niko's leader app text version

About Me

I’m Niko, I go by they/them pronouns and am currently in the wonderful EST timezone. I am a plant lover, avid bibliophile, and tea drinker. Some of my main hobbies include rock climbing, doodling, cooking, and escaping into the fantastical world of reading. My favorite nights include baking, playing Stardew Valley, watching Gilmore Girls under my blanket and a warm drink.

One activity that always ends up stealing all my free time (and money) is crafting. Crocheting, jewelry making, embroidery, you name it, I have tried it at least once. Most gifts people receive from me will be homemade items that I spend hours crafting over. This love started during quarantine when I had hours upon hours of free time that needed filling. It is now one of the first things I look at whenever I’m bored.

And, of course, writing. I have been a huge fan of writing for as long as I can remember. I love sitting down after a tiring day and expressing my feelings through scribbles on a paper. My love of writing began through reading. I was hooked on books since I first learned how to read and my love is shown in my writing as I create fantasy and dystopian stories similar to those I read.

Participation

So far I have participated in a total of ten SWC sessions! I have co-led three sessions and led one cabin before.

A quick overview:

november ‘21 - november ‘23 | camper (barely active most sessions)
march ‘23 | co-leader | sci-fi
july ‘23 | co-leader } poetry
november ‘23 | leader | real-fi
march ‘24 | co-leader | hi-fi
july ‘24 | camper | bi-fi

In August 2023 I also began participating in SRC and have led four cabins in it so far. Otherwise, I have had a few other leadership roles in smaller Scratch camps.

Outside of Scratch I have been a part of Leadership Team at my school stage crew for the musical and play where I and a few other people specialized in completing the set and teaching and supervising new people in creating the set and designing everything. I also have some general experience in leading from school projects and a few community projects where I had to coordinate with many other people to create a cohesive final design. As for writing, I have been creating stories for as long as I can remember and have entered and won a few awards.

Cabin Preferences

While I don’t have to many strong preferences my top genre would be Folklore, Dystopian, and Fantasy as these genres are what I feel strongest in terms of writing and ideas.

For Folklore my main idea so far is a witch’s coven, I was inspired by this by a story a wrote for a daily last session. In it are rival covens (the word count groups) with different types of magical powers who must uncover a secret. With this idea I think I could create an interactive storyline that gets campers to interact with each other.

No matter which cabin I am in I would make sure to implement elements such as an interactive storyline, in-cabin prizes, and activities which campers can do as an addition to the dailies and weeklies.

Genres I would rather not get are Horror, Bi-Fi, and Contemporary. I am also not very interested in TCTWNW because I really enjoy the competitive aspect of SWC.

Excerpt

Soft, chiming, laughter flew through the air, carried by the wind into the open window as two children ran through the field chasing one another. The air was crisp as early summer approached the world sending gentle breezes and warm light across the earth feeding the roots.
The two children tackle each other down to the ground, giggle erupting once again. They lay there, backs to the soil, their hearts pumping as their hand enclosed around each other staring up at the clouds as they journeyed around the globe collecting stories. Time passed and yet there they stayed, parallel lines, together against the universe.
Ceres and Aria. They had grown up together side by side, fighting battles together, always having each other's backs. They giggled, arms against each other, pointing at the clouds as the winds beat around them. Ceres plucked a periwinkle near her arm. The small purple flower had become a symbol for them since their first meeting.
At only a few months old, the two crawled toward the flower, drawn in by its soft violet hue, collapsing into each other as they reached for it, too young and too weak to hold themselves up any longer.
Now they held it above their heads entranced by its bright eye, illuminated by the sun. As they looked up they dreamed of this moment never ending. But like all moments, life moved on and forced everyone along with it.

Time Dedication

During November while I don’t have any major holidays, events, or vacations I do have school and homework which I will always try and priortize first. I also have ongoing climbing competitions during October and November meaning I will be training for them often after school. Despite these things I still know I will be able to get on Scratch every day even if it’s not for hours. I plan on getting on and finishing any responsibilities I have such as responding to campers and answering questions and then moving on to any things I want to do like the daily or other writing.

Previously I have gone into the session believing I would be very active every day only disappointed when I am busy. This session I plan on communicating with my other leaders and warning them of any times I might not be on such as days when I’m focusing on tests or have other activities. On average I believe I can dedicate at least thirty full minutes on Scratch on weekdays, although I’m sure it will be more and at least an hour or two on weekends depending on how much is needed of me.

Time Management

I will not be the first SWCer to admit how much I procrastinate, it is a large weakness of mine especially in school as I am constantly putting off assignments until the last second. Recent school years have forced to me focus on tackling this weaknesses and while I still feel like there are many things I could improve on I think I have made many strides towards being better at this in the last few months. I am an organized person so when I find myself with an excessive amount of work I’ll usually make a list that helps complete everything required, this means I won’t feel like I’m under a lot of pressure and I can get all my work done.

Some of my strategies are listed here:

• Writing a schedule for the day and what I want to finish
  

• Prioritizing things depending on due date and importance
  

• Rewarding myself once completing something
  

I am an organized person and when I have an excessive amount of work I’ll usually make a list which helps complete everything required.

The time and effort I put in on something also heavily depends on how “fun” the task is or how interested I am in it. So many parts of cabin building which I enjoy will be completed right away while more difficult and tedious tasks might be put off for a long time. These ‘boring’ tasks are often some of the most important so this session I plan on trying to complete these sorts of tasks first before moving onto the things I most want to do.

Burnout is another big thing I experience. It’s very difficult to not be frustrated with myself when something is not done causing me to completely stop working on that thing altogether. For this what I have found most helpful is taking a break from whatever I’m working on and making sure it is not always on my mind so that I can continue working on it without getting too tired.

Collaboration & Assets

Collaboration is something I was not always a fan of however I have loved every experience I’ve had working with other SWCers and I love to know new people as we work on something together. A few weaknesses I notice when working with other people is miscommunication and not sharing tasks equally. Being online it can often be difficult to fully express your opinions which means people’s thought are not always heard. To battle this I try to ask questions whenever I’m confused and clarifying when I didn’t explain something clearly. While I love collaborating I still often find myself taking most of the work thinking that “I do it better” than other people, so I want to make sure to ask other people I’m working with which tasks they would prefer so people can get what they want and no one gets a workload to heavy.

One of my stronger assets is my ability to get everyone’s voices heard in a discussion and make sure everyones ideas are told. This is very helpful and important when collaborating so that everyone feels included and has fun. I also love art and graphic design and am always happy to help with that. I also try to reach and get closer with whom I am collaborating with so that the environment is much more positive and welcoming.

One Quality

The first quality that comes to mind for me is passion in both SWC and writing. I think having a leader who actually loves doing this makes such a difference and can influence campers to also be excited to participate and write. Being passionate inspires other campers to enjoy SWC and creates a better community that everyone enjoys. This is also helpful when creating a cabin as a passionate leader will create a great experience and work well with other people during it. I plan on embodying this by trying to encourage others and not be negative even when facing problems.


Cabin Atmosphere

A close-knit competitive cabin that encourages building relationships, growing skills and having fun. (101 characters)

Checkboxes

I will be available to help add points in the main cabin consistently

I am willing to share a promotional project for SWC

B. No

C. In the case of me being unexpectedly busy and not being able to dedicate as much time to SWC as I thought I would first communicate with whomever I am working with and voice and problems and make sure they are aware of what is happening. If it gets so extreme that I feel I can’t do all of my (co)leader responsibilities I would contact a host and figure it if there’s anything needed to be done and see how to move on.

If it is another (co)leader who seems inactive I would try and talk to them in different ways and if they don’t respond I would communicate with any other (co)leaders and the hosts to figure out what to do. If they do respond I would make sure to offer any assistance they need and be as helpful as possible.

INTERNET♡OVERDOSE ⌨ Luka's SWC Leader App -Text Version


◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ —— ◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡

About Me

Hey, hi, hello and what’s up? To those of you who don’t know me, my name is Luka <33 And to those of you who do know me, you know that I always forget how many sessions I’ve participated in, but plot twist, not this time! This is my tenth session of SWC, having led a cabin four times, co-leading once, and camping five times! (Actually, maybe I should’ve put this in the participation question-). I’m a 15 (16 on Sept 18th!) year old girl that uses she/her pronouns. I Iive in the great icy lands of Canada, with my family and friends, and I’m going into Grade 11 this year.

Alright, some things about me! I love writing, more specifically creative writing, but you probably already knew that based on the fact that I voluntarily participate in an online writing camp. I love writing fanfiction the most, because it’s always fun experimenting with pre-existing characters and their surroundings, and sometimes adding my own headcanons as well. Other than fanfiction, I like writing fast-paced action packed stuff, I hate writing descriptions, but I love writing dialogue. Occasionally I’ll write something a little more slow-paced and more contemporary when I’m literally on the edge of having writer’s block.

Other than writing, obviously, I like reading, listening to music (you’ll never catch me without my headphones on), watching anime, gaming, drawing, animating, editing, playing basketball and finally, hanging out and socializing with friends. Am I going to elaborate on almost all of this? Absolutely.

Reading - Recently, I’ve been totally obsessed with true crime. I went to the library the other day and got two really interesting books. Finished one in a day, and the other I’m almost done with. You can basically call me a crime junkie. Apart from that, I don’t really read any other genres. Yeah yeah I know, being a better writer or whatever requires wide-reading. SHHHH.

Music - My music taste is basically all over the place right now. Most of the time, I like listening to rap (NOT gangster type rap), R&B, Afrobeats, Alternative Rock, J-pop and K-pop. What’s weird though is that I always, always prefer the sped up version of a song, which is why on YT I have a playlist of 260 ish sped up audio tracks, and I’m always just listening to that instead of Spotify. The con? Once you start listening to a song super sped up, the original will probably never sound the same to you again. Whoops.

Anime - I’ve been interested in anime and have watched it for as long as I can remember. The 2020-2022 My Hero Academia phase with ship wars? Yeah, I survived that and it still haunts me. Anyway, the anime I like the most are Bungou Stray Dogs (reminder. watch the show or ill haunt your nightmares.), Jujustu Kaisen, Toilet-Bound Hanako Kun and Blue Lock. I usually prefer reading the manga instead of watching though

Gaming - Video games, online games, mobile games, you name it, and I’ve probably played it. With me and my sisters, I practically live in a gaming household, since we have a PS5, a Switch, and an Xbox. And it’s not like we even asked for that stuff either (except the Switch). I like playing games like Legend of Zelda, Roblox (DTI DTI DTI), Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Kirby games, the occasional Fortnite match where I die immediately, Class of 09, any other visual novel, and most importantly, Project SEKAI.

I would love to elaborate more on my interests, but this is approaching 600 words and I don’t think that’s a good thing, so moving on! PS: This was 1k before, so hosties, y’all should be thankful.

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ —— ◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡

Participation

This session will officially mark my 10th session! It’s been such a blast being in this camp, and hopefully I can be here for as long as I can <3

I’ve been on the SWC leadership team five times, four times as leader and one time as co-leader. I’ve also been a camper four times as well! Besides that, I’ve also been found in other areas such as being a 2x writing competition panelist, being on the MBC once, playtesting the amazing fourth weekly last session, as well as other nitpicky things. So, I can definitely say that when it comes to SWC experience, I’m pretty well rounded.

Of course, leadership experience also comes off Scratch as well. I know I use this example a lot, and I’m pretty sure everyone knows by now that I’m the oldest of three sisters, and in my family that’s a pretty big role. It’s kinda like you’re trying to pave the way for your siblings and keep them from making the same mistakes you did. And in all my extended family in general, I’m the second oldest, and the oldest now that my cousin’s off at university. In school, I admit I’m not the first person to step up and take the lead. I’m kind of a backseat girl, you know? But I do try and make a positive mark wherever I can. and this year I’m thinking of stepping outside my comfort zone and going for student council president (which is a HUGE deal at my school).

With writing, I have to say that yes, I’m far from being the best writer in the world, so I’m not going to brag about my writing skills or anything. Last year I wrote some articles and posts for our school’s newsletter, and there was this thing where you had to write an essay to be principal for a day, and I won that (but I opted out of the principal thing so they gave it to someone else.) I’ve won a national writing competition back in Grade 8, which was pretty cool so I figured I should mention it.

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ —— ◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡

Cabin Preferences

This is by far my favorite, and most anticipated question ever because this time, instead of giving you hosts a bunch of repeated cabin genres I’d like to lead, I’m giving you new ones. And I would absolutely kill to lead a new cabin genre again. Leading Utopian was amazing because I got to step out of the box and think of something completely different with my co-leaders. But even then, that concept relied on Dystopian a lot, and sadly I was unexpectedly inactive, so some of the storyline could not be fulfilled.

THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT.

I will rally, and I will absolutely protest for another new cabin genre again, even if I don’t get to lead it (but that would be an added bonus). I’ve thought about this so much that I even have ideas for cabin themes racked up in my brain. And if I still haven’t sold you on the idea of adding the genres below, then here’s another thought. Experimenting. There are so many things you can do with new genres, and sure some of them feel limited, but it’s a whole breath of fresh air. You can probably tell that this is just me begging to lead a new cabin genre, but you get the point.

Here’s my list:

Paranormal: Advocated for this one before and it didn’t make the cut. When I think Paranormal, I think Dark Fantasy and Horror mixed together. Like, Fantasy Horror. And I was thinking of a cabin theme that could go with this one, and then I got it.

(Theme Idea: Mafia themed! The entire cabin is a Mafia game and functions like one. Campers get roles and use them, people die and get voted off. Would probably be multiple Mafia games played throughout the session. This could probably have writing challenges fit into it as well)

Apocalyptic: This is a genre that feels a bit like a cabin theme for Thriller or Adventure, but then that just takes the fun out of it. Apocalyptic is a genre with a bunch of works under its belt, so why not add an SWC cabin to it? And no, it doesn’t have to be a plain old apocalypse with zombies. This can be explored in a bunch of ways.

(Theme Idea: An apocalypse set in the future, in which a virus caused everything to shut down and entire cities depending on technology to collapse)

Cyberpunk: I’m so sorry, but how have we had a Steampunk cabin and not Cyberpunk? Yeah, I get that Sci-Fi exists, but that one is more scientific, you know? Cyberpunk is like technological advancements while still having those raw human emotions attached to them. Just look at the Cyberpunk 2099(?) game or the anime Cyberpunk Edgerunners.

(Theme Idea: You’re an avid video game fan, who is accidentally transported into a cyberpunk based game. In order to get out, you must beat the game, while surviving a city full of dangerous high tech machinery, gangs, and killer robots. Fun, right?)

Spy-Fi: Another genre that reasonably feels kind of limited, but totally isn’t. The name explains itself: it’s a genre based off of spies. Which is arguably the coolest genre ever heard of on the planet.

(Theme Idea: You accidentally learn the location of one of the world’s greatest secrets. However, it makes you a target. To remain safe and to defend yourself, you’re recruited into a spy agency)

And as for older cabin genres:

Lyric: When I think Lyric, I think songs, so I love the idea of a Lyric cabin being like a world tour! I would also like to studio like a music studio, but that’s basically Script last session haha

Fanfiction: I actually don’t have an idea for this one yet, but I definitely think Fanfiction’s gotta have a comeback soon

Mystery: A Mystery cabin in a clue-themed session has got to be a must have. No ideas for this one either, but I’ve always like to lead it

As for TCTWNW, I would prefer not to lead it, since I’ve always loved the competition part of SWC. But then again, I’m neutral about it either way.

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ —— ◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡

Writing Excerpt


Can be found here: https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/discuss/post/8069607/

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ —— ◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡


Time Dedication

Ah yes, the start of a new school year where I want to rip my hair out /j Anyway, yes, school will definitely be affecting the amount of time I can dedicate to leading. Although I do want to mention that last session I had summer school alongside SWC, so I definitely think I can manage this year as well. As always I want to focus on my grades, since this year they actually matter for early admission into University. However, the first semester is light, with Chemistry being the only course I slightly worry about. Plus, I have spare periods in the morning, so that's a bonus. I can't think of anything else that will 100% affect my activity either, and even though I probably won't be able to spend as much time on SWC like last session, I will be able to dedicate enough <3 I mean, why else would I even apply?

And keep in mind that I made this application when school started, so yes, I definitely have time.

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ —— ◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡

Time Management

Someone once said that it's very easy to lie online. And they're absolutely right. This is my least favorite question just because I know time management isn't my best flex.

At least, I would say that before. But recently, I've been working on how to organize my time properly and it's actually been working pretty well. July was a very busy month for me, and if I hadn't been able to manage all I had to do, I would have been swamped immediately. Yes, I'm still not the best at it. Far from it. However, working on myself has made me realize a lot of things about time, and how to actually manage it properly. Personally, I think that's an achievement. So what's my strength here? I would say major management improvement, and I believe that will definitely carry on this session.

But here comes the “but”. Remember how I said my July was really busy for a while. Well yes, it's possible to create a schedule for all those responsibilities and make time for them, but after a while, there's only so much time in the world, and only so much you can handle. I had to learn that the hard way. I had to take a bit of a mental break last session because things were beginning to feel like too much. And I have to admit, they were. I even woke up one day, and just broke down and started crying because I felt like I just couldn't do it. Luckily, I got advice and comfort from someone, and I felt a lot better the next day. My point is that my weakness in time management is, well, too much time management. We can only handle so much stuff in our lives, and we can't micromanage and predict all of it. I wish I'd known that before. But when you just take a break or even step back from some things like I did, you feel a whole lot better.

