NATHANIEL CHIA
SENIOR PORTFOLIO
Community Connections
Middle College
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Photography is a hobby that I picked up around September, and this school year has been an opportunity to contribute to the Middle College Community, as well as sharpen and develop my skills.
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Last year, very few photos were taken at Middle College, and the only photographer who would frequently take photos was Dia. Picking up photography this school year was my opportunity to both meet a need in the MC community and practice taking photos, by bringing my camera to school every week.
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Once I started shooting, I connected a lot with the other photographers in Middle College. Throughout this year, we have compared pictures, tried each other's cameras, and have given each other tips (like how to better set up lighting or composition, or other things we learned outside of Middle College).
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Being a photographer in Middle College has allowed me to materialize the memories that have been made this year. I want people to look back on their years at Middle College fondly and positively, and I am proud to be able to contribute to that joyful feeling, through photography.
Local Community
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Since 2010 I have volunteered at E-Karate at the Red Morton in Redwood City, an inclusive program focused on students with neurodevelopmental disorders participating in mixed martial arts classes. I was asked to be a coach, since the head coaches, Duane and Brendan, were looking for a younger helper. As a coach, my job was to make sure to include the kids with special needs in all the activities, and help them grow in both their life skills and their martial arts skills. Although I agreed, I didn’t know how to interact with students with autism and withdrew rather than engaged from the kids. It wasn't until a few years into volunteering that I genuinely engaged with the kids, and understood them on a personal level. Since then, E-Karate has developed and shaped my "heart to serve" and my "heart to lead".
For the past few months I have spent the duration of E-Karate partnering up with a 12 year old child who suffers from severe autism. Although he comes every week, fitting in is a challenge because he has difficulty talking and interacting with others and has an uncontrollable habit of physically hitting those who approach him. At first, I felt like the only thing I had to do was control him, and ignore him when he grabbed me from the back or punched my face. It wasn’t until I started listening to him about his interests and embracing a more positive, responsive attitude did I begin connecting and becoming friends with him. Knowing more about him not only helped me be more patient, but helped me be a better partner. Like when we were pretending to be boxers in Arms, one of his favorite games to play on the Nintendo Switch, in order to practice different blocks and punches. When he first joined in August, he was only able to participate for about 15 minutes before he lost his focus and the two of use would have to go do something different. Today however he is able to participate for the whole class, interact with others and partner up with some of the other students in things like stretches.
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E-Karate has not only helped me have an impact on these kids and the special needs community, but has mentally and emotionally matured me. It has repeatedly pushed me outside of my comfort zone (leading the class in drills, interacting with kids with special needs), and has challenged me to put the well being of the kids before my own personal comfort. I am excited about the diverse opportunities I have to contribute to SF, where I will be going to college in the fall. I have heard about E-Hoops, a sister program to E-Karate, which operates on the USF campus, and I am excited to be volunteering there in the fall!