competition, and community. I want every camper to come out of this experience having improved themself. I would encourage campers to give it their all.
A: I am applying for both leader and co-leader. I am not applying only for co-leader. I am willing to share a promotional project for SWC.
B: No, I am able to fulfill all of the responsibilities well.
C: In the case of inactive leadership from myself, I would make sure to notify my cos and communicate with them how long the inactivity would be and for what reasons (if I’m able to give them. I don’t expect to be very busy in March but plans change frequently in my family and I might not be able to divulge reasons for inactivity). I would delegate tasks as needed as well. If one of my fellow leaders were to become inactive I would take on their tasks as needed and fill in wherever possible, though I wouldn’t overstep my role and what was assigned to me.
- -_Flower-_Petals-_
-
Scratcher
42 posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
About me
Hello, and welcome to my (co)leader app! I go by El (although I’ll probably change that soon) and use she/her. I’m a moody and ambitious teen that lives in America with CST (central standard time zone). I usually have really short answers to questions but in reality I’m a decently reserved chatterbox that could bring up the most random topics or references.
Along with the basics I mentioned a moment ago, I am a very active person (half the time *cough cough*). I take three dance classes a week, I’m currently a brown belt in martial arts, and have a lengthy list of other hobbies (including forensic science)! Going over my hobbies in excruciating detail when asked about is one of my specialties so I apologize in advance.
To summarize my introduction, I’m a huge procrastinator that hates apples, talks wayyy too much, and could probably list a ton of other things but I’ll stop myself here. On to the next question! *glitter and sparkles*
2 Experience
Although I have tried to become a co-leader for SWC 7 times, I have always been a camper. Originally, each time I ended up as a camper I always asked myself, “What did I do wrong?” More recently, I have started to think about it in a more positive mindset and instead ask, “What can I improve?” Through each experience, I am becoming more aware and hope to accurately show who I am. With other camps, I led once for camp Astrophilia.
APPS
A Galactic Interview - July 2021
Head In The Clouds - March 2022
Feathers - July 2022
Blur - November 2022
Detail - March 2023
Biomes - July 2023
Fish - November 2023
SESSIONS I WAS IN ACTIVELY
March 2021 in Adventure,
November 2022 in Real-Fi,
July 2023 in Tragedy,
November 2023 in Real-Fi,
one more I think but I can’t find it :’)
3 cabin preference
While I would enjoy co-leading any cabin, here is a small list of some of my favorite genres (not in any particular order)!
Mythology, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Dystopian
I’ll include my idea for dystopian as my excerpt
While I’m generally a competitive person, I wouldn’t mind being in the Cabin that Will Not Win.
4 excerpt
After all went well with the rebellion, there was a moment of silence. The government was gone and suddenly the fog had lifted, the chains broken. Although this moment was beautiful and sweet, it didn’t last very long. After a few seconds had passed, people realized that there was nothing to control them, leaving some in a craze and others preparing to become the new iron fist.
It was almost its own beauty, in a way. The sound of people being free, the shuffling and shoving, the howls of trying to unite a community and consider them to all be the same. Regardless, you can’t deny that history could repeat from such chaos. Something would need to be done soon, but who would ever be up for such a task?
5 time dedication
When it comes to time dedication, I can assume that I’m able to be on scratch consistently for 1-2 hours depending on the day. Keep in mind this is in total. Overall, I’m available and can check scratch often from 3:00-8:00PM (unless I have dance which is on Monday and Thursday) along with 9:00AM-8:00PM on weekends. Other than dance, I might get into my school musical which wont affect it unless I have to be on stage (otherwise I’m usually waiting while others work on their scene).
6 time management
Since I mentioned my procrastination earlier, why not talk about it now? I think many can agree that procrastination is a common issue that I myself face. Knowing that I’ll be in highschool next year, this is something I try my best to work on and hopefully my good grades are a small sign of improvement. Going hand in hand with this, I’m super ambitious. While this could be a good thing, it often creates unnecessary work. This is one of the reasons I chose to be a co-leader, hoping that the role will help me watch how extreme I get with tasks and that the others can help me simplify what I’m doing if needed.
On the other hand, being in 8th grade has taught me certain skills to help with timing. I am often able to turn things in on time, especially if it's something I enjoy. I also try to break whatever I’m doing into sections to make it easier to accomplish (something I forgot to do for this). Finally, being in martial arts and dance has helped me persevere through confusing or upsetting situations.
7 strength and weakness w others
I’m… cool?
Hello, and welcome to my (co)leader app! I go by El (although I’ll probably change that soon) and use she/her. I’m a moody and ambitious teen that lives in America with CST (central standard time zone). I usually have really short answers to questions but in reality I’m a decently reserved chatterbox that could bring up the most random topics or references.
Along with the basics I mentioned a moment ago, I am a very active person (half the time *cough cough*). I take three dance classes a week, I’m currently a brown belt in martial arts, and have a lengthy list of other hobbies (including forensic science)! Going over my hobbies in excruciating detail when asked about is one of my specialties so I apologize in advance.
To summarize my introduction, I’m a huge procrastinator that hates apples, talks wayyy too much, and could probably list a ton of other things but I’ll stop myself here. On to the next question! *glitter and sparkles*
2 Experience
Although I have tried to become a co-leader for SWC 7 times, I have always been a camper. Originally, each time I ended up as a camper I always asked myself, “What did I do wrong?” More recently, I have started to think about it in a more positive mindset and instead ask, “What can I improve?” Through each experience, I am becoming more aware and hope to accurately show who I am. With other camps, I led once for camp Astrophilia.
APPS
A Galactic Interview - July 2021
Head In The Clouds - March 2022
Feathers - July 2022
Blur - November 2022
Detail - March 2023
Biomes - July 2023
Fish - November 2023
SESSIONS I WAS IN ACTIVELY
March 2021 in Adventure,
November 2022 in Real-Fi,
July 2023 in Tragedy,
November 2023 in Real-Fi,
one more I think but I can’t find it :’)
3 cabin preference
While I would enjoy co-leading any cabin, here is a small list of some of my favorite genres (not in any particular order)!
Mythology, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Dystopian
I’ll include my idea for dystopian as my excerpt
While I’m generally a competitive person, I wouldn’t mind being in the Cabin that Will Not Win.
4 excerpt
After all went well with the rebellion, there was a moment of silence. The government was gone and suddenly the fog had lifted, the chains broken. Although this moment was beautiful and sweet, it didn’t last very long. After a few seconds had passed, people realized that there was nothing to control them, leaving some in a craze and others preparing to become the new iron fist.