Someone told me that it's okay to drop things. You're not going to disappoint anyone, and you're taking time for yourself mentally, physically and emotionally. Honestly, if I had too much on my plate this session, I would not be making this application right now.

Gosh, the crying bit is so embarrassing. Don't mind that.

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ —— ◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡

Collaboration and Assets

Now, is it just me, or is the assets part of this question new?

Anyway, you've all seen me online. And I talk too much, like, a lot. Certified yapper? I win that award every time. Which is why whenever I collaborate with others online, I'm basically the one leading the conversation a lot, while also giving space for others, which I think is a great strength to have in SWC. My favorite part of the session has always, and probably will always be cabin planning, just because I can share and hear ideas, plan out and collaborate with the team, and most importantly, get to know them even better. For example, last session I didn't know Maia and Blau at all, and I was starting to get to know Yume. And after leading with them, I can say for certain that I'm so happy I had the chance to meet them. So collaborating with others has always been like a way for me to possibly get to know others, and form connections as well.

I would say my weakness in collaboration is probably my second-guessing and still, self-consciousness. I'm the type of person to always get so nervous about how someone will reply, both online and in real life. Thankfully it's not as severe as maybe a year or two ago, but it's still there as an underlying thing. Confidence has always been a struggle for me in one way or another, and I won't even lie, that's probably my main setback when it comes to working with others. But confidence has also been something that I've been successfully growing in this year as well.

When it comes to assets, I always try to bring something to the table, even if it's little. For me, it's about being helpful in big ways and small ways. Whenever there's a volunteering opportunity in SWC, I'm immediately jumping at it and filling out that form, even if I'm not selected. Other than that, I also believe that another good asset I have are my ideas and opinions, which I try to share with others.
◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ —— ◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡

Leader Quality

The other day, I went to my first game as an athletic trainer. The idea of athletic training consists of tape, bandages, water, wrapping injuries, and even more tape. Should I mention tape once more?

When it comes to being an athletic trainer, football keeps you on your toes. So much so, that it can definitely be overwhelming and stressful, almost like you're out there playing on the field. Anyway, it was my first game, and I was with a team of five people, all of us new to athletic training. And as soon as that football was first punted to the other end, the job began. We had a sprained ankle in the first quarter, a swollen wrist, some other taping jobs here and there, and a bunch of water and bandage runs. Our taping began to feel messy as the game went on, as well as our overall structure. The training team felt pretty limited and just weak.

Which is when it happened. During the third quarter, when there was a timeout, one of the girls pulled us aside and immediately began giving what I thought was the most encouraging and overall stirring pep talk, as if we were going in for a crucial play or something. And I guess that speech must have changed something, because after that, we all began to be more coordinated, organized, and getting things back on track. So where am I going with this? Well, what that girl showed that day is a trait I believe every leader should embody, because I was able to experience what it can do firsthand. The ability to push through those steep hills for the sake of the team, and to lift up spirits. Which is why I chose positivity as my trait. (You didn't think the actual trait was being able to climb steep hills, did you…?)

I would like to embody this trait as an SWC leader by always trying to have a positive attitude about things, and trying not to let the little things get me down. Because when someone with a positive attitude is a leader, others eventually feel and embrace that positivity too. Which is why for me, my goal is to be a positive leader, and by being one, making the cabin a safe and happy place for everyone, because in the end, my goal isn’t about getting 1st on the leaderboard or hitting word goals, but rather creating a cabin that emphasizes fun. Which you’ll see next in my…

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ —— ◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡

Atmosphere

A cabin aiming to create a fantastic time for everyone in all aspects: writing, storyline, theme, competition and of course: friendships, in order for all campers to enjoy a memorable experience. (195 characters)

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ —— ◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡

Checkboxes

I will be able available to help add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp
I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC

I can complete all leadership responsibilities listed in the FAQ to the best of my ability

I can answer this because I’ve experienced it In the event of inactive leadership by myself, I will let someone know in advance and take care of any outstanding issues before transferring studio ownership to someone else. If I go inactive abruptly, then I will reach out to a host via if you know you know. In the event of inactivity by someone else, I will try to contact them, and if they don’t answer, I’ll reach out to a host and split anything they might not have done between the team.

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ —— ◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡

(3192 words excluding excerpt AHHHHHHHHH 192 OVER BYE-)

『••✎••』
Leader apps
₊˚ ⌗ ʚ ⌕ ׅ ּ࣪ ֶָ| Q1 Tell us your nickname, pronouns, timezone, and about you
Hewo! I’m Ly, 7th grader. My prounouns are she/her, and I’m excited for the upcoming swc session!
I’m in a +8 GMT timezone, in Singapore! My favourite book by far is No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruthon. I love the descendants series, my favourite characters are Uliana and Dizzy (This is really controversial for some other descendants fans, but it’s my personal opinion.)
I’m a dancer, I do ballet and lyrical, if anyone can relate. I attempted to start an online business, but I keep procrastinating… I’m on the student council, which means I do a lot of project work. Project work is really fun with good team members, if you know what I mean.
I have a tomboy-ish personality. I’d honestly rather hang out with boys, I game, I like the outdoors, I have inelligible handwriting (trust me i have tried to make it neat), and I just vibe better with boys in general.
I do have a feminine side though.
A bit more about my school life. I’m currently in no relationships (unless people crushing on me count, I don’t return anything), have two of the best form teachers in the cohort, an amazingly annoying but loveable bunch of classmates, a bit of drama, and majors at the end of this month.
I am an extroverted introvert. Hear me out. I developed an extroverted side because my mum was always extroverted, but i’m an introvert at heart. One animal I feel truly describes introverts is the monk seal. Somtimes awkward around others, but graceful in its element.
*ahem*…excuse the blurt.
So um, on to the awkward question of what I’ve been writing lately. I’ve been working on my novel and short story, and writing a bunch of poems. I’ve mostly been fooling around on Museland.ai to generate some ideas and conversations. Pls don’t go to this site if you’re under 16 or have no filter. I’m under 16, but I do know how to filter content. I’ve also been mixing a bunch of songs for another novel which i’ve yet to write that I plan to animate, inspired by @eloquent-eloise’s writing comp entry, Angst. https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/discuss/topic/769384/?page=1#post-8036974 I write mainly in the fantasy and sci-fi genres, but I read mostly hi-fi stories. I am going out of my comfort zone and writing a romance/real-fi piece about school mates, based on my personal life.
I love the outdoors, as said before, and I love camping and hiking. I’ve hiked a bunch of mountain trails, none really too intense, but still tiring, but the view is worth it. Always.
Um so back to my stage related hobbies. I think I would love acting, I’ve never tried it but I think it’s cool. I kinda like anything that involves stagework, but I feel like backstage is my favourite part. Whether it’s helping out with the younger children or managing the props, there’s just something so magical about the backstage.
Thanks for reading my little blurt about me!
═ ══════════════════
· ͟͟͞➳❥⊱┊ Have you ever participated in SWC? What roles? Writing experience? Leadership Experience?
I’ve participated in the july 23’ and nov 23’ as a camper, in Contemporary and Fantasy respectively. I have not won any prizes in the writing comp, sadly, but fantasy did place first! I think my favourite part of the july session was having the poetry war with Summer, it was really fun and bonded us in a warped way.
I’ve learnt so much from my cabin leaders and the daily team. Participating in SWC has definitely helped me in my writing!
I’ve been doing creative writing since I was 10. It’s really been a creative outlet for me to pour myself into that doesn't tire my body out as much as dancing. I love the world building, the character development…everything. I write with this quote in mind: “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ~Toni Morrison. I started out writing fanfic and eventually shifted to my own ideas, naturally. Last year my writing got me into a two-day camp, CWP, where I learned some cool writing techniques from local authors, which I’d be more than happy to share with my cabin at SWC, if I get the position as (co)leader!
I’m a prefect, so I'm on the student council. Honestly in my school we don't do much as a council, but I did run for vice-head and head, neither of which I got, but gave me opportunities to lead project teams.
There also was a project I did at the start of last year with a bunch of boys, so being the tomboy I am, we ended up being rowdy, but we still got the project done, and it looked good.
꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦
✧˖°࿐Q3 Cabin preferences, and tctwnw
I would prefer to lead cabins like dystopian or tragedy, these are the genres that I write most often. I’m good with fantasy too, or lyrical/poetry. I would like to lead this (maybe we can add these?) cabin, ‘Instructions’ (self-explanatory) I'd rather not do tctnw, but I'm open!
┍━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━┑
◡̈ ☼ ⋒ ⚡︎ ➝ ⚡︎┊Q4 Writing excerpt
“So you're Copycat.”
The short but slim girl turned to Nova.
“She better be good. Vulture and Rhino—” the girl gestured to the two boys standing next to a caped girl. “—don't cooperate, Mysterio—” she gestured to the girl with a cape. “—let's just say we're not exactly real teammates.”
I was insanely nervous. If this was the team dynamic, I was never going to fit in.
“Rhino, you're up. After 5 mins, Vulture, then Myst and Chem. Copycat, let's see how well you can draw on your surroundings,” Nova said. “I'll go easy on you—”
“And not on me,” the shorter girl—presumably Chem— cut in. “I want actual training if you drag away my study time.”
Nova narrowed his eyes.
“Chemiss, If you need to argue, it can always happen later.”
She rolled her eyes.
Does she have some serious grudge against Nova?
Rhino was somewhat easy to work with. I just, well, borrowed his strength, and Nova’s energy.
Vulture—not so easy. I had no practice flying, so his skillset didn’t exactly help.
Mysterio—well, let’s just say it didn’t turn out too well. Her illusion fog didn’t help me at all, in fact, I accidentally hit her—I mistook her for Nova.
Chemiss’s turn. She flipped through the air gracefully, but her abilities amazed me. From being able to form chemical compounds from thin air, she was also an amazing acrobat. And really good with weapons— she had quarterstaffs that joined into a long staff, and a rope dart.
Her face, however, did not match the grace of her style. Her eyes were narrowed with anger— at what?— and her mouth had a little worried twist to it.
I missed my shot with her chemical abilities. She grinned,her aura changing from a stormy one to lighthearted and cheeky.
“Use it,” she mouthed. “Use my ability and make him miss.”
She could do that?
I focused all my concentration on matching the miscalculation.
It worked!
Nova’s blast hit the wall. Also, he crashed face flat.
The rest of the older heroes—presumably graduates who became teachers—snickered.
“I guess we have a match. Chemiss, teach Copycat all the attack plans for duos.”
Her face clouded over again.
“Do I have to? It’s not like I don’t have anything better to do. And I haven’t had any rest recently.”
I noticed, now that her eyes were not narrowed, that her eyebags hung low. She hadn’t slept in a while, probably.
“No one here has.”
“Sure,” she replied cooly. “But you all got to when you were 11 and 12. ‘Enjoy your youth, it only comes once.’ Don’t you remember, Ava?”
The oldest girl in the white tiger suit looked uncomfortable.
“That was four years and another lifetime ago.”
~from Scars to your beautiful, my ongoing novel.
┕━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━┙
₊˚ ⌗ ʚ ⌕ ׅ ּ࣪ ֶָQ5 Time dedication. How much time will you dedicate to swc? Any plans that will affect your activity?
I will dedicate maybe 1-2 hours a day to SWC. I do have limited screen time, so maybe 2h max. I have an overseas competition from 5th to 11th, but I’m not competing everyday so I should be able to dedicate at least 15 minutes a day during that time. I have another competition so I will also likely be inactive on some of these days: 19th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th.
I know that this is quite a lot of days, but I hope to be able to lead my cabin even with my busy schedule. I may be asleep during some wars due to my timezone, but I’ll try to be there.
Life > SWC.
───────────────────
﹋ ☼ ⋒ ⚡︎ ┊ ꒰☾ Q6 What are your Skills and Shortcomings in Time Management
I’m good at prioritization. I can determine which tasks should be completed first, and when the rest should be done. I will get things done ASAP, I sse it as a fun challenge.
However, I find it hard to keep to my schedules, so I add in a few buffer areas in case of delay. Procrastination is one of my weaknesses, even though I like to get things done quickly, but I’m working on it.
❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘❙❘❙❚❙❘❙❙❚❙❘❙❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘❙❘❙❚❙❘❙❙❚❙❘❙❙❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘❙❘❙❚❙❘❙❙❚❙❘❙❙❘❙❙❘❙❚❙❘❙❘❙❚❙❘❙❙❚❙❘❙❙
☁︎ *⁀➷Q7 What are your strengths and weakness in working with others? What assets do you bring to the table?
I think that I’m a creative person! I love working with others and am always ready to share my ideas and opinions, while respecting others. I think another thing is that I keep everyone happy and try to settle disagreements, which flare up easily with even the most slightly unstable team dynamic.
I may come across as a bit bossy or overly timid at times, though. For example, with a group of boys, I’m likely to be more outspoken, whereas with a mixed team, I tend to be a bit held back.
I may also sound rude and blunt, because sometimes I forget that other people’s brains work differently from mine, and sometimes i try to push them onto my train of thought.
All in all, I prefer working on my own, but with great teammates, the funny, caring kind, I love working with a team! I’m sure most, if not all of the SWCers applying for (co)leader are amazing people!
I feel like having me on a team would be really fun, because I’d bring fun and creative ides to the table.
﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋
｡･:*˚:✧｡Q8 What is one quality that you value most in a leader? How will you embody this trait?
I really value the ability to problem solve and stay calm. Other qualities are important, of course, like empathy and integrity, but i honestly admire leaders’ ability to act completely unruffled when a problem crops up. I will do my best to keep my cool and solve problems ASAP so that my cabin can solve the problem together effectively.
▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀
⌦Q9 Cabin atmosphere⊹.˚
Fun, chill, and competitive at the same time—almost a family—caring and kind.
▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞▞
Q10
A.
I’m applying for both leader and co leader☑
I’m only applying for co leader ☒
I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC☑
B. Are there any leadership responsibilities listed in the FAQ that you cannot fufil? Please elaborate
I might not be able to help with planning and development until October due to a major exam, but I will notify my fellow leaders (if I get it).
C. In case of inactive leadership, either by yourself or a fellow leader, what steps will you take to ensure that the cabin will continue running smoothly?
If I’m a leader, or chosen to be a co, ideally i should have an active (co)leader. But If my (co)leader is inactive, I will give them two or three days before I ask about anything. Things can crop up pretty quick and sometimes people are unable to notify us beforehand. However, if they’re still inactive and likely to remain inactive, I will appoint, or ask the leader to appoint another co-leader from the cabin, ideally someone who applied for co but didn’t get chosen.
During my inactive periods (which I will have) I will make sure my co(s) know beforehand so they can manage the cabin while I’m gone!

stories that will never be - clev's co-leader app (text version)
1850 words

1. About Me
Hey! My name’s Clev, and I’m a human. I’m a Hufflepuff, and I like meeting
new people. I go by they/any pronouns, and I’m fine with any. I currently reside in the EST timezone. I like writing (no way), going on bike rides, reading current news, and talking with others. I’ve been doing SWC for quite a while now, and I really just love the community, as well as the writing aspect.

This theme means a lot to me, because ever since July 17, 2023, I’ve kept a Google Doc with a bunch of story ideas I have! Most of them are very half-baked and contain a sentence or two; they’re just something I want to experiment on. Right now, I have exactly 2100 words in the document, and honestly, I’m so proud of it. I feel like these story ideas show parts of who I am, and kind-of reflect my thoughts (in a good way). While I have not expanded any of these ideas into stories yet (hence the name “stories that will never be”), I’m really hoping that I will, soon. Throughout the app, you’ll see a bunch of these stories (in fact, one for each question!), and I hope you find something cool out of them. <3
*Quick note!* I’d appreciate it if you didn’t use these ideas for stories of your
own! If you have an idea, please let me know before you start writing - thank you!!

Anyways, besides that, a cool fact about me is that I was born in New Zealand. While I don’t live there now, I still feel a strong connection with it, and I always root for them in the Olympics ;D I hope to return there frequently in the future - honestly, the nature is simply that beautiful, and the people are so amazing.

I also find that recently, I’ve been thinking about the future often. It’s just something that I think naturally comes as one grows older, and it’s a very interesting thing. Time itself is such an interesting concept, and my future is still being written. Yeah, just wanted to share that!

Anyways, I think I’ll be wrapping this section up! Hope you learned something about me

2. Previous Participation
I’ve participated in SWC for a total of eight sessions! My first session was November 2020, and my last session was July 2024. This session will be my ninth which is super exciting. Here is the comprehensive list of the cabins I’ve participated in:
Contemporary Aquarium Nov ‘20 - Camper
Myth Chickumbers March ‘21 - Camper
Dystopian Rebellion July ‘21 - Camper
Script: The Musical Nov ‘22 - Camper
Fantasy Four Nations July ‘23 - Camper
Mystery Mansion Nov ‘23 - Co-leader, MBC Member
Thriller Insect Academy March ‘24 - Camper, MBC Member, Mercenary
Thriller Psychic Agency July ‘24 (TCTWNW) - Camper

I don’t want to ramble about my sessions, but I’ll talk about some of them! Last November was my first time being exposed to the SWC leadership idea, and let me tell you - it was a blast. Planning Mystery with Finley and Mabel is an experience I’ll never forget, and it showed me just how fun SWC can be. I really felt like I made a bond with them, as well as the campers (Lily, Marbles, Lio, Mint, just to name a few ). The co-leader experience was truly something, and I really feel like I’ll be able to contribute to this session as I did last November.

