From Passion to Purpose: Where One Step Can Begin a Journey

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Laozi, Dao De Jing, Chapter 64 

Every journey begins somewhere—sometimes with a paintbrush, a football, a performance, a concern for the environment, or simply the question, “Is there something I can do?” 

That first step may seem small, but it is often where purpose begins. Passion gives us something to care about; purpose asks what we will do with that care. 

CAS is not about collecting activities. It is about helping students explore their interests, respond to the world around them, and grow through meaningful actions. 
With this spirit, Léman International School Chengdu held the CAS Fair: From Passion to Purpose—placing possibilities in front of students and inviting them to take that first step. 

CAS Through Student Voices  

The afternoon began at the Fusion Theatre, where Year 11 and Year 12 students, parents and teachers gathered for the opening assembly and student CAS showcase. Year 13 students, Charles and Musa, brought warmth and energy to the session as hosts before the spotlight moved to students sharing their own experiences. 

Grace represented Creativity through her Art Portfolio, inspired by places she has travelled, personal emotions, nature, and people. Yeongjun shared his Activity experience with the U19 football team, reflecting sustained commitment, teamwork and leadership as team captain. Bella and Fay presented their collaborative Service project supporting stray cats in their community, showing how a genuine need can grow into purposeful action through research, planning, teamwork and continued care. 

Together, their stories reminded students that no two CAS journeys need to look the same; each simply needs a meaningful place to begin. 

From conversations to possibilities 

After the opening session, the energy shifted to the IB Hub, where the DP Deep Dive and MYP rotations brought students face-to-face with people and opportunities both within and beyond the school. 

Students moved between booths, speaking with representatives from Hope Station, Sichuan Haihui Poverty Alleviation Service Center, Chengdu Bear Rescue Centre, Luhu Bird Friendly Community Development Project, Jinxin Elderly Chronic Hospital, and Worldwide Action. Through conversations, interactive games and activities, they learned about each organisation’s work, the communities they serve, future projects, and ways young people might genuinely contribute. 

These exchanges highlighted an important idea at the heart of CAS: meaningful service begins not simply with wanting to help, but with listening and understanding what a community actually needs. Purpose grows when students build relationships, understand context, and consider how their actions can be useful and sustained. 

The fair also showed that purposeful CAS experiences can begin much closer to home. Our school-based teams helped students see how interests they already have can grow into something more: PHE, led by Ms. Chila Cabello; Visual Arts, with Raina and Hannah of Year 12, led by Ms. Eunice Asembo; Design Technology and STEAM, led by Mr. Anar Atayev; Performing Arts and Music, with Liliana and Shelly supported by Mr. Stephen Delano and Ms. Hamida Atayeva; and Social Impact, with Meggy and Isabel of Year 11, led by Ms. Ivy Ji. 

The message was simple: CAS does not always require finding something entirely new. Sometimes it begins by looking again at something you already care about and asking: 
• Could I take this further? 
• Could I share it with someone else? 
• Could what matter to me also matter to my community? 

More than a fair  

By the end of the afternoon, the IB Hub was filled not simply with displays and information, but with conversations. 

Students asked questions. Parents joined discussions. Teachers opened up possibilities. Community partners shared their experiences. Older students helped younger students see what CAS could become. 

Some conversations may end with the fair; others may grow into new experiences, projects, and partnerships. That is the value of CAS—it does not prescribe one path but gives students space to discover their own. 

Our sincere thanks go to the teachers and staff, our DP Coordinator, Ms. Sarah Donnelly, the parents who joined us, and especially our external community partners, whose time, generosity, and continued support made the event possible. 

Laozi (老子) reminds us that every journey begins with one step. For our students, that step may be an idea, a question, an interest—or simply the courage to begin. 

Passion may light the fire. Purpose gives it direction. CAS gives young people the opportunity to turn what they care about into something that matters.