It was almost its own beauty, in a way. The sound of people being free, the shuffling and shoving, the howls of trying to unite a community and consider them to all be the same. Regardless, you can’t deny that history could repeat from such chaos. Something would need to be done soon, but who would ever be up for such a task?
5 time dedication
When it comes to time dedication, I can assume that I’m able to be on scratch consistently for 1-2 hours depending on the day. Keep in mind this is in total. Overall, I’m available and can check scratch often from 3:00-8:00PM (unless I have dance which is on Monday and Thursday) along with 9:00AM-8:00PM on weekends. Other than dance, I might get into my school musical which wont affect it unless I have to be on stage (otherwise I’m usually waiting while others work on their scene).
6 time management
Since I mentioned my procrastination earlier, why not talk about it now? I think many can agree that procrastination is a common issue that I myself face. Knowing that I’ll be in highschool next year, this is something I try my best to work on and hopefully my good grades are a small sign of improvement. Going hand in hand with this, I’m super ambitious. While this could be a good thing, it often creates unnecessary work. This is one of the reasons I chose to be a co-leader, hoping that the role will help me watch how extreme I get with tasks and that the others can help me simplify what I’m doing if needed.
On the other hand, being in 8th grade has taught me certain skills to help with timing. I am often able to turn things in on time, especially if it's something I enjoy. I also try to break whatever I’m doing into sections to make it easier to accomplish (something I forgot to do for this). Finally, being in martial arts and dance has helped me persevere through confusing or upsetting situations.
7 strength and weakness w others
I’m… cool?
- -_Flower-_Petals-_
-
Scratcher
42 posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
(CONTINUATION)
Although I could just say that I work well by myself and with others, some people just aren’t my cup of tea. Fortunately, everyone I have met so far in SWC has been awesome. Regardless, I usually have a very strong opinion on things. My family always thinks I’d be a lawyer, arguing for why my view is the correct one. I also have the opposite, being indecisive at other times. Working with others has forced me to listen to them though, which I hope has made me more open-minded for the future.
With the positive side, I’m often optimistic (even if I’m jokingly pessimistic) and enjoy working with others usually. Even with different views, being in groups allows more creativity and better results, having multiple minds instead of one (I definitely worded that wrong). Additionally, I love helping people out and always thought of becoming a teacher.
8 leader quality
As noted multiple times throughout my application, I do highly value improvement, but there is one trait I have noticed as something more important to me recently. Having awareness about not only yourself, but also those around you is something I believe allows one to recognize what needs to be improved. It is one thing to hear what people say about you, but awareness is the ability to acknowledge it and use it to successfully change. With awareness, you can also notice how other people may feel. As a person, I know that when someone recognizes your upset and shows they are aware, it means a lot.
Having explained the quality that I value, I also hope to embody it. In the present and future I will do my best to connect myself and others to previous experiences, trying to reflect off of the past to help understand what I can do to improve myself and the community.
9 cabin atmosphere
A unique experience that allows the campers to get involved in fun activities related to the scenario
10 check the box+
I am applying for both leader and co-leader.
I am applying for co-leader only.
I am willing to share a promotional project for SWC.
I am able to complete all leadership responsibilities listed.
In case I were to leave, I would first make sure that my fellow (co)leaders are aware of it along with the campers. I would also ensure that they are able to manage it and if not I would contact one of the hosts to see if someone was able to fill in for me. If it was one of the others leaving, I would try to find a time to discuss with the other (co)leaders to discover a plan to manage the cabin without the one planning to leave. If we were unaware with it or if it was sudden, I would contact one of the hosts if we needed assistance.
Although I could just say that I work well by myself and with others, some people just aren’t my cup of tea. Fortunately, everyone I have met so far in SWC has been awesome. Regardless, I usually have a very strong opinion on things. My family always thinks I’d be a lawyer, arguing for why my view is the correct one. I also have the opposite, being indecisive at other times. Working with others has forced me to listen to them though, which I hope has made me more open-minded for the future.
With the positive side, I’m often optimistic (even if I’m jokingly pessimistic) and enjoy working with others usually. Even with different views, being in groups allows more creativity and better results, having multiple minds instead of one (I definitely worded that wrong). Additionally, I love helping people out and always thought of becoming a teacher.
8 leader quality
As noted multiple times throughout my application, I do highly value improvement, but there is one trait I have noticed as something more important to me recently. Having awareness about not only yourself, but also those around you is something I believe allows one to recognize what needs to be improved. It is one thing to hear what people say about you, but awareness is the ability to acknowledge it and use it to successfully change. With awareness, you can also notice how other people may feel. As a person, I know that when someone recognizes your upset and shows they are aware, it means a lot.
Having explained the quality that I value, I also hope to embody it. In the present and future I will do my best to connect myself and others to previous experiences, trying to reflect off of the past to help understand what I can do to improve myself and the community.
9 cabin atmosphere
A unique experience that allows the campers to get involved in fun activities related to the scenario
10 check the box+
I am applying for both leader and co-leader.
I am applying for co-leader only.
I am willing to share a promotional project for SWC.
I am able to complete all leadership responsibilities listed.
In case I were to leave, I would first make sure that my fellow (co)leaders are aware of it along with the campers. I would also ensure that they are able to manage it and if not I would contact one of the hosts to see if someone was able to fill in for me. If it was one of the others leaving, I would try to find a time to discuss with the other (co)leaders to discover a plan to manage the cabin without the one planning to leave. If we were unaware with it or if it was sudden, I would contact one of the hosts if we needed assistance.
- -NightGlow-
-
Scratcher
1000+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
Alana's Secret Grotto ᨒ SWC Leader App
word count - 2967 words
About Me:
Hi! I’m Alana (she/her), though I know that some of you think that I’m a banana hehe (and I assure you I’m not!). This aside, I’m a proud ENFJ-T who resides in the (b)EST time zone. As an extrovert, I’m always looking for new opportunities to pursue and explore the things that I love; which basically encompasses a majority of my hobbies. Music and dance are my life and soul - they have been a part of my life from the very start, and I honestly cannot imagine my life without them <3 Starting dance at the age of 3, I’ve got to say that it has been one bumpy ride. Regardless, it truly has been one of the best decisions I’ve made, and I am so grateful to have the support from my family to continue with it through all these years. Coming to music, it’s always been an active side passion of mine. I try to get involved with my school’s music program and play instruments outside of school because I find that it lets me relax and take some time for myself.