Last session, I was part of TCTWNW, and it was actually so cool. I was out-of-town in July, but still managed to participate in Thriller, and I loved it. In my opinion, taking away the competitive aspect of SWC didn’t diminish how I felt about it; in fact, it made me experience a new perspective. Inky, Kiara, and Gabbie were so amazing, and that session really made an impression on me.

In real life, I’m currently the treasurer of my class office - I keep accurate accounts of our balance, regularly give reports to the others, and maintain our pace towards our fundraising goal. I feel like I will be able to use these skills as a co-leader.

In addition, I’m the secretary of Operation Smile Club at my school, a non-profit organization that raises money for surgeries to those who have cleft-lip and palate (search it up!). Honestly, I love being a part of OSC. My other officers are so amazing, and I’ve learnt how to successfully work with others and use spreadsheets (Finley are you proud of me?)!!

I’ve also learned a lot about graphic design from my experience in the Memory Book Committee, and it’s definitely helped me in school, and in general as well!

I feel like I can use the experience I’ve gained from class office, OSC, and SWC to successfully contribute to the leadership team.

3. Cabin Preferences
Honestly, if it comes down to it, I’d love to lead any cabin, regardless of genre. However, there are some I’d definitely want to lead over others! I’d prefer not to co-lead Thriller, as I’ve already been a part of it for two sessions now.

As for those I’d like to co-lead, genres that pop out to me are Folklore, Hi-Fi, and Horror. I don’t know why, but those cabins just feel interesting (they just give off the vibes, you know?). Some other ones that stand out to me are Classics, Myth, and Poetry. In addition, regarding new cabins, I’d LOVE to see the return of the Romance cabin (PLEASE HOSTS), as well as the introduction of Magic Realism (one of the best genres hands-down).

As for TCTWNW, I’m totally fine with co-leading it! I’m planning to dedicate more time to SWC this session, however. Even though TCTWNW is not my top choice, I’d still love the opportunity to co-lead it.

4. Excerpt
Excerpt from “the end of time”, a poem I wrote this summer. Cool story, I actually intended for it to be a speech! I entered it for July's writing comp, and am still waiting for results (hehe). CW: existential thoughts

for me,
time is a human invention.
before us, no one was counting the
seconds,
hours,
years.

it’s just us.

the universe may have moments,
but it doesn’t govern itself by our arbitrary boundaries -
by the tick-tock of our clock.

in 1.3 billion years, our planet will be uninhabitable.
in 5 billion years, the sun will collapse into a red giant, engulfing earth.

that’s crazy.
our time on this planet is finite, even if it’s so long in the future.
where will we be then?
(i’m not sure if i want to know)

will there be a time when the universe ends?
a time where nothing will be everything?
a time when we can’t tell the time anymore?
if there’s a past, present, but no future, will there still be time?

or will that be the end of time?

forever will never end.
neither will eternity.
but, who knows?
maybe one day, time will fade away in our universe.
and that will be the day that time ends.

~

all this existential talk has got me tired, but it makes me feel slightly better.
the future of our universe makes me feel like i’m part of a larger purpose,
and that’s cool.

time is limited, but that doesn’t mean you should panic.
cherish your moments, feel them.
appreciate, understand them.

in the end, everything is finite - even time.
but it’s about the journey, not the destination.
it’s about the story, not the ending.
it’s what you do that matters -

and that will be true until the end of time.

5. Time Dedication
I’m definitely planning to dedicate time towards SWC. On weekdays, I will be available all from 6 - 10pm EST, and I will be free all day on weekends, during October and November.

If there is a circumstance that requires me to become more inactive, I will understand what I need to do, and will withdraw from the co-leading team if needed (however, this will be very unlikely).

If there is a time I will need to be inactive, I will be sure to let my leading team know, but overall, I’m planning to dedicate many hours towards SWC.

One thing - I will be very busy from November 1-10, due to preparing for a speech competition, just letting you know in advance! However, once it’s over, my activity level will go back to normal!

6. Time Management
Time management is always the problem I look forward to least, haha! I definitely have a rocky relationship with time (as you can see in my poem lol), but I believe as a co-leader, I can definitely complete activities within a set deadline. It’s a strength I’ve had regarding time management – I can work well under deadlines and get what needs to be done by a set time (example: this co-leader app xD). Even if there’s a strict deadline, I know what actions specifically need to be done.

However, a shortcoming I have regarding time management is that when I have a big project/deadline coming up, I will have difficulty getting started. Once I get started, it’s no problem - but for me, the hardest part about these projects is starting. The task itself seems very daunting for me, and I’ll usually wait until a few days before the deadline to actually get started (aka: procrastination). However, I believe I can harness this problem when co-leading, whether by asking others to keep me accountable, or by telling myself the importance of finishing tasks on time. After this, I’ll be able to manage my time more wisely.

7. Collaboration and Assets
Collaboration is also a question I don’t particularly look forward to haha, but here we are! In collaboration, I feel like a strength that I have is that I take into account what everyone says. Even though I’m not always the “leader”, I feel like something I value in collaboration is taking perspectives in account, even though it may only be one person who has a different opinion (if that makes sense). I feel like it’s one of the most important parts of collaboration, as listening to everyone’s ideas (even though they may be different) is something I heavily emphasize!

As for shortcomings, I’m going to reference my Operation Smile experience. Over the past few weeks, I felt that some of the decisions the president was making didn’t align with my opinion, even though the others supported their decision. After a few days of being distant(?) with them, I decided that I wanted to talk to them when there was a miscommunication. They also felt the same way towards me, and after a few messages online, I feel like we bridged the gap between us by SO much. Honestly, it really helped.

One of my shortcomings is that I don’t really express my opinion on something when I don’t agree with something. I just don’t want to make others be “mad” at me. However, I definitely feel like this example was something that helped me stop the problem, and I will definitely let others know my opinions (even if they’re contrasting) in the future.

8. One Quality
A quality I value in a leader is one that can adapt to unforeseen circumstances. I feel like many times in cabins, something pops up. Whether it’s a leader going inactive, or trouble regarding word-adding, the ability to understand the situation and make the best choice going forward is something that’s really important for a leader to do.

As a co-leader, I’ll definitely exemplify this by talking with my leader and co-leader(s), and determining the best response, and if this isn’t possible, I’ll reach out to the hosts and handle any situation as needed!

9. Cabin Atmosphere
A sense of community will be emphasized in this cabin; campers and leaders will bond with each other, have fun, and make lasting experiences, all while engaging in writing and cabin activities. (194 characters)

10. Checkboxes
☑ Yes, I will be able to help add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp.
☐ I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC.
B. There are no leadership responsibilities I will not be able to complete.
C. In the case of an inactive leader or co, I’ll first check in with them by messaging them regarding their activity. If they don’t respond after a few days, I’ll talk with the other leaders, and the hosts if needed. If we are still early in the cabin-planning process, a new (co-)leader may be considered to be added to the team, but this will only become an option if the inactivity becomes an issue, and the others believe this will be the best option.

If I become inactive, I will let the others know ASAP. If it becomes a problem, I will understand the best thing to do, and may relinquish my role.

Leader App Nov 2024 - Forum Version and Excerpt

Answers
About me:
Hi, I’m Paige! I use she/her pronouns and I live in the EST timezone.. I’m eighteen (how and when did that happen? /j /lh) and currently taking a gap year between highschool and post-secondary education. Despite how that sounds, I am very much still a child at heart, which can be evidenced by my ongoing obsession with numerous fandoms such as Star Wars (my absolute favourite) and Marvel. I was homeschooled for grades 1-11, then went to an awesome alternative school for grade 12. Because of these styles of education, I have been able to freely explore my interests, which include sewing, writing, and acting - and mainly anything involving theatre. Theatre is my passion, and I hope to go into costume design/construction for theatre as a career. Some of my current projects include making a chainmail shirt from soda can pop tabs, and writing a fantasy book with Soki. I’m also hoping to soon start working on constructing a Regency-era historical outfit (think Jane Austen.)

Previous participation:
I’ve participated in SWC as a camper eight times, if I’m counting correctly, and as a co-leader once. I’ve been writing for six years now, and have learned a lot through the internet. I took an online writing class a few years back, and I’ve read multiple books about novel-writing. I’m familiar with multiple types of plot structures and techniques for character- and world-building. Past leadership roles of mine include volunteering for drama classes and nature classes for elementary and middle school aged kids. I’ve also taught my own drama classes, and worked at my synagogue's youth program for around five years, during which I coordinated programming for a group of mixed ages.

Cabin preferences:
I have an idea for a Lord of the Rings themed cabin. It would be themed around the journey to Mordor, with the cabin currency being leagues (or some other measure of distance), representing the distance that we’ve traveled. The campers would all be part of the Fellowship of the Ring. Our goal would be to get to Mordor (by getting enough leagues/traveling enough distance), and maybe there would be a special writing task at the end that everyone has to do in order for us to destroy the ring. (I don’t think that’s too spoiler-y for LOTR? I’m pretty sure I knew the gist of this before I read it.) I’m thinking there would be short, weekly in-cabin writing tasks aimed at fostering new writing skills, while also being inspired by LOTR. An example could be a task to make a family tree for one of your characters, which is a very useful technique and very related to the type of worldbuilding in LOTR. I think this cabin theme would work for Fantasy, Adventure, or maybe even Classics (my first choice would be Fantasy, but I’d be happy with any of them). I think it could probably also work for The Cabin That Will Not Win, but I’ll leave that to the hosts to decide. I’d be okay to lead TCTWNW, I would just focus more on in-cabin activities and personal growth.

Time Dedication:
Since I’m on my gap year currently, I’m much less busy in terms of schoolwork. That said, I’m looking to find some sort of job or volunteer position, and if I find one, I’m not sure how that will affect my schedule/availability. But overall and either way, I think I can safely say that on a normal day, I can be online for at least a half hour, often more. I can also come online for a couple minutes at various points throughout a day.

I have some religious holidays in October, during which I won’t be able to be online, but I don’t think that will negatively impact my cabin planning.

One more thing: I can’t be online most of the day on Saturdays. I don’t believe this negatively impacts my SWC participation, with the exception of cabin wars. I have almost never been able, and will not be able, to participate in cabin wars. To effectively deal with this as a leader, I would make sure that at least one of my cos has previous experience in cabin wars. I would let my cos know I won’t be able to participate, and hand off leadership of that to them.

Time Management:

When it comes to time management, I am aware that I can get overwhelmed when I have too much on my plate. It can make me freeze up and be unable to accomplish anything.

That said, I am good at making schedules for myself that spread out my workload and keep me from getting overwhelmed. I use calendars and to-do lists to help keep me on track and on top of things.

Collaboration and assets:
I would say that my biggest weakness in working with others is my social anxiety; it can often prevent me from making new connections, or from properly sharing my thoughts and ideas. I do find it much easier online, though, because I can read over messages before sending them. And once I get to know people, my anxiety fades away and I become very talkative. I love working with people who share similar interests with me, and building new ideas together. A strength of mine is that I’m good at keeping things organized and on track, and at delegating tasks; as I mentioned in ‘previous participation,’ I have experience leading/collaborating with a group to run programs. I’m open to different points of view, and I think I also bring a unique perspective to things. I’m also very creative. Though I can sometimes suffer from a lack of self-confidence, when I’m working with a group of amazing people, my belief that we can get things done and create something amazing together overpowers any doubts I might have.

One Quality:
The one quality I value most in a leader is approachableness. A friendly leader can be what makes or breaks a cabin atmosphere. Great leaders are what have so often made me feel at home in SWC, and as a leader, I would embody that trait by being active in the cabin and checking up on campers, asking how they’re doing and how their writing goals are going. I would ask fun questions and initiate conversations in the cabin so that campers can get to know each other. I would answer questions as quickly as possible, and if it’s something I don’t know the answer to, I would send them to someone who does. Most of all, I would make sure to always be kind.

Cabin atmosphere:
Friendly, community oriented, and focused on personal writing growth and goals. Campers are encouraged to participate in a way that works for and is worthwhile to them.

Checkboxes:
I will be available to help add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp
I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC

B: I can complete all the leadership responsibilities listed in the FAQ.

C: In the case that I had to go inactive, I would let my co-leaders, the hosts, and the leader team know, ideally a few days in advance, if possible. At the ‘OK’ of the hosts, I would ask one of my cos to take on my leadership responsibilities, transfer studio hostship to them, and try to help find a new co to take over their previous responsibilities. I would explain things to my campers so that they know what’s happening, and I would try to be online and help if I was at all able. If I was only inactive temporarily, I would keep everyone updated on when I’d be back.
If one of my cos went inactive, I would ask that they let me know as much in advance as possible (ex. letting me know that 24 hours from now they will no longer be able to count words), and make sure one of us lets the hosts and leader team know. I would initially have them make sure all word counts are accurate and then transfer the hostship of their word count studio to me. If me and my other co(s) felt the workload would be too much for us alone, I would look at co-leader applications of people that hadn’t been chosen and ask one of them to take over as a co.

Excerpt
This is an excerpt of a fanfiction I was writing a while ago (and might continue in the future), in which I ask the question: What if Luke Skywalker turns to the dark side during his fight on the second Death Star? And what could possibly make him do that? In this version, he kills Darth Vader in a moment of anger, then feels intense grief, as well as anger at himself because it was something he never meant to do; these emotions are the start of his fall down a dark path.

This part is in Leia's perspective, and takes place during/immediately after the scene I've just described. This contains spoilers for Return of the Jedi in particular, but also pretty much any Original Trilogy movie you haven't seen. I hope you like it .

One of the hard parts of being a leader is being responsible for people - but in particular, your friends. When I’m in charge of people I don’t know, I can keep my head; I can lead them calmly and responsibly. But with my friends, with people I care about, I always - no matter how calm I might look - worry about them. But over the years, after so much war, when my friends are, either by order or choice, under my command, I can manage to put thoughts of them in a certain section of my mind, and focus on what I’m doing.
But now, with Luke on the Death Star and me down here, I can’t just block thoughts of him out. I don’t think it’s possible to block out the thing which has, in a way, just woken up inside me. Really, it’s always been there, and I’ve always known it on some level. But ever since Luke told me… well, that I’m his sister, I’ve become more consciously aware of it, or at least of my connection to him, in a way I never was before.
So I can’t shut out thoughts of him, because I can feel him. And because of that, I can’t help but constantly grasp at the vague feeling of his emotions, searching for clues to what he’s doing, if he’s safe, and if there’s any way - even though I know there isn’t - that I can help.
“Careful,” Han says when I fumble with and nearly drop an explosive. “Is it your arm?”
I let him take the explosive from my hands, even though my injured arm isn’t the problem. It hurts, but I’m no stranger to that kind of pain. “I’m just worried about Luke,” I finally say, as Han screws in the last explosive. He gives me an odd look before saying, in a mutter, “Well, so am I, but there’s nothing we can do for him right now.”
I know he’s still upset about what happened in the Ewok village, and even though there’s an easy way to make him understand, I just haven’t found a way - or the time - to broach the subject.
Now Han turns to everyone and shouts that we have to get going. I begin to follow the tide fleeing the base - and then I feel it.
A sharp rush of anger, but not from myself, and it’s quickly followed by a wall of shock. I find myself in stark emptiness for a moment - and then comes the wave of grief.
I breathe in sharply, only realizing I’ve stopped at the door for who knows how long when someone yells my name. It’s Han, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards the bushes.
Merely seconds after we reach the greenery, the base, and the shield generator along with it, explodes. But all I can feel is Luke’s guilt and grief, and all I can think about is what could be causing it.
Han glances over at me, the triumphant grin on his face fading when he sees the look on my face. “What is it?”
“Nothing.”
But the worry in his eyes somehow helps me force myself back to the present.
“We did it,” I finally say to him, gesturing toward the blown-up base. After a moment, I sigh, adding, “but who knows if they can.”
The Rebel fleet will turn their forces on the Death Star now, and all we can do is wait here on the ground. I’ve always preferred to do things myself, not wait around for others to finish the job.
We, and everyone around us, sit in silence for a few minutes; I think no one’s quite sure what to do now. Preparing myself to do my job - lead - I start to stand, but I’m suddenly hit again by my connection to my brother, the Force. I barely realize that this is the first time I’ve thought of him as that, too focused on the emotion that fills me. Luke’s anger has returned, but this time, there’s something different about it, something…
Darker.
More despairing.
More complete.
And in that moment I know, more than anything else right now, that my brother’s lost his fight. Not just the fight against the Emperor and his father, but the fight I’ve just realized he’s been facing against himself…
I sink back to the ground, grabbing a fistful of dirt in one hand, and Han’s arm in the other. I let the soil fall through my fingers as I say, “He’s gone.”
“What? Luke? He’s…?”
Han can’t seem to find the words, but I know what he’s asking.
I shake my head. “Worse.”
Han asks more questions, but I can’t answer. I don’t know how to explain.
As I try to slow my breathing, Luke’s anger turns calmer, firmer, but worse in every way. It becomes a thick wall, a hum of energy like the one inside myself, like the one I always felt from him.
But this is a different energy.
And soon, though I don’t know why, I can’t feel it anymore.

if only i could art (all hail photography instead) | a swc (co)leader app!


about me

hilo! I am called ever :> i'm your friendly neighborhood(on second thought probably not–) average homeschooled fifteen year old Sikh gwdfier CST resider who transforms into a swcer when sessions roll around–don't tell gwdfi i said that. I love reading, writing, crocheting, knitting, embroiderying, sewing, and playing chess. Unfortunately the last one is often forgotten since my nine year old brother keeps on beating me (for the record I'm not a bad player he's just really good it's tragic). I also do not possess the ability to follow crochet sewing embroidery or knitting patterns, so i wing everything.

my first love is reading, I have read every day since I first learned how - my earliest memories are sitting on the dining table with a huge stack of books just reading through them after a trip from the library. You definitely don't need to know what my favorite book was then though. twas geronimo stilton
My very favorite books are the wizard of earthsea(and the rest of the series for that matter), by ursula k le guin and the graveyard book, by neil gaiman.
after this came writing, tis a natural next step i think. but that tis a story for another day

experience

In the past, I believe I have participated in around 4 SWC sessions, and 3 with SRC. This is my first time applying for leader/coleader, however. In my defense my family keeps on going on vacation around SWC time. Long story–

For leadership experience: online, I’m one of the sixteen current managers of GWDFI, y’know, that super active scratch studio with like 20,000 followers–we usually discuss rules and problems within the studio, brainstorm for new ideas, etc. In real life, I’m a coordination officer for an organization and I’m going start helping a professor with research in a week or two! Although the actual research probably isn’t an indication of leadership, asking totally was, he squinted at me and I still haven’t recovered - I unfortunately don’t have much more, since like I mentioned, I’m homeschooled. I just recently started taking classes at a university a week ago which is how I managed to get this much.