Apart from dance and music, some of my other hobbies include: participating in STEAM-related activities, graphic design, coding, scrapbooking, and watercolor painting. Additionally, in my free time I can often be seen reading a good book or trying to work on a specific aspect of my writing (I tend to write poems + short stories, but also love trying out new techniques and forms!). This being said, some of my favorite books are: A Song Called Home, A Wish in the Dark, The War That Saved My Life, Song of Achilles, and I Fell in Love with Hope - all of which are written in the genres that I prefer to write in. Since I have more exposure to the genres Fantasy, Hi-Fi, Real-Fi, Mystery, and Sci-Fi, I tend to write in these genres because I feel more comfortable writing in them (though like I said before, I would be willing to try writing in a different genre as I believe that you can learn a lot of new things when trying to write from a different perspective/style).
Previous Participation:
The coming session of March 2024 will be my 5th session of SWC - the other sessions I’ve participated in being:
November 2022: Naan-Fi Breadhouse
Led by: Daisy (@mydoggiedaisy), Birdi (@Bellevue91), and Sophie (@i_like_kotlc)
Role: Camper
March 2023: Non-Fi Fossil Dig
Co-led with: Finley (@essayist), and Waterfall (@129waterfall)
Role: Leader
July 2023: War Between Two ❃ Myth
Co-led with: Wren (@krizpii)
Role: Leader
November 2023: Script Misfits
Co-led with: Recca (@27coding_crazy), and Indigo (@koolkatz38)
Role: Leader
Outside of SWC, I’m always looking for opportunities to work on my leadership skills - whether that be within a classroom setting, leading my own club, or taking on new opportunities, I tend to be eager to try new things to help myself grow as a person <3 This summer, I was a camp counselor at a summer camp where I spent time with kids: leading crafts, playing games, and going on field trips. Additionally, I’m also planning to start out a new public speaking initiative at my school to help promote confidence and encourage everyone to share their voice (hopefully we’ll get an update on how this is going on my next app ;D). Aside from this, I also try to take a leadership role within group projects to ensure that we have a sense of direction to stay on track and to get everything completed on time <3
Dedication:
During the month of March, I will be busy with school as well as the extracurricular activities I take part in, but I can ensure that I will have the time to participate as an active member of the SWC leadership team. Currently, I’m amidst exam season, which is why I am not able to dedicate enough time as I would like to, but starting from February, I will be able to contribute 2 - 3 hours to SWC on weekdays, and more on weekends (give or take, but I’ll definitely log on for at least 2 hours).
Now taking a look at February and March, I do not have any conflicts that would limit my activity (from what I’m currently aware), but if something were to unexpectedly happen, I would let the hosts, leadership team, as well as my (co)leaders know so that the appropriate measures can be taken to ensure everything functions as smoothly as possible. As of now, those two months will be the start of my second semester, meaning that the workload will be manageable. Additionally, I have spring break during the second week of March, which will give me more time to spend with my cabin, get to know my campers, and work on storyline elements.
Above all, I understand that life > SWC and will undoubtedly notify my leaders if I ever feel the need to take a break due to something happening IRL or if I will be experiencing any form of inactivity. I will also make it a point to ensure my campers and (co)leaders understand this so that everyone can have an unforgettable experience filled with cherished memories <3
Genres:
For the upcoming session of SWC, I would genuinely be comfortable leading any of the cabins in the lineup as we have gotten a lot of new additions over these past two sessions, and I would love to be a part of bringing them to life <3 Although there are some cabins I would prefer not to lead/would be less comfortable leading, I would like to take this opportunity to also try something new and perhaps find a new passion for a completely different genre than what I’m used to.
This session, my first cabin preference would be for Fairytales, as I have already brainstormed some ideas. Although it might be a bit storyline-heavy, I believe that it will be a great opportunity for campers to “experience life in a fairytale” while making closer bonds with everyone in the cabin. This is actually a cabin that I’ve been planning for the past 8 months now hehe (I’ve been holding off on it for a bit, but I think it’s finally time to bring it to life
), which is why some of you may recognize me mentioning this idea in the past!Trapped in a Fairytale:
- While campers are venturing into the forest, they notice a book lying face up in the sunlight. When they proceed to open it, everything goes dark and they find themselves in a different universe - a magical realm like no other.
- The campers need to work together to collect all the keys from different fairy tales (by solving puzzles in each fairytale: Alice in Wonderland, the Little Mermaid, Aladdin, the Ice Queen, etc.) As the campers make their way through different fairy tales, they will meet new people - allies and foes, and earn new features as they get closer to accomplishing their mission
Aside from Fairy Tales, I would be open to leading Bi-Fi, Fantasy, Fan-Fi, and Mystery (in order of preference) as I have spent the last two sessions experimenting with them, and now feel comfortable using them! However, I would still prefer to lead Fairy Tales, as I have more ideas planned out for that cabin ;D
There are no cabins that I would “not like to lead” this session, as I’ve come to the realization that all of them are special and unique in their own way! Although this is true, if possible, I would prefer not to lead Non-Fi, Myth, or Script as these are cabins that I’ve led in the past, and would like to see all the amazing ideas someone else cabin bring to these genres <3
Cabin theme ideas:
- Trapped in a Fairytale
- Bi-Fi Minion Mania
- Fan-Fi: Battle of the Bands
- Mystery: The Ice Kingdom
- Folklore: Vanishing Tales
- Hi-Fi: Fallen Ruins
- Real-Fi: Money Heist
- Tragedy: Forgotten Heir
- Classics: The Boba Tavern
As for TCTWNW, I would like to stick with a competitive-based cabin this session, as it’s one of the numerous aspects I look forward to in SWC.
Collaboration:
When looking at collaboration, some of my strengths are:
- Ability to listen to others and take their ideas into consideration: When working on a group project, I always try my best to listen to others to hear what they have to say. By doing this, I hope to create a safe environment where everyone can feel comfortable sharing their ideas - when people have a fear of their ideas constantly being “shot down”, they will be less likely to share what they have to say. I have learned that everyone has something valuable to contribute and that it is vital to ensure that everyone feels like their voice is heard. To do this, I often encourage people to share their own ideas so that we can hear all the different perspectives, and come up with something new and original - something that wouldn’t have been possible if not everyone’s opinions were considered.
- Working well with anyone: I find that I can manage to collaborate with anyone - whether they’re one of my closest friends, or perhaps someone I don’t get along with as much, I always put those issues aside and ensure that it does not impact the project. I want to ensure that all ideas are valued evenly - I am not going to choose one thought over another just because someone’s my friend. My goal is to help everyone have a fun time, and to do that, yes, at times I’ll need to put aside my differences with people and still collaborate. By showing people that what they have to say matters, I hope to make more lasting friendships with both new and old friends <3
Now coming to some weaknesses:
- Getting a bit annoyed if things aren’t carried out as I envision them: For group projects, or any project really, I always carry a vision that I’d like to follow through with. I’ll assign tasks to people based on their interests, but I do sometimes worry that they will be of “lesser” quality than I had envisioned. Obviously, this is not true, because people put in a lot of effort into what they do <3 This being said, I’ve slowly come to accept that everyone has their own way of doing things, and the outcome is not always going to end up how I envisioned - but that’s ok. That’s what being a leader means; being able to accept, support, and continue pushing forward as a team no matter what obstacles come your way <3
Assets I will bring to the leadership team:
- Organized: I like to keep a to-do list to keep track of everything that I need to do so that nothing is overlooked. By doing this, I can remind myself as well as others of when certain things are due so that we can get everything accomplished on time. Additionally, I also like to set daily to-do list goals to ensure that I can prioritize what needs to be done, and when to help me better manage my time. Coming to a group setting, I try to assign tasks based on what people are passionate about/interested in so that they will enjoy working on it and feel a sense of ownership of the task
- Adaptability/creativity: I honestly think that these two traits just go hand in hand - there are always going to be times when things don’t work out, and you need to be able to adapt. I have done that a lot of times whether it be for overambitious leader apps or school projects - the truth is, I’ve come to realize just how important it is to be able to think quickly on your feet. If something doesn’t work out, I like to try to think of an ingenuitive way to solve the problem - maybe combining ideas, or simplifying some things to make the goal reachable for everyone. Whenever I start a project, I also put some backup plans into place (as well as some “good-to-adds”) that are just there in case something unexpected happens. Life is unpredictable, and I understand that - that’s why I believe being able to adapt is a valuable asset in the leadership team.
Time Management:
Strengths:
- Keeping an organized schedule: One of my biggest strengths is keeping an organized schedule, something that I’ve been trying to upkeep for the past few years. Creating to-do lists has kind of become second nature to me, and I find that making them also gives me a sense of accomplishment when I can “check something off”. Although I realize that obstacles will come up from time to time, I try my best to plan accordingly to ensure that nothing gets negatively impacted
- Thinking quickly on my feet: Life is pretty much unpredictable, one thing everything will seem fine, but the next day you’ll be flooded with assignments. I’ve come to learn that there’s only so much you can do to stay prepared, which is why I value my ability to adapt and think quickly on my feet. I’d like to say that I’m good at thinking of alternatives when things don’t go right the first way, and being able to do this generally just broadens my perspective on all the endless possibilities - when working on any project, I like to leave all the brainstormed ideas together just in case a backup needs to come in place. By doing this, the quality of the project isn’t lost - it’ll still have the creative aspect that makes it special <3
Weaknesses:
- Need for perfection: As a proud perfectionist, I kind of have a vision for how I’d like everything to be - and sometimes these visions are very unrealistic. Due to this, I sometimes turn even the simplest tasks into these huge projects, which causes me to stress out over something that might not matter as much. I think that this is probably because I set a really high bar for myself and keep wanting to push above that. Although it does help me grow as a person, I find that it’s not really the best method to do so. Instead, I’ve tried compromising on certain things to ensure that I can go for “bigger” ideas but still keep them realistic based on the time I have available on my schedule. Rather than just spending endless hours on one assignment, I will be setting more realistic goals that I can achieve. That doesn’t mean that I won’t spend time doing an ambitious project, just that I’ll pace myself out more to avoid burnout <3
- Taking on too much: This kind of goes hand in hand with what I mentioned above, but when I have a vision I always want to see it through. This causes me to take on a bit more than I can handle which isn’t always healthy. In 2023 I worked on this skill a lot, and have seen immense improvement - but there’s still a lot more to do. I have tried to split my time between all the things I need to do to create a better work-life balance, not only to reduce stress, but to also feel more mentally prepared to take on the challenges a new day has to bring! ;D
One Word to Describe:
There are many traits that make up a leader, but the one I believe that is the most important to have is “adaptability”. A leader must realize that things won’t always go as planned, and to fully understand that, one must come to terms with it. I will embody this trait by ensuring that I will adapt to the needs of my (co)leaders - since the fairy tale idea I have requires a lot of planning, I think it’s important for me to also realize that it’s ok if things don’t work out as expected. All that matters is how you pick yourself up and keep going when things get tough. No one always succeeds - there is always room for improvement and mistakes from time to time help us realize that. By being open to adaptation and change, I can also become a more open-minded leader. Not just in terms of leadership, but also in terms of being a better listener. As a leader I will take everyone’s ideas into consideration when making a final decision - a leader must be able to adapt, not just sticking with what they’re comfortable with, but also ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and included in the final product. By doing this, I hope that others can feel more ready to voice their opinions and get comfortable in a leadership position <3
Cabin Atmosphere:
Fairy tales has a competitive, yet immersive storyline where campers join forces to support each other through their writing journey. Campers will build a sense of community while gaining confidence. (199 characters)
Checklist:
✓ I am applying for both leader and co-leader
✓ I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC
I am applying for only co-leader
B. No, I can complete all of the responsibilities for a (co)leader that have been listed in the FAQ of the project.
C. In the event I have to go inactive for whatever reason, I will contact the hosts and my (co)leaders as soon as possible so that appropriate accommodations can be made to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. In the event that one of my (co)leaders are inactive, I will try contacting them via profile comments and other places around Scratch. If I still don’t get a response from them, I will take the matter to the hosts and discuss what other next steps I should consider.