As for writing experience - there is a small problem. I don’t usually show my writing like at all, so although I know it isn’t bad - it hasn’t withstood much. I did take a class in college in composition I though and the teacher did give very glowing praise–like as in several paragraphs which I was a bit worried about, didn’t seem quite right–I did get like 100% in that class though, that was fun XD

I have won a few writing contests on scratch too, if it helps - wait. Now that I think about it - THE UNIVERSITY HAS A WRITING CLUB I THINK OH MY GOSH - ahem. Nevermind. (magic of dual credit muahaha)

preferred cabins


frankly, I love all of swc's cabins, however I feel that the ones I'd absolutely love leading would definitely be:
fantasy
adventure
horror
action
adventure
bi-fi (EEE IMAGINE WE"RE ALL YARN TAKING OVER THE UNIVERSE sorry i have a yarn obsession but I'd love to come up with a storyline for bi-fi XDD)

The ones I wouldn't prefer to lead would be:
dystopian
sci-fi
tragedy
steampunk

just because I'm very veryyy unused to writing in these genres.

Everything else would be okay!

for tctwnw, I wouldn't mind (co)leading it at all, although I've never been in it, if anything I would probably prefer the less competitive atmosphere.

time dedication


In general, the time I should be able to devote to SWC would be more then an hour each day. The months around November - and November itself - are a pretty un-busy time of the year for me, so that’s what I would expect - unlike most other sessions where my f a m i l y a l w a y s d e c i d e s t o g o o n v a c a t i o n :"DDDD but usually my most time consuming responsibilites are just schoolwork and presumably some extracurriculars.

time management


I’m usually pretty good about time management. Since the first twelve years of my life were completely deadline free, I take them pretty seriously. The only way I would miss a deadline is if I completely forgot about it - which is a possibility but also hopefully a very rare one. The only exception is this application - I just realized I wanted to apply yesterday - if this gets finished I’m going to be impressed sobs.

collaboration skills

my biggest flaw in collaboration is probably remaining silent a bit more then I should. I tend to avoid confrontation, but then, when I notice myself doing it–I'll usually go in the exact opposite direction, which means stating my opinion very decidedly–not aggressive i think, but very decidedly, in an effort to undo the time lost in being silent. To cure this, I usually just ask myself whether i disagree a few times just to make sure i'm not squishing my opinion–on the bright side I'm pretty encouraging, and usually think through everyone's ideas very carefully. I also like to think I'm good at wording things, I'm very proud of that XDDD


one quality

the one quality i think matters most in leadership is communication - you can't leader without communicating with everyone and working together with people around you. Besides, like everything comes from communicating, even love for SWC if i hadn't been able to speak to all the wonderful people in swc, I doubt i'd love it as much as I do. As a leader or co leader, i would try to make everyone feel as welcomed as possible through that.

cabin atmosphere


A friendly and close-knit cabin with a little spritz of friends and motivation-tea!

checkboxes

☑ | I will be available to help add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp
☐ | I am willing to share a promotional project for SWC

B. not that I know of!
C. I would likely wait for a day or two, and if I feel that the inactivity is effecting camp activites, I would talk to a host or leader(depending on who went inactive) for possibly getting a new co-host/host and making sure no one has too much to do. If I'm the one who goes inactive, then I'd try to complete whichever duties I needed to do as early as possible and if I'm the host of the session, switching if absolutely necessary.
I will try my absolute best to avoid that though :")

****
1143 words!

writing excerpt

Frost slipped through the street. A layer of pristine ice formed on a windowsill and tiny crystals bloomed on the glass as they trailed a slender finger along the edge. A tree nearby dripping with rain felt the drops harden and turn into sharp icicles lined with stars.

Frost did these rounds of the world several times a year, spreading glimmers of frost and of cold, chilling, beauty; the beauty of a beginning–the beginning of winter.
Frost appreciated beauty; their own rivaled that of many things unthinkable—even if it was a sharp, not-quite-human kind, with cheekbones as slender as knives and eyes as pale as frost itself. For, of course, Frost was not human.
It was perhaps because of this that Frost despised mortals who dared to venture out of doors when Frost was about. They were human, and Frost was not. Frost did their work at the time of turning, when mortals should be asleep, and Frost did not believe in breaking should-be’s.

It was very strange then, very strange indeed, and certainly out of the realm of should-be’s, when Frost came upon a child. A blanket swaddled child, outside, at dusk, in the dead of nowhere—not just a child, in fact—a toddler.

“What are you doing here, child?” they asked, waiting a moment before remembering that mortal children often were born mute.
The baby gurgled, and looked up at Frost with large brown eyes—it was not crying, oddly enough.
Frost glanced around. Seeing no one, they shook their head pityingly. Then, they gave a last glance at the child, and continued down their path. Mortals were not their responsibility. As they brushed their fingers over branches, the branches groaned with the weight of fairness. Squirrels, feeling the icy breeze and heeding its warning, scurried out of Frost’s path.

After a third of the forest had been covered in an icy sheen and Frost had stopped for a split moment to freeze the delicate petals of a snowdrop, Frost felt something, or someone, watching them. They looked up.
The child was before Frost again, its bright eyes boring into theirs. Frost started backwards—they were in the same clearing once more.
They looked at the young one. It was very young, Frost realized. Very very young, not a toddler, a babe—young enough to be a ward of the Old Ones, in fact. Frost quickly dropped the thought.

“What is this?” they said, quietly, their voice tinged with surprise.
The child gurgled again—its eyes were laughing, Frost thought, with some disgust.
“What sorcery have you done, little one?”
The child blinked as it held out its arms.

Frost took a step backwards. “I cannot touch you,” they said harshly, “you will freeze.”
It waved an arm and rocked from side to side in its pitiful little swaddle.
“I cannot call for help either. I am the frost itself. You are alone, little one.”
That was not strictly true, but they could do nothing except call for The Council—and Frost did not keep wayward children, not while their slender fingers still dripped ice, and that was how it was and would be for all of eternity.
The child’s cheeks were red, Frost noticed. They stepped away, pulling back the cold.
“What do you want?” They waited a split second before turning back towards the trees. After a few moments they looked over their shoulder.
The childs’ eyes were still fixed on Frost.
Frost paused and ambled back, sliding down towards the ground and wrapping their arms around their legs.
“If you wish me to say, I will,” they said, impassively. It had been left to die in the cold, and even the company of frost itself was something, perhaps.

*
633 words, it continues but i didn't want to curse whoever reads this thing with like–a lot of words XDDDD

_______________

Thank you so much for reading and considering <333 my apologises for any mishapsss

Case Files - Zy's SWC Leader App - Nov 24
2600 words

♤
About Me:
Hi!! I'm Zy (he/him), a member of the sometimes lovely PST timezone! I'm 15 and a sophomore in high school this year, and when I'm not trying (and usually failing) to destroy everyone by writing the most during cabin wars, you can probably find me drawing, making videos for my YouTube channel, singing, working out, playing genshin impact, jumping into my (still growing) collection of squishmallows–or of course, writing.

I've been writing stories since I was kid–and they mean a lot to me. Writing has always been an outlet for me to express myself, my creativity, and my struggles in life without being overwhelmed by them. I love how SWC has helped me to grow my abilities and connect with people–I could not be more grateful to have joined this community and met so, so many awesome people!

Currently, I'm working on a novel about eight people, all members of a chess club. Hmm, I wonder what this app could possibly be based on ;D I don't want to give away any details (certainly not because I don't know any yet) but I will say they've all been gathered at this mysterious place down on little Carshar island for a reason, and the hopes of their escape will be a life or death decision–as well as how they interact with the world that greets them when they inevitably escape.

SWC really means a lot to me, so here are some goals I'm hoping to achieve this November!
- Write 30k words (the biggest word goal i'll have ever attempted)
I really want to challenge myself this November by working hard on this goal every day. Now that I am writing more often thanks to my YouTube scripts, I think it will be fun to see how much I can progress from my last session!
- Complete all four weeklies and more than half of the dailies
The last weekly of the session always looks so fun, but I've been a bit intimidated to try it! This session, I am hoping to move past that and have fun improving my skills with the last weekly in particular.
- Get my novel to 15k words
I'll be honest–I'm really tired of getting distracted when I'm only a little bit into my novel. I want to give myself more time to get to know the unique characters before moving onto the next project–so this session, I am hoping to dedicate at least half of my word goal to my novel. I think this will greatly benefit me and my writing skills!

♤
Past Participation:
I've been doing SWC for four years–this November will be my 14th session and I couldn't be happier to continue my SWC journey this fall! Unfortunately, I was not able to apply to lead this July–or even participate as much as I would've liked as I was dealing with some mental health issues in spring and had to take some time away. I'm very grateful that I am doing so much better, and I am very much hoping to be given the chance to participate more actively this November, be it as a (co)leader or as a camper!

Past Sessions as a Camper (note: most of these sessions were not on this account. if you would like a list of all my accounts i've used to participate previously, please reach out to me!):
July 20 - (Fantasy) -Alocasia and Foxies4Ever
Nov 20 - (Real-Fi) holographic, pitau, and apart-
Mar 21 - (Dystopian) Bellevue91, MiraculousLover05, and ViennaLeWeirdo
July 21 - (Mystery) sproutdoodlq and ViennaLeWeirdo
Nov 21 - (Poetry) Elvin_Wonders, Sunclaw68, and PandasCodingGames
Mar 22 - (was in Non-Fi, switched to Sci-Fi) Rey_venclaw, -limeade, 129waterfall, and Starrial
July 22 - (Dystopian) ButterPopcorn8, Starrial, 2GS6, and Firetender
Nov 22 - (Sci-Fi) Spire-, bookworm_4ever12, and gh0stwriter
Mar 23 - (Horror) EeveeDonut, MouseLoverr, Spire-, and Lesixiq-
July 23 - (Adventure) rocksalmon800, scratch_warrior_cat, minergold48
Nov 23 - (Sci-Fi) MouseLoverr, Eeveedonut, CelinaWrites, Firetender
July 24 (Gothic) mossflower29, opheliio, -BookDragon-, -vanillamochabear-

Past Sessions as a Leader:
March 24 - (Sci-Fi) Zionykon, Essayist, ForestPanther
Leading Sci-Fi: leading Sci-Fi in march was such an amazing experience! Not only did I get to meet a ton of new people, but I got to further my connection and relationship with people I already knew, while making super awesome memories throughout the entire session!

I have a ton of writing experience–I've been doing every writing camp/course I could find since I was around ten or eleven. I took many creative writing classes–at my middle school, my high school, and more online a couple years ago! I've also been involved in too many writing websites in the last seven years to count! I've finished one novel, and started way too many others.

Other than my role as a leader in March, I don't have much leadership experience in real life! However, last year, I had the opportunity to help direct a short film for my school. It was definitely a challenge, as most students were bored with the project and its content–and it took some doing, but we did manage to complete the project with everyone's help.

♤
Cabin Preferences:
While I have my idea for a new cabin below, I understand it's quite niche, and I would be 1000% comfortable with altering this idea or coming up with a new idea entirely for the following cabins (in no particular order):
- Dystopian
- Sci-fi
- Mystery
- Thriller
- Fantasy
- Adventure
- Steampunk
- Horror
- Cyberpunk
- Gothic
- Any _punk genre (a cyberpunk cabin would be awesome!)

Now, my main proposal is for a new cabin: Lunarpunk.
Lunarpunk is defined by Aesthetics wiki as ‘the more tentative sibling aesthetic of Solarpunk. It embraces spirituality and utopian futures, referencing witchcraft, futuristic design, nature, renewable energy, and the circle of life.’
I have many sub-ideas for this cabin, and have started planning a lot of it out in great detail (mostly in-cabin currency systems, plotlines, characters, activities, etc.). I am extremely in love with my idea for lunarpunk, so it goes without saying please do not take this idea regardless of whether or not I am chosen to lead it <3 for a long time I have refused to share any cabin ideas for fear someone would take them, so please please please do not take this ;D

A city in the future, after an apocalypse where nature reclaimed most buildings and civilizations, where the heat of the planet has gotten so extreme people can only be out at night–in fact, everything exclusively runs at night. People sleep during the long, hot days–but when night rolls around, everything feels alive. Everyone is connected through their shared power and love of the moon. You can go shopping at the Ganymede Mall, visit the Lunar Gardens, pray to the moon goddess, Dysnomia, or take a picnic down on the mysterious shores of Iapetus Lake. The possibilities are as endless as the sky at dawn.

Below are a few more ideas for some different cabins:
- (Horror, Mystery) Taking place in a small town on the edge of a forest, you've always been warned to stay inside at night. People who venture into the dark fields in the dead of darkness never return–and one day you're out, all alone, as the sun begins descending the sky.
- (Sci-fi, Dystopian, Cyberpunk) You were sitting on the couch when the alarm went off, signaling the end. Nothing ended, though–but everything seems different. EveryONE seems different. The source of this issue seems to be a large corporation, manufacturing everything from microchips to space rockets–can we successfully infiltrate the dangerous company and undo whatever caused this?
- (Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller, Mystery) Your crew has been traveling for days–and when you finally find a deserted island, everyone is happy… at first. But your ship quickly disappears, leaving you stranded here.
- (Any Genre) Casino cabin!!! I mentioned this in march but i would lovelovelove a casino themed cabin.
(Mystery, Horror, Gothic) Haunted mansion in the woods–the campers must track down artifacts from the ghost’s lives in order to help them move on to the next realm.

Of course, I would also be more than happy to work within the leadership team to come up with a theme more fitting the preferences of its members and the atmosphere we hope to achieve.

I would prefer not to (co)lead TCTWNW, as competition is a huge motivator for me. In general, I don't find myself particularly motivated to work on things without an incentive–'winning' or ‘progress’ are the obvious ones in this case! I still would love to participate as a camper in TCTWNW and wholeheartedly love the concept, but I am not open to leading or co-leading it, Non-Fi, or Fan-Fi this session!



♤
4 excerpt
I
Every day brought to us a new hope. A hope of chances, freedom. I know I said the reason I didn’t seek more friends among the other people on Carshar island was my lack of need to–but really, they’re mostly weak. Some of them don’t even want to leave. They fell for the same lies they told the people we loved–that this is what was best for us. I only have an interest in surrounding myself with people who can get me out of here. That’s how I met Seren and Treachery. Two girls and my two best friends, all of us thrown in here for similar reasons.
The sky was dark with grey clouds, and despite the evening’s heat, all seemed to chill under their presence. The weather wasn’t always the same on Carshar, but lately the ominous winds and dark shapes cast against the ground seemed all the more familiar.
But if I could be stopped by the pettiness of a bad storm, I wouldn’t have made it this far in the first place. Letting the first drops of rain fall slowly onto my face, I turned to the people beside me. Treachery was only ten. Seren was much older at seventeen, the tips of her moon blonde hair reaching the top of Treachery’s head.
I hummed under my breath. Seren tilted her head slightly to look into my eyes. Her’s were like blood in the snow.
We never expected she would’ve ended up here. Everything about her was perfect—she lived in a big, fancy house with her picture-perfect family at the top of a wealthy neighborhood. She was on track to become the face of her legacy, arranged to marry someone she had barely met.
But they found out. No one knows how, but somehow they found out that Seren didn’t like this idea and was not planning to go through with it. She wasn’t planning anything drastic or cruel, of course. We’re talking about Seren. But that didn’t stop them from realizing her power was dangerous in the hands of anyone other than them–they killed her supposed future partner, and then tried to have her hanged for murder. The outrage was notable as well as extreme, allowing people to come together unanimously to support her being sent here. It was better than her death.
Funny how that works.


♤
Time Dedication:
While I do have school until 2 in the afternoon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I have many short breaks during the day in which I could add points, work on the daily/weekly, or simply spend time hanging out in the cabin. I also spend three hours on non-school days working on my YouTube channel and art. In addition to these, I am doing a couple of online classes for credit. Luckily, I'll be finished with my online courses by November, and I'm finished with my art related stuff in the morning/early afternoon, leaving most of my afternoons and evenings completely open. I expect to be able to devote at least two or three hours a day to SWC and SWC-related activities.

♤
Time Management:
Since March, I’ve been working on finding methods to improve my time management skills–and I’m happy to say it’s gone extremely well. Thanks to the work I’ve done on these, I am able to reduce the stress on not only me, but the people I’m working with–while getting a lot more done than I ever thought possible.

Skills:
- Scheduling out projects and making time for what we aim to accomplish is something I consider myself to be good at; by thinking ahead about what has to be done to successfully complete something on time, not only does it reduce stress on everyone, it becomes much easier to meet that expectation. I frequently use this to plan out my online content, ensuring I have enough time to complete every video/post without stress while still maintaining consistency.
- My ability to work extremely quickly without sacrificing quality, creativity, or input from other team members is a skill I value greatly. It allows me get a lot done within a short period, leaving us extra time to improve when we meet deadlines early. In the past, I'll admit I've used my rapid speed to counter my procrastination without falling behind. If I was chosen as a co, I feel confident saying I could use this ability to come up with project/storyline ideas, make additional projects/activities we wouldn't have time to otherwise, and take responsibility for any small things that need doing, leaving us more time to dedicate to more important tasks.

Shortcomings:
- One thing I am trying to work on at the moment is my lack of commitment to projects. It is very difficult for me to sit down and focus on completing a project with no set due date or finish line–all my unfinished novels are the proof of this. I'm currently trying to tackle this by setting a timer and then sitting down and starting–all the while telling myself its not about how MUCH I get done, but about how LONG I work on this project for. This trick has helped me out a ton and I'm excited to try it in this upcoming session!

♤
Collaboration + Assets
I feel my strengths and weaknesses as a collaborator balance each other out nicely, allowing me to focus on where I'm strongest while building up my weak areas.

- As someone who is flexible and easily adjusting to new situations, I appreciate my ability to quickly shift directions to face challenges head on! Within the leadership team and during the session, this skill can be used to swiftly come up with new activities, take a new approach to a plotline, or deal with situations within the cabin itself!!
- I feel my communication skills would bring something valuable to a leadership team–I am able to build relationships with people, listen and make heard the ideas of everyone, have productive and engaging conversations without slipping off topic, and make sure everyone feels respected and fairly treated by me and the other members of a leadership team!
- My optimistic view of situations brings a positivity to accomplishing challenges and working together as a team. By having a positive outlook on facing difficult situations and hardships, while still having empathy and understanding for them, we can greatly improve how we not only take on obstacles but how we allow ourselves to grow from them.


- My sensitivity to feedback comes at the cost of not being able to fully understand or implement constructive criticism or critique, and by trying to internally defend myself against feedback I perceive to be personal, I am hurting my individual growth and not allowing myself to grow. One way I am combatting this is by taking a short moment after I feel I have been rejected, and reminding myself that the majority of people are not intending their words to be perceived as negative!!
- I unfortunately have a bad case of perfectionism–before I can move forward with projects or even ideas, I feel the need to work out all the flaws and make sure every detail is perfect. And sure, that might be helpful when you're aiming for the best, but this can lead to me and the leadership team as a result falling behind in our work–when we're already on a deadline. I'm working to remind myself that while details are cool, they should come after we've already assured our progress won't be delayed by them!!


♤
One Quality:
There are so many qualities to value in a leader—empathy, honesty, communication, creativity—the list goes on and on. But if I had to pick just one, it would be determination. As a leader, it becomes increasingly hard to succeed at something without the determination to accomplish it! As someone who deeply values this trait, I am proud of myself for my lack of willingness to give up no matter the situation. I feel confident saying I would use this ability throughout the session to push through barriers, such as deadlines or lack of motivation, in order to make good on my promises and my responsibility as a (co)leader.

♤
Atmosphere:
An energetic and upbeat cabin, motivated by healthy competition, an interactive storyline, and plot-heavy activities for everyone to freely participate in at their own pace!

173 chars

♤
10
10A in project

10B
No, I have every confidence that I can complete all listed responsibilities.

10C
In case of inactivity on my part or by someone else on the leadership team, I would first ensure there was someone around that could add points/words and watch over the cabin for the duration of the inactivity. If there was no one already in the cabin that was able to do so, we would discuss asking a host/other leader or possibly bringing in another co-leader to assist. Our aim would to be to keep everything running smoothly, which (in the case of a planned absence) would include getting things done ahead of schedule or frequently checking in, to ensure we could make it as easy as possible for the other members of the leadership team and the cabin itself, in a way that ensures no one feels unsupported.

Short critique for Zy!
All in all, great app! You wanted me to focus on the time management section, so here are my suggestions! It's all really great, and most of this is just grammar and syntax- It's all very structurally sound and I like this answer as a whole!

It allows me get

Put a ‘to’ between me and get.

to otherwise

Insert ‘do’ in the middle.

One thing I am trying to work on at the moment is my lack of commitment to projects.

I would reword the sentence so it says, “One thing I am attempting to improve at the moment is my lack of commitment.”

the proof

I’d get rid of ‘the’.

I'm currently trying to tackle this by setting a timer and then sitting down and starting–all the while telling myself its not about how MUCH I get done, but about how LONG I work on this project for.

I would rearrange the sentence to this, “I'm currently trying to tackle this by doing the following. I set a timer and then sit down and start. All the while I tell myself it’s not about how MUCH I get done, but about how LONG I work.”

Question 1: About Me
Hello! I’m Chloe or Phoenix (call me either). I use she/her pronouns and live in the Central Time zone! I love music, writing, digital art, online nation sims, and teaching. I play French horn, mellophone, piano, as well as singing. My goal in life is to become a band teacher, and teach a high school band! My favorite book series is Ranger’s Apprentice and I really like apples .

Question 2: Previous Participation
Yes, I have participated in SWC. I have been a pretty regular camper in FSO since November of 2022 (I think). My most active session by far was March 2024. I did participate in July 2024, but my schedule was slammed and I dealt with a pretty big mental health issue at the time. But I’m back and better than ever! I’ve only ever been a camper but I really hope to expand that.
As for writing, I have been an avid writer for most of my lives. I have wrote poetry, essays, short stories, and more. For leadership, I was a coleader in JWC last session here on scratch. For other leadership positions, I have:
-Led Music in my church for 4 years now
-Been secretary for both my Beta and Library Clun
-Been VP for my Drama Club
-Secretary of Education, Chief Advisor to the President, and Member of Parliment in the Federated States of Orbis (Online nation sim game)
-Most recently, I have been the drum major for my band. For context, we lost our teacher midway through band camp, forcing me to take the primary leadership position and help teach band. Currently, we have a part time band teacher, until he can take over full time. Because of this, I’ve helped by: Teaching Choir and Jazz band, helping kids with parts, leading marching, leading the fight song, making lesson plans for Music appreciation, and keeping my executive staff team together



Question 3: Cabin Preference (names)
I would like to lead cabins like Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Myth, Sci-Fi, and Dystopian, though I’m pretty cool with anything. I probably wouldn’t be the best leader at the Cabin that Will Not Win, but I would do it if I was needed.
i have many ideas for cabins, including a Harry Potter kinda cabin, a Keeper of the Lost cities based cabin, and many many more ideas.


Question 4: Writing Example

Tears.
Invisible tears, stowed away
Deep inside a breaking heart.
Loneliness.
A pain so cutting, yet unseen.
“It's not that hard to make friends”
Yet it is.
No one wants you.
So the sorrow fades into an invisible mask, only shown at rare moments
“Actions speak louder then words” they say. Yes they do.
But words matter too.
The hateful words cut like a knife.
The kind words bring light.
But nothing matters more then that feeling, the feeling that you are accepted, you are loved…you are enough.
Still, it seems like you can never be enough.
No matter how hard you try.
One friend.
One person, willing to make a change.
One willing to be the sun in the darkest days
And though they may never see how much they matter to you. They do.
Tears.
Happy tears.
Tears of good memories.
Of see you laters, of never ending happiness.
Because you might not matter to the world, you might not be good enough for the world.
But you are perfect for your friend.

Question 5: Time I have
I should now be able to dedicate ample time to SWC! I currently don’t have any other obligations during the month of November to pull me away from SWC.

Question 6: Time Management
My time management has been pretty good as of late! My biggest flaw is honestly all the homework I get, which is something normally outside of my control, but I still need to manage my time well to do it. However, I tend to be really good about making deadlines.

Question 7: Collaboration & Assets
I am pretty good at working with others. During band camp, I had to work with my executive staff team to keep band going. I can be quite stubborn at times which has lead to clashes in the past, but I’m good at resolving conflict. I would bring a skilled leader to a leadership team, as I’ve lead a lot of things (just not a cabin). I’m not scared to say no, or give my honest opinion when it is needed. I also feel way more confident in myself as a leader than I previously did, because of my experiences with band camp, and I know confidence is very important to a leader.

Question 8: Quality Valued Most in a Leader
The quality I value most in a leader is the ability to inspire and motivate the people you’re leading. I find this very close. I take this very close to heart because without my leaderships team's ability to keep going and to keep being strong for my band kids, I do believe band would’ve died regardless of how we worked should we not have provided motivation. I believe I show this with the amount of positivity I bring to any leadership team, and my stubbornness to never give up on things or people, even when the world says I should.

Question 9: Cabin Atmosphere (under 200)
A competitive but friendly cabin, and an environment where anyone can be themselves and get the help that they need whether it’s in writing or in personal situations

Question 10:
I will be available to help add points consistently in the Main Cabin throughout camp - checked
I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC - checked

I am able to complete all leadership responsibilities in the FAQ!

In case of inactivity, I will be sure to communicate it with my cabin team and the hosts. I will ensure all my responsibilities are covered for and that things can run smoothly without me

niko’s nov ‘24 leader app critique
ok so i started with what i think are the most important questions to get you this critique with enough time to edit your answers before the deadline, but if i end up adding some more feedback for other answers i’ll be sure to let you know <3

cabin prefs
For Folklore my main idea so far is a witch’s coven …
THIS SOUNDS EPIC OMG
i also like how you described the cabin elements and activities you’d like to have despite what genre or storyline you’d be selected/offered for!

time management
i like how you not only list your weaknesses and give an in depth explanation of how they impact you, but you give several ideas and goals you have to improve them.
i don’t think you listed any strengths for this question though. i think a major thing to add in this answer would be your strengths, as it is important to show what skills you have, as well as being honest with your weaknesses.


collaboration and assets
To battle this I try to ask questions whenever I’m confused and clarifying when I didn’t explain something clearly.
yesss i love this ^^ great job explaining how you can improve on this weakness <3

One of my stronger assets is my ability to get everyone’s voices heard in a discussion and make sure everyones ideas are told.
this is a great strength! i recommend expanding on it though, so your weaknesses don’t overshadow your strengths. a way to do this might be explaining how this benefits you and your leadership team, or why this is important.

I also try to reach and get closer with whom I am collaborating with so that the environment is much more positive and welcoming.
positive environment whoop whoop! definitely agree that this is important and i love that you include it <3

one quality
no comment here, this answer is lovely <3

in closing, i really like your answers! i’m sorry i didn’t have time to go through everything :skull: but i wanted to do what i can and i’m heading off to bed as soon as i post this. best of luck! <3

beneath these cursed stars ‧₊˚ alana's swc leader app
word count - 2640 words

About Me:
Hello there! If you don’t know me, I’m Alana (she/her) and I’m a magical banana llama tyrant that resides in the b(EST) time zone. Over these past few sessions I’ve been forced into becoming a banana, and I guess it’s finally time to accept it ;D Anyways, I’m an ENFJ-T (at least the last time I checked!) who’s always interested in finding new opportunities to get out of my comfort zone. I love getting involved wherever it may be, and I feel like putting myself out there is one of the best way to meet new people and make lasting friendships <3

I’m sure you’ve seen me mention these things in practically all my apps, but it really goes without saying when I say that music and dance are practically my life and soul. I’ve grown up with them for so long and I couldn’t even begin to imagine what my life would be like if I had never gotten into these two things. I was always an energetic kid when I was younger, and I definitely still am! I started dancing at the age of three, and since then, I have never looked back. To this day I still feel like it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. As for music, it was something that I really liked doing as a side hobby, and over the years I feel like it has grown into something more.

Apart from dance and music, some of my other interests include: graphic design, participating in STEM-related activities, coding, scrapbooking, watercolor painting. Like a handful of other SWC-ers, I can often be seen reading a good book in my free time! Some of my favorites being “A Wish in the Dark”, “The War that Saved My Life”, “Song of Achilles”, “A Song Called Home”, and “I Fell in Love With Hope”. Since I typically read in these genres, my writing also tends to be in genres of Fantasy, Hi-Fi, Real-Fi, Mystery, and Sci-Fi (though if you have any cool genre ideas, please tell me! I’m always looking to experiment with something new!).

Some other things about me
- Favorite color combo: blush pink, rose gold, black, and white (and generally pastel shades <3)
- Favorite subject: Math
- Favorite cuisines: Italian, Indian, Mediterranean, Thai, Mexican, Afghan, Chinese
- Go-to desserts: Cheesecakes, tarts, and cupcakes!
- Favorite ice cream flavor: Cookies n’ Cream

Previous Participation:
Nov ‘22: Naan-Fi Breadhouse
Camper (with Daisy, Birdi, and Sophie)

March ‘23: Non-Fi Fossil Dig
Leader (with Finley and Waterfall)
MBC committee member

July ‘23: War Between Two (Myth)
Leader (with Wren)
MBC Host

Nov ‘24: Script Misfits
Leader (with Recca and Indigo)
Daily Team
MBC Host

March ‘24: Trapped in a Fairytale
Leader (with Amethyst and Sienna)
Daily Team
Weekly 4: ICONs
MBC Host

July ‘24: Bi-Fi Minion Mania
Leader (with Pepper and Summer)
Polar Bear coordinator
MBC Host

Outside of SWC, I’m always looking for new avenues to work on my leadership skills - whether that be within a classroom setting, leading an exec team, or helping out with school events. I’ve really been working on my leadership skills these past few years by understanding what being a leader truly means. I have actively been involved in volunteering within my community and I’m currently also the head of a youth committee in a non-profit organization. By getting involved in these activities, I’ve been able to encourage everyone to share their voice which has helped me grow not only as a leader, but also as an individual <3

Dedication:
During the months of October and November I will be busy with school as well as my extracurricular commitments. However, I don’t believe that there is anything significant that will greatly hinder my ability to contribute to cabin planning and the overall cabin execution. I believe that I should be able to dedicate roughly 2 - 3 hours of SWC on weekdays, and somewhere around that amount on weekends. Of course this will definitely change from time to time, but I will adjust my schedule accordingly in order to successfully complete all of my assigned tasks in a timely manner.

Above all, I understand that life > SWC which means that I will notify my (co)leaders and fellow hosts promptly if I need to take a break due to something that is impacting my life IRL or if I am going to experience any form of inactivity. Communication truly is key in any leadership setting, and that is why I want to be transparent and ensure that both my campers and (co)leaders are aware of any plans that may limit my activity.

Genres:
This session I will be leading Magical Realism - a cabin inspired both by bubble tea and the magical streets of Diagon Alley! This cabin is definitely focused on lore and in-cabin activities to help campers gain more confidence in their writing while also helping to build a close-knit community within the cabin itself. Similar to last July, my goal this session is to really focus on that bonding aspect of a cabin to help create a memorable experience for everyone <3

The Boba Tavern: Magical Realism
Located on the streets of Diagon Alley, The Boba Tavern is a minimalistic bubble tea shop
Though, they are definitely not what they seem to be on the outside! Here every camper gets to channel their inner animagus by having the ability to shapeshift into a bubble tea-themed animal (powers and other events are unlocked as the session progresses)
I was thinking of incorporating certain aspects from some of my past cabins (smoothie orders, changing scenes, and cabin-wide scavenger hunts for clues!)

Cabin theme ideas:
- Magical Realism: The Boba Tavern
- Fan-Fi: Battle of the Bands
- Mystery: The Ice Kingdom
- Folklore: Vanishing Tales
- Hi-Fi: Fallen Ruins
- Real-Fi: Money Heist
- Tragedy: Forgotten Heir

(I will not be leading TCTWNW this session <3)

Collaboration:
Some of my strengths in collaboration are…
- Listening to others: In group settings, I always listen to what others have to say before discussing my ideas - I may mention a few suggestions or concepts I’m hoping to flesh out here and there, but ultimately my goal is to hear what others think without feeling like they have to agree to what I’m saying. In 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’ve definitely learned this the hard way ^^’ But I now know that everyone has something valuable to contribute and that it is vital to ensure that everyone feels like their voice is heard. This way, everyone can feel proud of what we were able to accomplish as a team.