Last edited by -NightGlow- (Jan. 21, 2024 05:25:07)
- TheBibliophile7
-
Scratcher
500+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
about me (nickname, pronouns, timezone)
hey there! if you don’t know me, i’m reese – a friendly canonical crow and lizard, among other things <3 you can usually find me hiding between bookshelves or curled up in the corner of the couch with some sort of book in my hands, or perhaps in an armchair late at night – i do my best thinking at midnight, quite honestly. the written world was my first love, and as of now, my favorite books are i fell in love with hope, babel, and six of crows, but i’ll happily snatch up a john green, rick riordan, or marie lu story anyday.
if reading was my first love, then music is my second. it’s come to my attention recently the full extent of how much music i listen to on a daily basis, particularly taylor swift. but my recent obsessions also include maisie peters, hozier, and gracie abrams.
a few other random hobbies of mine include forensics (currently in sales – essentially i get to try and convince people to buy a product), making friendship bracelets, learning latin, going down random musical rabbit holes ( …descendants – i affectionately blame you for that one aliazard <3), and playing soccer!
here’s to another fantastic swc session – can’t wait to spend it with yall <33
experience (in swc, leadership/writing in & out of swc)
so far i’ve participated in four sessions of swc:
nov ‘22 - naan-fi breadhouse; led by daisy, birdi, and sophie
mar ‘23 - dystopian dynasty; co-led with moonsy (mbc member)
july ‘23 - folklore long pond studios; co-led with skye and aspen (mbc member)
nov ‘23 - script misfits; led by alana, recca, and indigo (hosted mbc)
each session has taught me more about writing, and more importantly, myself. with naan-fi, i learned to take time for myself, and that it was okay to put your personal wellbeing before your work. in dystopian, moonsy taught me how to lead and how to be confident in myself. with folklore, i learned that it’s okay for things not to go perfectly, and i learned how to communicate easier. in script, i learned that i can take a step back if i need to – and that it’s okay to do so! swc as a whole has taught me how to be a better person; without it, i’m not sure where i would be today.
i’m also co-hosting the memory book committee this session with alana (@-nightglow-). last session, that gave me another insight into leading and how important it is to have a clear plan, good communication, and a solid balance between swc and irl responsibilities. it also taught me to adapt – we tried things last session, and while most worked, there were also things we knew we needed to fix. so for this session, we’re trying a few things differently
outside of swc, i’m a part of a leadership program run through my county in which we have bi-weekly meetings to discuss social issues, help with service projects, participate in volunteer activities around town, and mentor younger students in the area. it’s a really rewarding program that makes a real impact on the community, which is a beautiful thing <3 this has also helped me step out of my comfort zone and learn to communicate and think on the spot easier.
as for writing, i’ve been officially putting pen to paper since quarantine – around three years. but even before them i wrote! some of my earliest stories were inspired by the encouragement of my third grade teacher. i love writing fantasy, contemporary, and, as of recently, poetry.
cabins
this session, i’m pretty much open to wherever! if possible, i’d love to stray from horror/thriller if possible, seeing as i’m not as familiar with those genres, but all of the genres are brilliant, and i’d be honored to work with any of the leaders. in terms of the cabin that will not win (non-fi), i am open to working with those leaders this session. my schedule is admittedly a bit busy, so perhaps the laid back environment is what i need? this being said, i do tend to have a slight competitive streak bahaha, so i’d prefer to be in one of the regular genre cabins. however, as i mentioned previously, to even get an offer would be an honor, no matter which cabin it’s from <3
excerpt
link to my july '23 writing comp excerpt - https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/post/7402588/
time (activities that could impact availability etc)
on a daily basis, i should be able to devote approximately an hour to swc work, however often i’ll be online in the evenings as well, and i can pop on before school if necessary. i do have a relatively busy schedule, especially since soccer and forensics will both be going on in march, but i’ll be sure to communicate my schedule for the week with my (co)leaders so we can adjust. as always, my schoolwork will be prioritized over swc, so there might be some evenings where i can’t help out as much, but i don’t think my homework will be much of a problem overall. i don’t know exactly when my spring break is, but it’s possible that falls at the end of march. in case of vacations or inactivity during that time, i’ll contact my (co)leaders to plan accordingly.
as for january and february, i don’t currently know of any complications outside of the aforementioned extracurriculars. i might have a day trip during february, and i’ll most likely have mentoring activities to do throughout january and february, but these shouldn’t be a problem!
time management (skills & shortcomings)
strengths:
making lists: time management tends to be something i occasionally struggle with, and i also can be forgetful, both of which i combat by making to-do lists. typically when i get home from school, i’ll go through my planner and make a list of what i have to accomplish that night. sometimes i’ll star the most important ones, or make note of which assignments will take the longest. it’s a simple way for me to note how much time i need to designate to my work, and it prevents me from forgetting homework or swc tasks.
limiting distractions: distractions can be one of the biggest hindrances to productive work time. one of my routines is to work in a space where i’m surrounded by only the thing i’m working on, whether that’s my math textbook and notebook, my chromebook, or an english essay. this prevents me from getting excessively overwhelmed by all the work laid out in front of me, and there’s less chance of me getting distracted by something i don’t need. i also tend to listen to music while i work, which helps me focus.
weaknesses:
procrastination: i say this everytime; at this point, it’s not much of a surprise that i struggle with procrastination. it’s a known weakness of mine that i put things off, saving them for later in favor of something more fun and interesting to do… but, i’m proud to say i’ve gotten a little better at this! it does still happen frequently, but not at the rate that it used to, perhaps because i’ve learned to enjoy my homework a little more now that i find my classes a bit more interesting. it comes down to accountability and self discipline, at this point; if i set my mind on getting it done, i will.
teamwork (strengths & weaknesses, assets to leading team)
strengths:
adaptability: adaptability is something i find to be very important in a leader, often because they’re the ones making decisions, and its important that they’re open to change. i’m a relatively open minded person, and i pride myself on being flexible; change is often a good thing, and having a mindset that allows you to alter the plan when necessary prevents a lot of excess stress.
communication: despite being an introvert, i am good at keeping in touch with other people, whether it be a group project that we need to be on the same page for, a couple of students i’m mentoring, or reaching out to a teacher for assistance. connecting with fellow leaders is a skill i’ve worked on over the past year since my first leading experience, and i feel confident saying that i’m able to comfortably write back and forth with my peers, and respond in a timely manner.
weaknesses:
lack of self-confidence: self confidence is something i’ve struggled with recently a lot, and while it might not seem like a big deal in a leadership role, it does make an impact on my reliability sometimes. especially when working with people i don’t know very well, i put too much emphasis on being perfect, and when i don’t achieve those standards, i’m harsh on myself. this in turn continues to bring my confidence down… and thus the cycle repeats. while i don’t have a clear counter to this yet, oftentimes words of affirmation from my leading partners are very uplifting, and help remind me that i belong in whatever role i’ve taken on.