- Flexibility: I find that I can manage to collaborate with most people, whether they’re a close friend or someone I haven’t really gotten along with, I always put those issues aside and ensure that it does not impact the project. A team member is a team member at the end of the day, and I want to ensure that all ideas are valued equally - I am not going to choose one thought over another because of some biases, I will make sure that all ideas are equally discussed so that a bit of each person can be included in the final project. 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 find ways to collaborate. By showing people that what they have to say matters, I hope to make more lasting friendships with both new and old friends in the SWC community and beyond <3

Now coming to some weaknesses:
- Perfectionism: For all of my projects, 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 it will not be as grand as I had envisioned. Due to this, I’d often “redo” or go back and edit my group member’s work to ensure it meets all the criteria, for an assignment, for example. It was not only tedious for me to “clean up” after others, but it also undermined them, as people probably put a lot of effort into it <3 Throughout this past year I’ve been working towards a journey of growth, and in this journey I’ve learned that the only way to push through and move forward is by helping those around you. With that in mind, although my perfectionism does come out once in a while, I try to keep it to individual products where I can critique myself - when it comes to group settings, I just like to ensure that everyone is enjoying what they are doing and feels comfortable

This being said, I’ve 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. Similar to how I prefer things a certain way, someone else may want it another - and as a leader, it is by job to understand and respect that ^^ (which does also include speaking out so that we can collectively solve and problems before they become bigger issues)

Assets I will bring to the leadership team:
- Organization: I believe I’m a fairly organized person, and that is a vital quality in any leadership team. Working with each other can come with its own challenges, but ensuring that everything progresses in a timely manner is even harder. I’ve found that I’m really productive when I create a breakdown or a list of some sorts with activities that I need to complete. I’ll organize these by priority and set due dates as well as reminders to keep me on track. Since leading can be quite a time consuming thing, I believe that organization is a key asset in order to succeed!

- Adaptability: As a leader it is vital to be adaptable - things are going to happen unexpectedly and there will definitely be some challenges you meet along the way. Over time I’ve learned that things may not turn out the way you had originally visioned, but that’s ok. All that matters is how you pick yourself up when things get tough, and that is exactly why I believe my skills in adaptability will be beneficial in the leadership team. Since I’m quite used to thinking quickly on my feet, whether that be with backup plans or new ideas, I feel like I will be able to remain calm when combating any challenges that we face within our team.

Time Management:
Strengths:
- Organized schedule: These past few years I’ve been creating to-do lists to carefully plan out all the tasks I need to do. I feel like having some visual representation always gets me going and it helps me remind myself of tasks that are pending, which really helps to ensure that I don’t miss or overlook anything! Although 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. When working on any project, I like to leave all the brainstormed ideas together just in case a backup needs to come in place. In addition to the to-do lists mentioned above, I plan ahead, keeping a few extra days before the deadline just in case anything unexpected delays my progress (or that of the group).

Weaknesses:
- Taking on too much: I’m often conscious about the amount of work and time I’m spending in group settings. This normally comes with the thought of believing that others have expectations for me, when in reality I’m doing more than enough. This quite often causes me to take on more than I can handle simply for the fear of being seen as someone who does not do their work. Whether it be for a presentation or an executive club motion, I like to stay involved (which is a great thing), but often times it leads to additional unwanted panic that I wouldn’t of had to deal with in the first place.

- Need for perfection (prioritization): This kind of goes hand in hand with taking too much - as a proud perfectionist, I kind of have a vision for how I’d like everything to be. However, sometimes these visions are very unrealistic. Even for the simplest things, I tend to overcomplicate things from time to time, which isn’t really the best idea. Due to this, I sometimes turn even the simplest tasks into these huge projects, which cause 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. This is definitely good in the long run, but I definitely need to work towards prioritizing my time so that I can progress in a timely manner.

One Word to Describe:
After a lot of thought, I believe that the most important trait for a leader is integrity. Things don’t always go as planned in leadership settings, and people make mistakes, but that’s ok. All that matters is how you pick yourself up as team 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. Everyone should realize that even experienced leaders make mistakes, and that’s completely fine. The only important thing is that they don’t try to hide it, but use it as a teachable moment to improve for the future. As a (co)leader this session, I will embody the trait of integrity by always sticking true to my morals and by ensuring that everyone feels like they are apart of a community. I know that I am a person of many mistakes, but at the same time I know that I have been able to learn so much from each one. By being honest, and doing what’s right, I hope to foster a positive leadership team where we can make a lot of fun, and chaotic memories!

Cabin Atmosphere:
The Boba Tavern: Magical Realism: (196 characters)
A place of dreams and wonders, the Boba Tavern is your one stop shop for all of your needs! A competitive cabin, this magical storyline will have a focus on improving both writing and confidence.

Checklist:
✓ I will be available to help add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp
✓ I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC

B. No, I can complete all of the (co)leader responsibilities that have been listed in the FAQ.

C. I understand the time dedication that leading requires and the responsibility that comes with being a leader in SWC. With this in mind, in the event where I may have to go inactive, I will contact my (co)leaders and discuss with the hosts as to what appropriate accommodations can be made to ensure that everything continues running as smoothly as possible. If one of my (co)leaders were to go inactive, I would try contacting them via profile comments and other places throughout Scratch. If I still don’t hear a response from them, I will discuss with the other hosts and consult my (co)leaders to decide what next steps should be taken.

About Me
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, sets sail on August 3, 1492. The sea air is salty, and the men are preparing to set off, hoping to find a western sea route to the East Indies, for the lucrative spice trade in countries like India and China. He has a crew of 90 men, and three ships- the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. His ships were strong, his men tough. He would surely profit! Little did he know, what was lying in wait for him, the “New World” he would stumble upon…

⏳

Hi!, I’m Kat! I use she/her pronouns, and live in the inspirational IST! I’m a goofy, eccentric 10-year-old who is obsessed with cats and biology. I have a passion for writing, and chess. I’m an avid reader, and I’ll read anything as long as its engaging and exciting. My favorite genres are fantasy, mystery, and adventure! I’m an introvert, but I’m really talkative on scratch! I’m new to Taylor Swift, but I just ADORE her. One of the first stories I wrote was at six, when it was a piece with cringy topics and lack of punctuation <3 In books, I like gripping, fast-paced tales like Wings of Fire, Warriors (cats!), and sad, beautiful ones too like Charlotte’s Web and Willodeen. I love trying out new things, and am the kind of person that’s raring to go on a loop-the-loop on a rollercoaster! I’m enthusiastic and sometimes nerdy about science. After all, it is quite literally the way of the world. I’m getting interested in digital art, and maybe even theatre :0 Owing to this theme, I love history! Yes, sometimes the dates can get boring, but I think it’s fascinating to find out about what happened in the past, shaping the present as it is now. All those historic people that changed the world- without them, the world would be vastly less advanced. Small thanks to those brave figures mentioned in this app <3

That’s me in a nutshell

Experience
The mutinous Parisians marched on, determination ablaze in their eyes. It is July 14th,1789, a day that would change France forever. They knew that this would be the beginning of war, a revolution fierce and demanding. Still, the Bastille was a place of tyranny. Only seven prisoners held inside. Launay, the military governor of the Bastille, feared siege, and it had come true. Him and his men were taken into custody after they held up the white flag of surrender, marking the start of the French Revolution.

⏳

I’ve been in SWC for about 3 sessions. Here’s an overview:
November ‘23: backup camper
March ‘24: camper
July ‘24: camper
Those were some really magical sessions <3

As for leadership experience, I don’t have much online, but in real life, I’ve led group presentations and projects several times. Also, I’m the “mature” child between me and my twin, so it's my household responsibility to manage the house while my parents are away at work!

For writing experience, on the other hand, I’ve written several drafts and received positive feedback for school, and I’ve been writing for several years!

Preferences
Neil Armstrong takes a step outside of his spacecraft, the Apollo 11. July 20th, 1969, Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. Thousands of people watching, with excitement, as the spacecraft touches down. “The eagle has landed.” comes through. As Neil Armstrong set foot on unknown territory, he says a saying that was destined to be forever
echoed in attempt of incredulous endeavors. “That's one small step for a man, one giant leap
for mankind.”

⏳

For my cabin preferences, I’d say that I would like a cabin with more focus on storyline. Genre-wise, I would prefer fantasy, adventure, sci-fi, mythology, dystopian or any sword-and-sorcery genres (in no particular order). I wouldn’t do well in a cabin such as non-fiction contemporary, or script. I don’t write very well in those genres than I do in ones which thrive on imagination or legend. TCTWNW is awesome and a really good way to relax, but I don’t think it’s for me, as I love a competitive streak, and that motivates me to write in the first place, so I don’t think I’d do much in it, unfortunately.

Excerpt
At the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, there were a crowd of about some 250,000 people, gathered for their rights. Martin Luther King, agreeing to speak last , made a long speech. As it turns out, the most famous part was unplanned. Mahalia Jackson, gospel star, stood behind King. At one moment, she called out “Tell ‘em about the dream, Martin, tell ‘em about the dream!” Then King said: “And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.”

⏳

Persephone’s hand came to an abrupt stop, the sound of her quill scratching on the paper ceased. She lifted her quill, hesitating. The nib lingered over the page, slightly shaking. Don’t get so worked up, Sephie, she told herself.
It’s just a letter. A letter it was, but no matter how many times she told herself it was nothing, to finish it off, she couldn’t do it. It was a pleasant August day, but she couldn’t enjoy it. She scanned over the letter again. She was overthinking it, she knew. She overthought everything. She began to examine it thoroughly.

5th House; Ark Street; Philadelphia; Pennsylvania; June 21st, 1823
Dearest Evangeline (Eva), my (former) best friend

How’s it going in New York? I hope you’re doing well! The move was great. I was thinking we should get in contact again. I miss you. Do you miss me? The old times were awesome, weren’t they? We used to goof around all the time. Now, there’s a lot of distance between us. In distance, not friendship. Maybe we could build on that past relationship? I really don’t want to let me moving get in the way of us. So… I have something I’ve been meaning to tell you how’s life? I’m sure we can get through this. We’re friends, after all! You have the others by your side, and I’ll be there too, from far away! Keep me updated? How’s your sister’s OCD going? My point is, let’s be friends again. We could work it out! I don’t have any hard feelings towards you. So let’s be besties again.
Love, Persephone (or just Sephie)

Persephone looked at it in despair. She sank down further into her armchair. All the crossed out things weren’t exactly legible, either. Persephone finally looked down miserably, and signed the letter. Eva was her only friend. But Eva wasn’t even there anymore. Sephie couldn’t imagine life without her. Eva was the one who would entertain her with hazardous tricks on the monkey bars, the one who would stand up for them, the one that would be the achiever of them, the one that would go so high on the swings that it would seem she would touch the stars. Suddenly, a bout of jealousy and recklessness overcame her. She shoved the letter into the envelope violently, stuck a stamp, and marched to the post office. She handed in the letter, regretting it as the envelope slipped out of her fingers. She ran back home, ignorant to the drizzle. Around her, girls shrieked and laughed and they scurried about for cover. They were friends. Sephie tried not to look at them. If she was still in New York, then the pair of them would be there, perfect friends. Just Sephie and Eva. Two girls,
one talented and one… normal. This was all her fault. If she hadn’t accepted that scholarship offer, then she wouldn’t be here. She didn’t want to have academic excellence, if it meant this. She couldn’t tell Eva. That she had chosen
some fancy school over her. She ran all the way back home, now positively drenched. She buried her face in her hands.
She wished, wished intensely, that she was still with her confidante, her friend, her companion.

Time Dedication
In his serene backyard at night, November 30th 1609, Galileo Galilei pointed the telescope up at the sky, a very peculiar thing to do indeed. Telescopes were used to scan for incoming enemy ships, not to stargaze. Despite this, Galileo pointed it at the sky. First, he directed it at the moon, the smooth white moon. But wait… what’s this? He comes to an eye-opening revelation: the moon was not smooth, but quite the opposite! It was filled with cavities. Excited at this discovery, Galileo wondered if there was more. Perhaps…?

⏳

I would be able to contribute at least 1 hour and a half a day on a regular basis, under normal circumstances. Other than school, I would have one thing- I’m going away for an undecided amount of time to visit relatives. I won’t be away longer
than two weeks, because of school. I’ll still be able to access scratch from there, but I’ll be slightly less active then. As for October, I don’t have anything on my schedule. In fact, I think I’ll be able to contribute more then, since I have end-of-term
holidays.

Time Management
Alexander Graham Bell had been working for months. Usually, for a matter as trivial as calling over his assistant, he would just yell or go over. But it wasn’t about the situation more than it was about how it was done. Alexander was confident
this would change the course of history for the better. Picking up the telephone, that was wiredto the other room, he said:
“Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you.” March 10, 1876 certainly became a memorable day after that successful invention.

⏳

My skills in time management are that I can achieve deadlines if I put my mind to it, and can be really organized, and I can efficiently plan certain things out. I’m recently starting to resist temptation, fight procrastination and simply get to work! One of my shortcomings is that I get easily distracted, whether its an off-topic discussion in a study session with friends, or a cool new song I found, I can get drawn away from work by everyday things. I’m trying to stay focused by eliminating all possible distractions when I sit down to do something. Another thing is that I tend to save the worst for later, or even just put it off. I’m trying to get through this shortcoming by just making up my mind and doing it, no matter how hesitant I might be.

Collaboration
The events of this great day were an accident! Beginning at the start- there was a wall that divided East Berlin from West Berlin, which wasn’t the best. West Berlin had more freedom, and better infrastructure. Except… East and West Berlin
were divided by a fearsome wall. On November 9, 1989, Soviet Spokesperson Günter Schabowski mistakenly announced that the border was to be ‘opened’! The East Berliners came with chisel and hammer, and they broke down the wall, brick by brick.

⏳

My strengths in working with others are that I’m open-minded, and willing to listen to other’s ideas, I can also get my share of the work done, usually with good efforts and quality! I’m always ready to lend a helping hand to any of my colleagues,
and try to set realistic goals and get them done! My weaknesses, on the other hand, are that I can be a bit shy. Once I get to know others, I do open up, but at the very start I can be slightly awkward. When tasks get piled high, I strive to complete them, I do get burnt out at times. Slowly, I’m learning to prioritize my health- both mental and physical. I really want to make anything I lead at something amazing, but sometimes I get very carried away. I’m getting the hang of not getting upset if a project or plan didn’t carry out in the way that it was framed in my mind! The assets I bring to the team are motivation, and
a positive ambience- after all, I’ve found working in a pleasant environment with spirits high can be really helpful! Also, I’ve been described as quixotic- which means I have a big imagination! I can brainstorm ideas for the team which I try to make creative and applicable!

One Quality
On a regular-looking day, December 1, 1955,
a 42-year-old woman sat in the middle row of
a bus. She was returning from a long, hard day at work. The bus was segregated; white people and the front, and non-whites at the back. At one point, a white man had no seat left in the “white section”.
The driver ordered the first row of the “colored section” to be abandoned. The three others stood. Rosa did not. She wasn’t giving in. Soon, police arrived at the scene and arrested Rosa. This
atrocity would begin the Civil Rights Movement!

⏳

One quality I admire, have admired, and will go on admiring those aspiring leaders who are responsible. That ability to juggle life with the extra responsibilities that you have taken on is no mean feat. Responsibility is key to having a successful
time as a leader, because without responsibility, a cabin cannot stay up working in order, at least not with flying colors. If leaders were responsible, then all the tasks of being a leader would tie together and make it a wholesome, magical experience! I plan to embody this quality by completing all my co-leader responsibilities, and working at my best to pull my own weight, and put my utmost effort into this, and finishing my dutieson time and with merit!

Atmosphere
In Belgium, on June 18, 1815, a great battle took place between the legend Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington. Napoleon rallied his troops by calling: “For all Frenchmen who have the courage, the moment has come to conquer or perish!” At the beginning, Napoleon made a blunder that lost him the war- he allowed the storming to wait, giving the British time to add more to their numbers. The British’s strategic positioning gave them an advantage, and the late arrival of the Prussians against the French turned the tides.

⏳

A storyline-oriented, welcoming, cabin that will be an absolute blast, focusing improving writing skills while also making lasting friendships and memories to cherish!
<618 characters>

Checkboxes
It was all a surprise. Germany’s forces knew that this was quite a risk, because they weren’t yet at their fullest potential. It paid off, though. The German forces would win. It all started on September 1st, 1939. Suddenly, noises fill the air, and the battle begins. The German forces were led by the infamous Adolf Hitler, using a strategy to be known as ‘blitzkrieg’. The attack was on Warsaw, the capital of Poland. This would start a devastating war: World War II, which would be a fearsome clash between the Axis and Allied Powers.

⏳

✅ I will be available to add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp
✅ I'm willing to share a promotional project for SWC

10A. Nope, I don’t believe so!

10B. In the case of inactive leadership by a fellow
leader, then I will contact the host team, and if
I was inactive myself, then I would inform my
team about the development!

⏳

2516 words in total, including excerpt
1974 words without excerpt

Willow's Leader Application - Nov 2024
words: 2,749

About Me

Hey everyone! I’m Willow (she/her), and delighted to meet you if I haven’t already done so! I’m super excited for this upcoming session, so without further ado, welcome to my leader application! I’m an Australian-Asian musician, avid reader, aspiring writer and artist, I also have a love of debate, poetry, vinyl, STEM, and my favourite music artists.

Since I was young I’ve developed a strong connection to the world of reading and books, from reading titles such as the ‘Magic Faraway Tree’ or ‘The Wishing Chair’ at the pure age of 5 and 6 (of course with my mum), to reading Harry Potter at age 7, and the Hunger Games at 8/9. I’ve read so many books to count, so many that I dream of having a library in my house when I grow older.

This bond with the written word shortly led to me being obsessed with writing, whilst I’ve never successfully completed a novel-length story, I have hundreds of lost ideas in my drafts folder, some that I do wish to complete. Music is another major aspect of my life, both listening to my favourite artists and playing an instrument are some of my favourite things. Some of my favourite artists would have to be Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Lana del Rey, Gracie Abrams and the Cranberries. I play the Trombone, Bass Guitar, some Guitar and Piano, and more instruments!

Art is also another creative output for me, similarly to music, it helps me to express myself. Whilst I love art, I hate being told what to do, like a school art assignment, I would rather see what I do as time passes by. Debate is also another one of my passions, this past year I participated in a debate competition for my school, against others. Unfortunately, we only made it to the quarter-finals. That won’t stop me from doing it again, as I love it so much. Just like I love participating in SWC.

Previous Participation

Here is a compiled list of the sessions I’ve been in and my roles:
July 2024 - Non-Fiction - Co-Leader (daily team)
March 2024 - Tragedy - Co-Leader (daily team)
November 2023 - Steampunk - Co-Leader (daily team)
July 2023 - Illu-Fi - Camper (late signup)
March 2023 - Sci-Fi - Co-Leader (MBC)
November 2022 - Fan-Fiction - Leader (MBC)
July 2022 - Fan-Fiction - Co-Leader (MBC, Workshop Writer)
March 2022 - Mythology - Camper
November 2021 - Poetry - Camper
July 2021 - Fairy Tales - Camper
March 2021 - Dystopian - Camper
November 2020 - Adventure - Camper (old account for the rest <3)

Outside of SWC, I’ve participated in many other scratch camps such as SRC (3x Host, 3x Leader, 1x Co-Leader), SAC (1x Co-Host, 1x Host, 3x Leader), JWC (1x Leader) and other scratch camps. Overall I’ve developed a love for scratch camps and wish to continue them for as long as I can.

Currently beyond the screen, I am on the board/am a representative of a charity for my school. I’ve been class captain, band captain, debate captain and on the student representative council at school too. I’ve achieved awards such as a High Distinction in writing (top 1% of AUS), and currently, I am enrolled in the highest-level English/Writing Class.

Cabin Preferences

This session I’m open to (co)leading any cabin. However, I have some preferences for cabin genres, but as said before I’m open to anything! First off I will list my top preferences for cabin genres. They are Gothic, Mystery, Mythology (or folklore), Thriller and Solarpunk. As for TCTWNW, I would prefer not to lead it, but if needed I can co-lead it, like said before, I’m open to anything!

Now for my ideas,

Gothic, picture a large ballroom, of course, it’s in the style of Gothic architecture, but there’s an event—a masquerade. Everyone is in masks, except for one person, the host. But the host suddenly gets taken, and the campers are then tasked to figure out who did it. But in their search, they discover the curses that are said to haunt the ballroom. With the help of volunteers to bring this idea to life, campers will follow clues and uncover and solve the mysteries that caused the disaster. This could also work for mystery, but I think the idea works better for Gothic!

For Mythology, I’d love to delve into either Norse, Greek or Roman mythology. The storylines that I envision would be more adventurous than others I have thought of, the campers could be learning secrets about legends, or be a part of them. Additionally, I love the idea of having a storyline based on the myth of ‘Pandora’s Box’ (Greek Mythology), the idea of ‘evil’ being released and having the campers help to fix it would be an exciting storyline to participate in. I’d also love to do the same for folklore!

Finally, for Solarpunk. There could be what seems like a utopian society, and as the sun in Solarpunk is very important - it could be dy1ng. Together the campers would need to find a way to solve this issue, this storyline would involve a lot of teamwork, and whilst I haven’t solidified this idea, I’m open to more suggestions if a co-leader wants to make changes or has new ideas!

Excerpt
(excerpt from a short story based on my great grandma's time in world war 2)
It happened when the screams started, louder than an emergency siren itself—screams that caused my mother to cut my neck, whilst cutting my hair off. And, as the —- from my neck fell like the tears that tumbled down my cheeks, gvn sh0ts echoed in the distance as if thunder was booming. The salty drops fell into my open mouth, as my brother’s old patchwork clothes were thrown at me.

It was when my screams started that I was lifted into the air, and forced into a vehicle, with my grandmother and uncle. My parents and brother were thrown into another.

A clammy hand covered my innocent eyes. Shielding them from the horrors, taking place on the other side of the car’s windows. For a moment, everything was silent. Like before a storm, but then a car, not the one I was in, but the one behind had stopped. The hand, once my shield, was no longer protecting me, instead it was covering my grandmother’s mouth.

My parents, Elijah,

were lost in a crowd of soldiers gathered around their car, stolen from me. That was the first time I ever saw Ma cry. My grandmother had never cried before, yet she still tried to hide it. All for me. How am I worth protecting? I’m a girl, I’ll be taken. Or worse. Disguising as a boy helps with that, but I’m still judged, all because I’m a girl. And even worse, all my hope now lies in the ashes of what was once my home.

Time Dedication

November and the months leading up to it are free for me. With the exception of exams, assignments, and end-of-year wrap-ups at school, I have no other prior commitments in real life that could affect my activity in SWC!

Firstly October, I will dedicate as much time as I can to planning. Whilst I do have school most of October (mainly the beginning) I will have little to no assessment, which enables me to dedicate more time to SWC. Other than that I do have SAC, but I can divide my time between both camps evenly. More specifically I can dedicate around 45 minutes to an hour and 30 minutes if needed! - I will be checking whilst at school during break times, as well as car rides and whenever possible. I also have a music camp from the 5-7th of October but am allowed to take my phone, hence I can still be active on scratch and the purple place, but just less active.

Now in November - SWC month!! - It's the end of school for me, and due to it being the last term of the year, I’ll have more assignments than exams, hence it’s easier for me to dedicate time to SWC. Like October, I can dedicate lots of time to SWC, just a little more than stated above. SWC will be the only camp I participate in within this time, except for host planning for SRC, but I will not be leading in it, giving more time to dedicate to SWC.

However, if anything urgent in real life comes up I'll prioritise it, ensuring I do contact a host and co-leaders as required.


Time Management

Skills
One thing about me when it comes to time management is planning - especially when I know I have a hectic month or week ahead of me, I find it crucial to plan! Essentially I am skilled with planning and using time wisely. How is this helpful and a good skill? It ensures I make good use of my time, wasting none of it, it helps me to dedicate the most amount of time I can to SWC. Planning allows me to see obstacles that may obstruct me from my responsibilities, hence if anything major comes up, I can notify the hosts in advance, and my co-leaders too ensuring that everyone can adapt easier and quicker.

Friends often call me a perfectionist, whilst this skill can also be labelled as a shortcoming, It motivates me to reach deadlines and do so with high-quality work. Perfectionists also tend to rely on consistent methods - like myself relying on planning - this will also continue to help me dedicate time and master time management.

Shortcomings
However perfectionism encourages me to meet deadlines and goals, and mostly is a skill, I tend to get wrapped up in the details of things, and this can cause me to work on things I deem not perfect longer, interrupting my schedule, and therefore being a shortcoming. Lately, I’ve been focusing on the big picture, instead of small details, and hopefully, with further practice, I can overcome this!

Another shortcoming that I possess is getting distracted easily, for example, I’m studying for a big exam coming up, but in the back of my mind I’m thinking about this assignment that’s due in a few days, whilst I know it’s going well, I may stop studying and work on such assignment. While I do focus on planning, planning doesn’t eliminate my inner thoughts and distractions around me, leading me to get sidetracked and interrupt my plans. However, this can be mostly fixed with the simple use of either silencing notifications or taking away my access to certain materials whilst studying or doing a task. Distractions are a common occurrence for all, and whilst I can’t eliminate them, I can decrease the number of them that I will get!

Collaboration + Assets

Strengths:
For me I feel like listening and communication is a big strengths. I always love to listen to others whilst planning or just in general, in planning it helps others feel comfortable and that they know their ideas are appreciated! In general, it helps people know, that I’m there, also contributing to a safe and friendly atmosphere whilst in collaboration. I always appreciate it when people listen to my ideas, and I know others do too!

Another strength would be my flexibility, as I can quickly adapt to situations that get thrown at me! I can quickly do so, and help my co-leaders in the transition or whilst figuring things out. It allows me to also rework processes or ideas better to fit my co-leaders and their unique and amazing skills! Making it the perfect tool and strength for collaboration.

Weaknesses:
However, when it comes to saying all that I think or all my ideas, I do hesitate. Sometimes I feel scared to share my ideas, for silly reasons, I do know nothing bad will happen, but I hate changing someone's idea, or even suggesting a slight change. I feel bad and don’t want to offend anyone. But I do know that I can easily overcome this, as in this session I will take a step out of my comfort zone and do so, as I know the SWC leadership team is amazing! and if I’m selected as leader, I’ll make it known to my co-leaders that I am open-minded to any suggestions! (even as co-leader I’ll do so.)

Assets:
I believe I can be an asset to the leadership team with my planning skills, I can get things done on a deadline, especially after practising each session. This session I know I can do so, and I know that I can also help others to do the same. I’ll be able to use this in a way that positively impacts everyone, for example, in the daily team I can submit my task on time, or in my own cabin’s leadership team I can finish a thumbnail or project by a set deadline.

I also have a lot of experience with SWC, and have participated in over 12 sessions of it! It helps me teach new co-leaders and leaders, and to help. I also know what leading is like and the expectations of it - meaning I can ensure I fulfil the responsibilities. It also allows me to gain a more well-rounded perspective with tasks and goals.

One Quality

One quality I respect and admire in leaders is integrity. For those who need it, the Oxford Dictionary states that integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. - For me, I respect when people have the quality as it builds a foundation for trust and friendship! - and I’m sure others feel the same way!

Furthermore, I value this trait in many ways, as explained above it builds a strong foundation of trust and friendship - as leaders with integrity are honest. This furthermore enables me to feel comfortable whilst planning, as I know they are trustworthy, generally making communication between leaders, cos, hosts and campers smooth and easy. Secondly, having integrity means one has strong moral principles, that ensure one does the right thing, such as having a strong sense of respect, fairness, equality and other moral principles. I’ve always valued it when someone shares these values, as I have them too, having these values can create a positive environment whilst planning, and contribute greatly to the leadership team by promoting others. Values such as these, also contribute to long-term success - not just winning, but by providing others with an amazing, and memorable experience!

How will I embody this value? I will ensure that it is known that I am honest, and have these principles, I’ll be open to my co-leaders, to set a foundation for trust and friendship. To me being a leader is less about the role, and more about the experience and memories created, as a leader I strive to ensure everyone’s experiences are as such. Integrity helps me to do so, I’ll provide this - as having these principles will help me do the right things to enhance others' experiences, for example having the principle of respect, is important for one respecting people, but for also listening and communication as when one has respect for another they value the other’s opinions and thoughts - and I have such respect for everyone - and value everyone’s opinion.

Atmosphere

“ fosters a place of growth, friendship and memories - along with a highly interactive storyline, competitiveness and improvement is strongly encouraged!” (161 words)

In the cabin I envision, growth and improvement would be a fundamental aspect of its atmosphere, for myself and many others SWC is a place where one comes to learn and improve in writing, and having a cabin that strongly encourages this makes the entire experience way better, I’d love to offer in-cabin critique and opportunities for campers to grow and flourish in the way that SWC intends one to do. Additionally, friendship and memories would be encouraged with the use of a storyline, I wish to create a storyline that creates these memories and makes campers think back and remember it. Friendship would also be encouraged using the storyline and throughout the cabin itself, as teamwork will be a core value that is emphasised within the cabin! Finally, I hope to introduce a competitive aspect to the cabin, but at the same time be able to support campers throughout the session!

Checkpoint

a.
I will be available to add points in the Main Cabin throughout the session
I am willing to share a promo for SWC

b.
Currently, there are no responsibilities that I know I cannot fulfil, as of right now I have checked ahead, and know that I can add words, oversee a cabin and listen to concerns and questions. I can do so whilst maintaining a healthy balance - and will promote this in my cabin - and answer queries and questions one may have. If anything at all changes, I will be sure to notify the correct person.

c.
I will always make sure to notify the hosts if I become inactive as a leader. I promise not to become inactive without giving them notice in advance. If not, I will inform another leader or a co so they can inform the hosts if needed! I will always do this in advance to prepare my cos, and make the entire situation easier for them, as I want the session to be easy and smooth for them as well!

If my leader or a co goes inactive, I’ll be sure to notify a host - if they haven’t already - and help them with anything that needs to be done whilst there are gone, I’ll work alongside my other co(s) to ensure the process is seamless. If a leader goes inactive for a long period, and I am a co, I do know how to handle this situation as I demonstrated in November ‘21, and will talk alongside hosts to fix the issue, of course after attempting to contact the leader.

Elle’s co-leader application —> November 2024

About me
Hello, welcome to my app! I’m El/Elle (finally added a new nickname, yay!) I use she/her and CST. I took dance classes up until this year and have been interested in theatre since 6th grade. I’m currently a freshman in high school! One of the things I’ve been most passionate about when it comes to pastimes is martial arts, which I’ve been doing for over two years. Hopefully, I’ll be a black belt by December if all goes well. Additionally, I love helping kids out in the class and have had an amazing time (even if I suck at sparring).

Prior participation
I have been a camper in all of the sessions I participated in during SWC. I will not list them here but upon request I can dig through aha. Outside of SWC, I have been a leader in the first session of camp Astrophilia and actively help out at my martial arts classes (the little kids are so cute omg). While I may not have been super active during some of my sessions, I love taking on a leadership position when I can if it means I can help those around me.

Cabin preferences
While I generally have no preferences when it comes to leading cabins, my favorite genres are fantasy, mythology, sci-fi, and dystopian. Some I would also enjoy doing would be horror, utopian, and thriller.
A few random ideas of mine: Big Brother (1984 type, dystopian), Happy world (weird core type?, utopian), Journey of Time (Odysseus, mythology), and The Deepest Ship (escaping a ship maybe?, triller)

Excerpt
Am I a shadow? I ask this to myself as I look in the mirror, a face staring back with unfamiliar features. I always feel myself walking behind people, standing where the sun no longer reaches me or gives me an embrace. Instead, it pools in the spot where I once was, now shedding light on someone else. It’s so silent, yet loud. The line that divides these two sides is so thin that you can’t always tell if you are a shadow or not. The shadow is never noticed, really. It follows but is never found till one pauses. A breath, a smile, a tear, a beat passing in a second of a minute, when the person stops looking at the pink sky and down and their shoes; both polished and dusty still shedding the outline we all share. It’s always there no matter what. We are always there no matter what. Are we— am I— a shadow?

Time dedication
While I may have a lot of conflicts (martial arts and theatre), I consistently check my phone throughout the day and will usually be available to at least add in words and respond to questions. With being on it for long periods of time, I can do around one or two hours. My overall good times (for contacting me and whatnot) are from 10AM-6PM. Depending on my conflicts, my response may simply be an hour or two later.

Time management
For those who have met me before or seen my previous applications, I have gained a trend of using the word procrastination. It’s… a genuine issue on my end. In other words, I have poor time management that im actively working on to improve. Despite this, I do get some projects, assignments, etc. done on time if not early depending on how enjoyable they are. As a high schooler, I constantly am reminded of the need to be on time or make up for anything missing or late so that I don’t get overwhelmed. Wrapping this up, it’s a work in progress.

Collaboration and assets
In all honesty, I’ve begun to love collaboration. Of course, certain things need to be done as an individual, but working with others helps me focus and it’s also a perfect opportunity to get to know them! I always do my best to treat my partner(s) with respect and support them. Even in the situation that I may jot talk to the person naturally, I try to make a good impression and portray myself in a positive manner. Most of these views have come from being in martial arts due to having to rely on one another and be comfortable working with people of different ages, genders, etc. My main weakness would most likely be my confidence. Lots of little things tend to make me look down upon myself or cause me to get anxious on whether im doing a good job at something. I want to be helpful and supportive for others but that causes me to stress about it occasionally.

One valued quality
From what I recall, almost all of my apps have stated self awareness. While I still agree with that, I also consider positive self projection to be an equally important quality. Positive self projection in my view is the ability to portray oneself through actions, words, and behaviors that make others think of them in a positive way. It’s not necessarily being optimistic, but being able to balance out and control emotions, apologizing and acknowledging mistakes or when one was in the wrong, and trying to be the best person you can be. I plan to embody this by being mindful of my responses and always caring for the community. Whenever I might have a bad day, reminding myself to take a deep breath and recall that it’s one day so that I can show others the person I am naturally, not a negative version of myself.

Cabin atmosphere
Relaxing but fun and engaging environment!

Checkboxes
A) (see below)
☑️ I will be able to help add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp.
☑️ I’m willing to share a promotional project for SWC.
B) N/A (able to complete all responsibilities)
C) In the scenario of myself or another (co)leader in my cabin leaving, the best choice is to first let the others know of the situation. Without warning, it can cause confusion and undesired drama. In order to adjust smoothly, we can either contact a host to see if we can get an assistant, or if we are able to manage on our own we (or they) will each take half of the person’s responsibility (such as their word count group being split up).

aboard the thousand Sunny - serrie's co-leader app


about me ->

Hello! I am Serrie, a 16-year-old from India (I.S.T) : D I enjoy reading, drawing, writing and anything fun. I have an obsession with mystery games. I’m an eleventh grader studying P.C.M, and I want to pursue research science in the future. Since I’m studying the syllabus of J.E.E, there’s nothing to do in school. It’s kind of boring. I really love writing, though it is not easy to be motivated for it without S.W.C. I took a gap from S.W.C for 3 years (I’ll talk about it in experience).

previous participation ->

I have attended several sessions of SWC since 2020 (My memory over the long-term is not great) . I once co-lead the poetry cabin during SWC July 2021. Unfortunately, after this session, I became too busy to do SWC with exams during 9th and 10th. I stopped doing SWC.