perfectionism: i mentioned this slightly above, but my perfectionism is one of my biggest standout flaws when it comes to both time management and teamwork. i tend to set unrealistic standards for myself, which affects the pace of my work, and also how i interact with other people. when i want something to be perfect, i won’t settle for it being anything less, and that makes me less efficient when i’m trying to get something done. in working with others, there’s the added challenge of “making a good impression” (there’s the anxiety talking) which slows me down futher, because i want to say just the right thing to be helpful.
assets:
creativity: i consider myself to be a fairly creative person; graphic design has taught me a lot about trying things and putting ideas out there, and a lot of my inspiration comes from music (which i listen to a lot of… so there’ll be no shortness of that). i often can blurt out ideas as they come to me, which allows us to keep moving forward as a leading team.
organization: my organization has certainly improved over the last year; high school has taught me that i need to make sure i have my stuff together at all times, which is beneficial in more than just remembering my schoolwork. i like to make lists and check off what i’ve completed so that i don’t forget things, and my planner lets me keep track of dates, so i’ll make sure to be on schedule with what my (co)leaders have planned.
valued quality in leader (& how you’ll embody it)
supportive
being supportive, to me, is the most important quality for a leader to have – not just taking on tasks to benefit the group, but being there for them, whether they need a word of advice, or someone to talk to. as a coleader, i’ll make sure to always support my cabin’s (co)leaders however i can, even if it means taking on extra responsibilities. having my (co)leaders backs is something very important to me, especially since i understand how busy and stressful our lives can get. if they need help, i’ll be there to lift them up, and if they’re struggling mentally or emotionally, i’ll be a shoulder for them to lean on <3
atmosphere (less than 200 characters)
a lighthearted and fun environment, where campers can thrive on inspiration, encouragement, and the warmth of a family-like community; the emphasis lies on personal growth rather than competition <3 (198 characters)
final stuff (any responsibilities in faq unable to do & steps to handle inactive leadership - of yourself or a (co)leader)
(checked that i'm applying only for co and that i'd be willing to share a promo project)
if my (co)leader was to go inactive, i would hope we’d have notice beforehand so we could adjust accordingly, but if no warning was given, i’d first be in contact with the hosts to let them know of the situation, and from there take the most logical steps forward (whether that be finding a new (co)leader or adapting to fill the responsibilities of the absent). in the case that i needed to go inactive, i would make sure to diligently reach out to my leading team and the hosts so they were aware of my situation, and if time allowed, i’d work with my (co)leaders to make the transition as smooth as possible.
(edits are due to thinking this was too late and deleting everything and then readding it sdlkfjalkdsj sorry about that, hosts </3)
hey there! if you don’t know me, i’m reese – a friendly canonical crow and lizard, among other things <3 you can usually find me hiding between bookshelves or curled up in the corner of the couch with some sort of book in my hands, or perhaps in an armchair late at night – i do my best thinking at midnight, quite honestly. the written world was my first love, and as of now, my favorite books are i fell in love with hope, babel, and six of crows, but i’ll happily snatch up a john green, rick riordan, or marie lu story anyday.
if reading was my first love, then music is my second. it’s come to my attention recently the full extent of how much music i listen to on a daily basis, particularly taylor swift. but my recent obsessions also include maisie peters, hozier, and gracie abrams.
a few other random hobbies of mine include forensics (currently in sales – essentially i get to try and convince people to buy a product), making friendship bracelets, learning latin, going down random musical rabbit holes ( …descendants – i affectionately blame you for that one aliazard <3), and playing soccer!
here’s to another fantastic swc session – can’t wait to spend it with yall <33
experience (in swc, leadership/writing in & out of swc)
so far i’ve participated in four sessions of swc:
nov ‘22 - naan-fi breadhouse; led by daisy, birdi, and sophie
mar ‘23 - dystopian dynasty; co-led with moonsy (mbc member)
july ‘23 - folklore long pond studios; co-led with skye and aspen (mbc member)
nov ‘23 - script misfits; led by alana, recca, and indigo (hosted mbc)
each session has taught me more about writing, and more importantly, myself. with naan-fi, i learned to take time for myself, and that it was okay to put your personal wellbeing before your work. in dystopian, moonsy taught me how to lead and how to be confident in myself. with folklore, i learned that it’s okay for things not to go perfectly, and i learned how to communicate easier. in script, i learned that i can take a step back if i need to – and that it’s okay to do so! swc as a whole has taught me how to be a better person; without it, i’m not sure where i would be today.
i’m also co-hosting the memory book committee this session with alana (@-nightglow-). last session, that gave me another insight into leading and how important it is to have a clear plan, good communication, and a solid balance between swc and irl responsibilities. it also taught me to adapt – we tried things last session, and while most worked, there were also things we knew we needed to fix. so for this session, we’re trying a few things differently
outside of swc, i’m a part of a leadership program run through my county in which we have bi-weekly meetings to discuss social issues, help with service projects, participate in volunteer activities around town, and mentor younger students in the area. it’s a really rewarding program that makes a real impact on the community, which is a beautiful thing <3 this has also helped me step out of my comfort zone and learn to communicate and think on the spot easier.
as for writing, i’ve been officially putting pen to paper since quarantine – around three years. but even before them i wrote! some of my earliest stories were inspired by the encouragement of my third grade teacher. i love writing fantasy, contemporary, and, as of recently, poetry.
cabins
this session, i’m pretty much open to wherever! if possible, i’d love to stray from horror/thriller if possible, seeing as i’m not as familiar with those genres, but all of the genres are brilliant, and i’d be honored to work with any of the leaders. in terms of the cabin that will not win (non-fi), i am open to working with those leaders this session. my schedule is admittedly a bit busy, so perhaps the laid back environment is what i need? this being said, i do tend to have a slight competitive streak bahaha, so i’d prefer to be in one of the regular genre cabins. however, as i mentioned previously, to even get an offer would be an honor, no matter which cabin it’s from <3
excerpt
link to my july '23 writing comp excerpt - https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/post/7402588/
time (activities that could impact availability etc)
on a daily basis, i should be able to devote approximately an hour to swc work, however often i’ll be online in the evenings as well, and i can pop on before school if necessary. i do have a relatively busy schedule, especially since soccer and forensics will both be going on in march, but i’ll be sure to communicate my schedule for the week with my (co)leaders so we can adjust. as always, my schoolwork will be prioritized over swc, so there might be some evenings where i can’t help out as much, but i don’t think my homework will be much of a problem overall. i don’t know exactly when my spring break is, but it’s possible that falls at the end of march. in case of vacations or inactivity during that time, i’ll contact my (co)leaders to plan accordingly.
as for january and february, i don’t currently know of any complications outside of the aforementioned extracurriculars. i might have a day trip during february, and i’ll most likely have mentoring activities to do throughout january and february, but these shouldn’t be a problem!
time management (skills & shortcomings)
strengths:
making lists: time management tends to be something i occasionally struggle with, and i also can be forgetful, both of which i combat by making to-do lists. typically when i get home from school, i’ll go through my planner and make a list of what i have to accomplish that night. sometimes i’ll star the most important ones, or make note of which assignments will take the longest. it’s a simple way for me to note how much time i need to designate to my work, and it prevents me from forgetting homework or swc tasks.
limiting distractions: distractions can be one of the biggest hindrances to productive work time. one of my routines is to work in a space where i’m surrounded by only the thing i’m working on, whether that’s my math textbook and notebook, my chromebook, or an english essay. this prevents me from getting excessively overwhelmed by all the work laid out in front of me, and there’s less chance of me getting distracted by something i don’t need. i also tend to listen to music while i work, which helps me focus.
weaknesses:
procrastination: i say this everytime; at this point, it’s not much of a surprise that i struggle with procrastination. it’s a known weakness of mine that i put things off, saving them for later in favor of something more fun and interesting to do… but, i’m proud to say i’ve gotten a little better at this! it does still happen frequently, but not at the rate that it used to, perhaps because i’ve learned to enjoy my homework a little more now that i find my classes a bit more interesting. it comes down to accountability and self discipline, at this point; if i set my mind on getting it done, i will.
teamwork (strengths & weaknesses, assets to leading team)
strengths:
adaptability: adaptability is something i find to be very important in a leader, often because they’re the ones making decisions, and its important that they’re open to change. i’m a relatively open minded person, and i pride myself on being flexible; change is often a good thing, and having a mindset that allows you to alter the plan when necessary prevents a lot of excess stress.
communication: despite being an introvert, i am good at keeping in touch with other people, whether it be a group project that we need to be on the same page for, a couple of students i’m mentoring, or reaching out to a teacher for assistance. connecting with fellow leaders is a skill i’ve worked on over the past year since my first leading experience, and i feel confident saying that i’m able to comfortably write back and forth with my peers, and respond in a timely manner.
weaknesses:
lack of self-confidence: self confidence is something i’ve struggled with recently a lot, and while it might not seem like a big deal in a leadership role, it does make an impact on my reliability sometimes. especially when working with people i don’t know very well, i put too much emphasis on being perfect, and when i don’t achieve those standards, i’m harsh on myself. this in turn continues to bring my confidence down… and thus the cycle repeats. while i don’t have a clear counter to this yet, oftentimes words of affirmation from my leading partners are very uplifting, and help remind me that i belong in whatever role i’ve taken on.
perfectionism: i mentioned this slightly above, but my perfectionism is one of my biggest standout flaws when it comes to both time management and teamwork. i tend to set unrealistic standards for myself, which affects the pace of my work, and also how i interact with other people. when i want something to be perfect, i won’t settle for it being anything less, and that makes me less efficient when i’m trying to get something done. in working with others, there’s the added challenge of “making a good impression” (there’s the anxiety talking) which slows me down futher, because i want to say just the right thing to be helpful.
assets:
creativity: i consider myself to be a fairly creative person; graphic design has taught me a lot about trying things and putting ideas out there, and a lot of my inspiration comes from music (which i listen to a lot of… so there’ll be no shortness of that). i often can blurt out ideas as they come to me, which allows us to keep moving forward as a leading team.
organization: my organization has certainly improved over the last year; high school has taught me that i need to make sure i have my stuff together at all times, which is beneficial in more than just remembering my schoolwork. i like to make lists and check off what i’ve completed so that i don’t forget things, and my planner lets me keep track of dates, so i’ll make sure to be on schedule with what my (co)leaders have planned.
valued quality in leader (& how you’ll embody it)
supportive
being supportive, to me, is the most important quality for a leader to have – not just taking on tasks to benefit the group, but being there for them, whether they need a word of advice, or someone to talk to. as a coleader, i’ll make sure to always support my cabin’s (co)leaders however i can, even if it means taking on extra responsibilities. having my (co)leaders backs is something very important to me, especially since i understand how busy and stressful our lives can get. if they need help, i’ll be there to lift them up, and if they’re struggling mentally or emotionally, i’ll be a shoulder for them to lean on <3
atmosphere (less than 200 characters)
a lighthearted and fun environment, where campers can thrive on inspiration, encouragement, and the warmth of a family-like community; the emphasis lies on personal growth rather than competition <3 (198 characters)
final stuff (any responsibilities in faq unable to do & steps to handle inactive leadership - of yourself or a (co)leader)
(checked that i'm applying only for co and that i'd be willing to share a promo project)
if my (co)leader was to go inactive, i would hope we’d have notice beforehand so we could adjust accordingly, but if no warning was given, i’d first be in contact with the hosts to let them know of the situation, and from there take the most logical steps forward (whether that be finding a new (co)leader or adapting to fill the responsibilities of the absent). in the case that i needed to go inactive, i would make sure to diligently reach out to my leading team and the hosts so they were aware of my situation, and if time allowed, i’d work with my (co)leaders to make the transition as smooth as possible.
(edits are due to thinking this was too late and deleting everything and then readding it sdlkfjalkdsj sorry about that, hosts </3)
Last edited by TheBibliophile7 (Jan. 20, 2024 01:15:44)
- -vanillamochabear-
-
Scratcher
500+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
bro i posted this in the wrong forum sorry :sosb:
Last edited by -vanillamochabear- (March 7, 2024 00:02:06)
- snuggles0426
-
Scratcher
100+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
July '24 Leader App (1445 words, 1087 excluding excerpt)
About Me
Hey there! I’m Sienna (she/her) of the wonderful land of CST! I’m an LDS writer who spends an exorbitant amount of time on my kindle reading mostly fantasy and romance novels, with a hint of mystery and sometimes even nonfiction. My reading taste is very similar to my favorite genres in writing, although I do write for my school newspaper as well, which is the best thing I’ve done in high school. I highly recommend it to anyone interested. I’m also a big fan of musicals (especially Newsies) and singing in general. It doesn’t matter that I only sing in my room alone, belting out anything from the 2010s to the 1960s; it’s still one of my hobbies.