However, with the start of 11th and the reduction of subjects, I now have time. I regretted not joining in July (I had tests, but for hardly a week). I enjoy writing as a hobby. I haven’t had many opportunities recently for leadership (our school is very. Study Focused.)
I lead groups whenever the chance arises, such as debates. I don’t have much for writing outside SWC right now.
Except it’s something I’ve been doing for quite long, ever since I’ve been a kid. Currently, one of the main storylines I’m working on is with Fi (@firetender) !

In conclusion, though my previous experiences are of the forgotten past, I do believe I have what it takes to co-lead a cabin after so long.

cabin preferences ->

I will honestly be very happy with any cabin I get. Except, I would prefer gothic, mystery, dystopian, sci-fi, fan-fi, fantasy, or cyberpunk because they are a little more familiar to me, and I can build a cabin atmosphere and story around them. I will enjoy the challenge of going out of my comfort zone with the other genres, though …


excerpt ->

Her icy breath misted the shiny surface of the silver crowbar, gleaming under the soft light of the oil lamp. The room was as old as rooms could be - worn down by centuries, the cobwebs glistening unpleasantly, hindering the vintage beauty the room had. The chips of the shattered remains of plates, bowls, vases scattered around the dusty, broken ebony floor - covered by dark, scarlett blood, spreading thick and fast.

She stepped slowly, the ebony floor, which must have been hard and strong all those centuries ago - creaked and groaned under her feet. She smiled, reminiscently holding Tina's doll, she was called Ethereal, but it was just a doll made by a five-year-old girl by rags. But it had meant a lot to Tina, it had slept with her, providing her comfort in the hard times - where the doll was on the floor, hardly as dusty as the rest of the room - she thought Tina must have been holding it before she had finally dropped down, her flowy brown hair moving, but no life in her.

Guilt crashed around and in her ears like lava, not only gushing and destroying but also burning her inside. Regret pulsated and pained her in what she considered the vital, fatal organs - attacking her on the inside like white-hot knives, and her vision blurred, marred by water.

Tears dripped down her chin, the liquid mingling with the vicious blood, the mixture dancing unpleasantly in front of her eyes.

She ran her hands on the polished surface of Erute’s favorite vase - long, green, gleaming to perfection, setting in contrast to other things in the room. Gena’s beautiful velvet dress, her most treasured possession was sprawled on the floor, she could see Gena in it. Her heart ached when she saw Max’s toy soldier - it was clear he had held it before dying.

tme Management ->

Drawing up schedules and making sure I stick to them makes time management easy and simple. It could be one of my main shortcomings otherwise, given how scatterbrained I am and how easily I tend to forget things sometimes. I must admit, my time management skills are not very good unless I have a routine to stick to. However, I am trying my best to get better by making routines and an idea of what to do everyday like I used to be. It feels like my skills with time management have fallen off in the last few weeks, as I've had a lot on my plate, between tests and sickness. However, by November I shall improve, especially with SWC to keep me on my toes.

time dedication ->

I intend to devote the maximum of my time online to SWC. given the fact that my midterms are in September, I doubt I will have any major preoccupations related to school. Of course, my school might have a problem with the students relaxing for once and give us something to do but there is nothing that can be said at the moment. So yes, I'm planning to devote all the time possible to SWC, in writing and making sure the cabin runs smoothly! As far as I know, there should be nothing to affect my productivity or to stop me from making the session productive for myself and a delight for the campers.

collaboration and assets ->

I believe that one of my strengths in working with others is patience and listening. I always ensure that a collaborative experience between me and my fellow campers is a happy interaction for both of us, whether in the same cabin or not. Collaboration is a homogenous mixture of ideas and thoughts without which it is incomplete. And isn’t a cabin like a little collaboration in itself, where the assets are us?

This is why the assets I bring to the leading team could be the patience to keep listening to all the ideas and the decisiveness to scrap the ones which simply won’t work out.

I want SWC to be a place for the campers where they grow not only in their writing skills but also as a person - learning to be with other people with a sense of togetherness and yet also uniqueness - as I myself had.

one quality ->

I see many leaders around me. Bosses of companies, captains of sports teams and even little children who lead their little friend groups. I feel there is something every leader can teach us, something which I look at them do and I wonder - if I was put in that place would I be able to do that? Everytime, it is something to think about.

One thing I want to embody as a leader, which I have learnt - is to always have space and time for the group and handle the work all while being confident, and not slipping in front of those who need you. Confidence is not just any key - it is the key to trust, faith and hope for the ones you strive for.

cabin atmosphere ->

A funky, chill cabin which is a place to hang out, improve in writing skills, with a spirit of friendly competition - geared to win but also relaxed. A place where you can grown without pressure.

checkboxes ->

☑︎ i will be able to add points in the main cabin consistently throughout camp.
☑︎ i’m willing to share a promotional project for swc.

B. Nope.
C. Notify the hosts and campers, and take all steps to find someone else suitable for the situation who can step up.

DD thanku for reading

November SWC Co-leader Application (text-based version)

About Me (Clownfish):

Blurb:

Clownfish are found in warm waters, such as the Red Sea and Pacific Oceans, in sheltered reefs or lagoons, living in anemones. The anemone protects the clownfish from predators and provides food scraps. In return, the clownfish uses its bright colors to lure fish into the anemone, where they are killed by the anemone’s poison and eaten.

Answer:

Hello everyone! My name’s CJ (he/him) and I reside in the wonderful PST timezone! In my free time, I enjoy drawing, writing, and listening to music. Currently, some of my favorite artists are Bastille, Hozier, Conan Gray, and Livingston. Superache is my comfort album <3

Another thing I like to do in my free time is browse (censored for filter bot but app that start with a p) endlessly for outfit inspo (somebody stop me from making a 100th board). If you’d ever like to ramble about fashion with me please feel free >

Food! I like Japanese and Italian cuisine in particular, but honestly, I’ll eat anything as long as it’s edible (and even if it’s not). Bubble tea also holds a special place in my heart. Fruit teas on top!

Over the summer, I picked up Stardew Valley again, and I can confidently say it’s one of the most addictive games I’ve ever played. It pains me to tell people how many hours I’ve spent on it. I’ll stop myself from going on a long spiel here, but the complexities of the game and all of the hidden pieces make it incredibly fun to play. Though, I might just be a sucker for simulation games :’’D

Participation (Manta Ray):

Blurb:

Mantas are amongst the largest fish in the ocean; they have a wingspan of up to 7 meters and weigh up to two tons. Their intelligence rivals dolphins, and they have the largest brain-to-body weight ratio of any living fish.

Answer:

The upcoming session will be my 9th session of SWC! I’ve led four times, co-led once, and camped three times.

November 2021 - Fantasy Forest - Camper
July 2022 - Myth Maze - Camper
November 2022 - Adventure Kingdom - Camper
March 2023 - Hi-Fi Battlegrounds - Co-leader w/ Matty and Wave
July 2023 - Thriller Apocalypse - Leader w/ Vi
November 2023 - Adventure Island - Leader w/ Alia
March 2024 - Thriller Insect Academy - Leader w/ Rockie and Poppy
July 2024 - Mystery Market - Leader w/ Sandy and Crim

Last session, I led Mystery Market alongside the wonderful Sandy and Crim! It was an amazing experience, and I loved getting to know my campers and meeting new people. However, I wish I had been able to execute my storyline better. One recurring problem I have is overestimating the time I have to commit to certain activities. In SWC, this often manifests through storylines that feel “incomplete” by the end of the session, because I ran out of time to fulfill all of the ideas I had in mind. By applying for co-leader, I’m attempting to recognize my time constraints this session! In the future, I also plan on creating a better outline of my storyline ahead of time, instead of relying on figuring it out as the session progresses.

This past summer, I spent a lot of time at my local pool, teaching kids how to swim. This helped expand my knowledge of different communication styles, and how to motivate others and make them feel welcome. I really enjoyed my time there, and I think it gave me a new perspective on teaching and working with kids in general.

Cabin Preferences (Green Turtle):

Blurb:

The green sea turtle’s name does not refer to the color of its shell, but rather to the green fat beneath it. Green sea turtles are excellent navigators and sense the Earth’s magnetic field to return to past nesting and foraging grounds. Additionally, they can hold their breath underwater for as long as five hours.

Answer:

As a co-leader, I don’t have much of a preference when it comes to cabins. Rather, I’d say that the storyline of a cabin holds more influence over my choice than the genre of it. While I would prefer not to co-lead any cabins I’ve been in before (Fantasy, Myth, Adventure, Hi-Fi, Thriller, and Mystery), this is not a dealbreaker. Additionally, I would rather not co-lead TCTWNW, as the competitive aspect of SWC contributes greatly to my motivation.

Excerpt (Damselfish):

Blurb:

There are around 250 species of damselfish worldwide, and they are famous for their striking colors and vibrant patterns. One of the most critical contributions of damselfish to the Great Barrier Reef is their role in managing algae growth. They are herbivores and graze on algae that would otherwise overgrow and smother the coral.

Answer:

https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/discuss/topic/769395/?page=1#post-8072203

Time Dedication (Bottlenose Dolphin):

Blurb:

Bottlenose dolphins are one of the most well-known and frequently encountered species in the Great Barrier Reef. Due to their friendly and playful nature, the dolphins often approach boats and swimmers. They get their name from their short, thick snout.

Answer:

Until mid-November, I’ll have high school swim practice every weekday and club practice on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, which will keep me occupied until late into the evening. Additionally, I’ll have swim meets every Friday and occasional weekends.

On top of this, my homework load has increased drastically this year, and I’ll have to dedicate additional time to that. I’ve also joined MUN, which will require me to attend conferences and write papers, another significant time commitment.

Though these activities will take up a significant amount of time, I’m confident that I will be able to dedicate an average of 30-45 minutes to SWC every day! In the latter half of November, this will likely increase to an hour per day, as my high school swim season will have ended. I don’t foresee any changes in these plans, but if there are any, I will inform the hosts/my leading partners as soon as possible, so that we can develop a plan to move forward!

Time Management (Giant Clam):

Blurb:

Unlike many of the well-traveled reef creatures, the giant clam remains on the reef for its entire life, lying on the ocean floor. They are filter feeders, taking in plankton through a large, central opening. The clam’s algae also produces metabolic waste products, which serve as a second nutritional source.

Answer:

One of my skills in time management is organization. I’m good at keeping track of different tasks and categorizing them in ways that help me work more productively. Often, I feel overwhelmed with everything I need to do, and making lists/using other organizational methods helps me stay grounded.

At the end of each day, I go through all of my classes and note any assignments I have to do, creating a daily to-do list. By going through my classes individually, I’m able to make sure that I don’t miss any important work. I can apply this to SWC by carefully categorizing different tasks and breaking them up into different, manageable bits. With a daily to-do list, I’m able to create specific, realistic goals for the day and when I cross them off I feel a sense of accomplishment, motivating me to continue.

A shortcoming of mine is that I’m easily distracted. I often find myself scrolling through reels aimlessly, going down internet rabbit holes, etc. Sometimes, I look up and realize I’ve wasted hours without even noticing. To manage this, I try to work in short bursts (usually around 15 minutes), where I have peak productivity. I set up a timer in another tab and repeat this process multiple times, taking 5-minute breaks in between.

Collaboration & Assets (Maori Wrasse):

Blurb:

Maori wrasses are easily recognizable by their striking electric-blue bodies and intricate green and black markings. These fish have a distinctive hump on their foreheads, which becomes more prominent as they mature. Currently, they are listed as an endangered species and face threats from overfishing and illegal poaching.

Answer:

One of my strengths in collaboration is my ability to take initiative. If nobody engages in discussion, it’s difficult for it to be productive. Good ideas will never reach fruition if they are not acted upon. If the discussion is stagnant, I can engage and keep the ideas flowing, ensuring that we can make the most of our time.

Additionally, I’m adaptable. I’m able to stay level-headed, even in the face of unexpected problems, and be able to change as a result of them. No matter what comes up, I’m confident that I’ll be able to deal with them efficiently. If one of my leading partners is unable to fulfill a responsibility or an idea falls through, I will quickly step up and offer my help/ideas. Every session has its share of ups and downs; it’s rarely ever streamlined. It’s necessary to be able to adapt and react quickly to changes to ensure that the cabin can move on smoothly.

A weakness of mine is that I’m a perfectionist. I want things to be done in a certain way, and when they aren’t, I often feel upset and frustrated. This can cause me to take on more work than I can realistically handle, to ensure it’s done the way I want it to. Then, later on in the session, I get extremely overwhelmed and stressed by the amount of tasks I need to complete. I’ve been working on this by attempting to pause and take a step back every time I feel tempted to take on a large amount of work, reminding myself that there’s more than one right way to do something.

On top of this, I often communicate in a very blunt manner. I focus on getting all of my ideas out at once and not on how they might be received. To remedy this, I’ve been focusing on writing out my ideas first and then going back to revise for tone/consider reactions.

An asset that I bring to my leading team is my art skills. I am capable of drawing a wide range of things, which can be used, thumbnails, pfps, and much more. I’m best at drawing animals and various scenery, but I can also draw people! Storyline-specific art can help our cabin stand out and give it a distinct feel. Additionally, it can help immerse people into the storyline.

Quality (Grey Reef Shark):

Blurb:

The grey reef shark thrives in the waters around the Great Barrier Reef and is renowned for its sleek appearance and powerful swimming abilities. As their name suggests, they have a grey coloration on their dorsal side and a white underbelly. They can grow to be around 6 feet long and weigh up to 40 pounds.

Answer:

The quality I value most in a leader is the ability to put people at ease and make them feel comfortable. I think this is an extremely valuable skill, especially in SWC. While everyone’s goals in SWC are different: some people want to improve their writing, make new friends, or engage with a thrilling storyline, I think there’s a consensus that everyone wants to enjoy their time. By being welcoming to others around them, a leader can form a sense of community.

When I first joined the swim team, I felt very nervous and scared, to say the least. It was nerve-wracking to be surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces. However, all of the captains were extremely welcoming and nice, which helped me greatly. Once, one of them offered me a ride and the whole time she talked to me as if I was just another one of her friends. Slowly, I started to relax, and I remember thinking, “Maybe this season won’t be so bad.” I began to look forward to practice every day and felt more at ease on the team.

I will embody this trait by reaching out to my campers and trying to get to know them/find out more about them. Additionally, I’ll try to encourage my campers to interact with each other as well, likely through different bonding activities. Without talking to people, you’ll never know if you have common interests, or would have become great friends. If I hadn’t randomly decided to talk to any of my best friends, we wouldn’t have the wonderful relationships we do now.

Atmosphere (Potato Cod):

Blurb:

The potato cod has become an iconic species for divers in the Great Barrier Reef. Their friendly nature and impressive size make them a favorite subject for underwater photography and an important species for local tourism. Potato cods eat small rays, crabs, fish, squid, octopuses, and western rock lobsters. They like to ambush their prey by hiding behind lumps of coral until their food swims past.

Answer:

An atmosphere that focuses on having a good time and cabin bonding, with a competitive edge. Campers are encouraged to interact through a variety of engaging activities.

Checkboxes (Humpback Whale):

Blurb:

Humpback whales can grow up to 60 feet long and live for 80 to 90 years. They have some of the longest migrations of any mammal with some populations swimming 5,000 miles between breeding and feeding grounds. Their name comes from the distinctive hump on their back.

Answer:

B. Are there any leadership responsibilities listed in the FAQ you cannot complete?
Nope!

C. In the case of inactive leadership (either by yourself, or a fellow leader) what steps will you take to ensure your cabin can still move on smoothly?

If a fellow leader informs me of their inactivity ahead of time, and it’s temporary, I will help take on their responsibilities while they are unable to fulfill them. For example, if they are in charge of updating the studio description with a QOTD every day, I can take studio ownership for the time being. If their inactivity isn’t temporary, I’ll inform the hosts if they haven’t already, and choose a new leading partner.

If they go inactive, and I wasn’t informed ahead of time, I’ll first attempt to contact them by messaging them on their profile. After two days, I’d inform the hosts of the situation. Then, after three more days, I would choose a new leading partner.

In the case that I go inactive, I will attempt to notify my leading partners/the hosts ahead of time and give them all the necessary details, like why I’ll be gone and for how long. This way, my absence isn’t something sudden that they have to deal with in the middle of the session. Additionally, I will plan out with my leading partners what will happen to my responsibilities in the time that I’m inactive.

(1,828 words)

Critique!
These are more just nit-picks. Overall, it’s amazing! The imagery is wonderful, and the passage is effective, powerful, and immersive.

The soft ‘Tap,

Tap,

Tap.’

I’d reformat it so it looks like this,

“The soft

‘Tap,

Tap,

Tap.’”

adrenalin

I think you might be misspelling this? Might be a regional thing, who knows *shrug* I would change it to “Adrenaline”.

like it’s done time and time again

Maybe change it to something like this: “Unlike all the times before” or “like it had done before, time and time again”

All that embarrassment, disgust,

Guilt.

I would reformat it to this:
“All that embarrassment,

disgust,

Guilt.“
Or I’d add another word, so the list feels more complete at the top.

taken, /already/

This is a personal preference, but I’d remove the comma.

Can I be called a victim when I so freely, so casually, give myself over to it,

I’d add a question mark here.

At the end, when death says, “Yes, it is I, death,” I would maybe tie this as an answer to something the main character asks earlier on, either in the whole piece or in the end paragraph.

Again, great job!! This is amazing work!