I’m going to be a senior in high school next year (scary), and I’m planning to go into publishing after graduation. I have a passion for editing and graphic design, so it’s kind of perfect for me. I love SWC because it allows me to improve my writing and design skills for my future!
Experience
I’ve participated in four sessions of SWC so far, starting in March ‘23. I was a camper for my first three sessions, but last session I co-led the fantastic fairy tales cabin with the lovely Alana and incredible Amethyst. I was on the Daily Team and the Memory Book Committee as well, and that was super fun. SWC has been such a great experience, and getting involved in the leadership team has only made it better, so I’d love to continue with it.
Outside of SWC, I’m co-hosting Camp Galatians (hosted by Kenzie and Piper) and CKS (hosted by Pepper). I haven’t actively participated in any other writing camps, but I’ve done my fair share of stalking them.
In real life, I’m applying to be an editor for my school newspaper. I also help plan and execute activities for my youth group and teach lessons in Sunday School. I’m a member of a few different honors societies at my school, and those have taught me quite a bit of responsibility. I love to take on leadership roles and help out wherever I can!
Cabin Preferences
Fairy tales was a blast last session, and I’d like to be in a cabin with a similar atmosphere. I would prefer not to be in horror or thriller, as I don’t think I’d be a great fit for those genres, and other people would be able to make the experiences there much better. My top preferences (in no particular order) would be in something like adventure, dystopian, fantasy, or cabins with similar vibes. I would also love to be in a new and maybe very niche cabin. Some suggestions I have that would be so cool to lead are memoir (please this one is epic :0), comedy, and comic (kinda like graphic novels, but featuring powerful characters in dramatic scenarios hehe). I would rather not lead TCTWNW because I love the competition of SWC, but other than that I’m not super picky.
Excerpt
Do you remember the last night I saw you? We were sitting together under the Japanese cherry tree in my front yard. There was a light breeze, blowing the hair out of my face and playing with your dark, wavy locks. The pink leaves above us framed the sky’s transformation as the sun set, a constant reminder of where I was and wouldn’t be for much longer. We didn’t need to speak; our future was clear, nonexistent. A chapter of our lives together was coming to an end, before it had ever truly begun in my mind.
After the sun’s descent, we watched the sky change colors, from a glowing fuschia back to a normal blue that deepened and faded away until all that was left was the darkness of night. I liked watching the blues deepen with you beside me. It reminded me of your eyes when you recognized me in a crowd and came to say hello. Did you know your eyes change with your moods? Just like the sky.
We continued to sit in silence as the stars began twinkling into focus, one by one. After a few minutes of staring into the sky, as if seeking answers to life’s hardest questions, I felt your eyes on me. I briefly wondered what shade of blue they would be before turning to face you. They were almost darker, no, deeper than the night sky itself. I held your gaze for a few moments, then returned my attention to the stars, tracing the familiar constellations we’d mapped out together. I hoped you couldn’t see the tears quivering on my lashes.
You reached for my hand, and I allowed you to take it. The lump in my throat was growing, and I didn’t want your last memory of me to be full of sadness. I forced a smile—hopefully you wouldn’t notice—and leaned my head against your shoulder.
Finally, you spoke. You asked me why i wasn't saying a word.
I swallowed back my emotions enough to get a few words out, holding my voice as steadily as I could. “I'm naming the stars in the sky after you.”
Time Dedication
I can dedicate a sizable chunk of my time to SWC, although not quite as much as I did during March. I can be online nearly every day to update word counts and participate in dailies and weeklies. The only thing that will really impact my activity is a vacation planned for mid to late July (for about a week), but I’ll still have plenty of time to be online because it’s mostly just a chill visit. I’ll probably be on mobile quite a bit more :skull: which I can adapt to.
Time Management
I would say that I generally have very good time management skills. When I’m motivated to get something done (which is basically always for SWC), I get it done in a timely manner, and often early. I love setting mini due dates for myself and striking items off my to-do list. If anything, I would say my weakness in this area would be that I’m overzealous. All too often I push myself to do too many things all at once. I’m working on this by taking on only as much as I can handle. Basically, I just need to set timelines on a larger scale and give myself more time to accomplish tasks. I overestimate my ability to get things done, so I’m trying to scale back my commitments.
Collaboration
I love working with others, and that passion is what’s driving my career goals for the future. I like to think that I’m good at organizing people and bringing everyone’s best skills and ideas together in the best way. I’d say that’s my main strength: creating group unity. I enjoy seeing people brainstorm and create genius projects together, and I get a thrill from working with like-minded people. In this way, I’d say that I’m great with collaboration.
However, this strength is precisely what leads to my greatest weaknesses. I can sometimes be a little bit of a pushover and feel bad rejecting people’s ideas, even if they’re unrealistic. This is something I’m very aware of and am working to improve. I believe that a team should be proud of what they build, which is why I feel bad saying no. I understand that it is necessary sometimes, but it’s difficult for me. I feel that this is something I can overcome to maximize my teamwork skills.
Leader Quality
I believe that the most important thing a leader can have is passion for their team and for their project. I personally am very passionate about SWC, writing, and creative endeavors in general. I care about others very much and genuinely want to get to know them, which is essential for any type of leadership. My hope is to always show the love I have for my current pursuit and the people surrounding me, and I will aim for this regardless of being a (co)leader or not.
Atmosphere (179 characters)
I aim to create a cabin with an atmosphere conducive to building unity and friendships among campers, while also encouraging friendly competition, participation, and self-improvement in our writing together.
Checkboxes
A. I am applying for both leader and co-leader + I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC.
B. No, I’ll be able to complete all the responsibilities. <3
C. If I need to go inactive, I will notify my (co)leaders and let them know when I plan on returning. I’ll complete as much as I can before I need to leave and inform them about any remaining tasks. If someone else goes inactive, I’ll check on them and see when they’ll be available again. Then, I’ll evaluate what tasks need to be completed in their absence and redivide it between the remaining team members.
Last edited by snuggles0426 (May 2, 2024 03:20:42)
- BlauHourglass
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Scratcher
1000+ posts
swc megathread ☾ november 2023
Ignore~
Last edited by BlauHourglass (May 1, 2024 16:48:38)
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