Session 3, Week 1
Frodo is the main character In the epic tale of Lord of the Rings, However, many LOTR fans will tell you that Sam is actually their favorite. Sam is Frodo’s main ally and helper throughout Frodo’s Hero’s Journey. We are typically focused on our CHOICE heroes as the main character of the story. We ask questions about their Calls to Adventure, their Road of Trials, their Return Home, etc. In this session however, we are asking the heroes to look at themselves as allies, helpers and mentors in someone else’s Hero’s Journey. Whose journey can they support? Who can they serve and help each day? Who is their Frodo? Our quest this session gives them numerous opportunities to find a Frodo every day.
Each year, the whole school comes together in Session 3 for a joint quest. The quest is always focused outward. This year we are focused on building relationships, and serving our grandparents, great grandparents and members in our communities who are of that age range. One part of the quest is visiting care centers in our area to provide some connections and a little bit of light and love. Heroes were given a challenge with constraints this week – plan a short, simple activity that could be completed with the residents at a care center. It was so fun to see the great ideas that came out of collaborative work on this task. Some heroes were drawn towards activities that they personally would enjoy, but might be less enjoyable for the care center residents. Others wanted to plan something that may have been too complicated or expensive. As the heroes worked together, shared their ideas, and received feedback, they came up with beautiful, balanced plans that were better than anything just one of them could have come up with. Mentoring and acting as allies are such a natural part of a hero’s day at CHOICE, they might not even recognize what’s taking place! And as they began their visits this week, they truly acted as allies and helpers to people who began as strangers, but ended as friends.
Throughout all the visits, the greatest gift was the engaging and interactive conversations which the heroes were able to have with their new friends. It seemed like the heroes realized their new friends were just as shy and unsure of this new friendship as they were… until they each started talking and sharing and laughing together.
Heroes found many many Frodos within CHOICE as well this week. Warning: Most of the pictures throughout this blog have little to do with the text – because you can’t ruin beautiful, spontaneous, heartfelt moments by taking a picture!
In the Spark Studio conflicts arise every day. Don’t get me wrong, we have A LOT of fun – but conflict is often part of fun! As guides we introduce the learners to tools they can use to aid in solving these conflicts. I-Messages and Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who goes first are among our most used tools. This week we noticed more and more the heroes being in charge of their own problem solving and guiding each other as conflicts arose. One day as two heroes were fighting over a studio maintenance job, we observed another learner walk over and coach the others in starting “I-messages” to each other. Talk about being allies and helpers!
Heroes continually give words of encouragement to each other. One hero was frustrated with the craft he was making and asked a friend to do it for him. The friend said, “If you get a piece of paper you can watch me and I’ll show you how to fold it.” Heroes are learning that being an ally and helper doesn’t mean doing it for them.
Heroes also help one another during Montessori work cycle by giving each other presentations on the works – guiding them how to do it, but not doing it for them.
During outside time, one hero got a splinter in his hand. We saw several heroes share their own stories, and offer support and advice as he tried to work up the courage to pull it out. It took around half an hour, but the instantaneous look of surprised relief on his face when he did it showed he was pleased. Sometimes we build up things in our minds to be worse than they are until the thought of it feels impossible. We can trust the helpers in our lives and make that leap of faith.
Here are some simple, yet beautiful examples of how the Fire Studio heroes were allies and helpers this week:
During lunch, a younger hero asked me how to print a document from her chromebook. Responding as a guide, I asked the hero if she had first checked with a running partner or squad leader to learn this skill. An older hero from the other studio overheard my question, wrapped an arm around the younger hero, and together headed off on a printer quest.
A hero was set to celebrate the completion of her Gratitude Heroic Habit badge when her squad leader noticed that she had accidentally repeated a few of her gratitude entries. There were some watery eyes, but as I spoke with the squad I could tell they were all willing to work together to come to a warm-hearted and tough-minded solution, helping each other along the journey of excellence.
One hero was running behind in his studio maintenance job because their squad meeting took longer than expected. Feeling stressed already, he noticed his vacuum wasn’t working well and switched to a different vacuum. His running partner perceived the stress and quickly offered to wrap up the cord and return the first vacuum for his ally, giving him more time to complete his job.
As part of this session’s Quest, the heroes are turning an interview they conducted into a story. This is a pretty big challenge – especially for the younger heroes – and has created several moments of shared guidance as an older hero helps a younger hero walk through the process of turning their interview comments into broader stories with descriptions and details.
Anyone who thinks teenagers are selfish should have observed our DELTA Studio heroes this week. Their example of mentoring and helping would have provided hope for every teenage naysayer!
Planning the care center visits from start to finish for a group of strangers you have never met could be a little intimidating and needs a decent amount of executive functioning. As I walked through the youngest Fire Studio, who was supposed to be planning their visits, I saw they were floundering and wondered if perhaps we overshot this challenge for them. I knew just what to do. I went straight to the DELTA studio and asked for some volunteers. I didn’t need to do anything else! The DELTA heroes did not take over, they did not plan the visit for the younger heroes. Instead they supported their ideas and walked through the process with them. It was magical to behold!
One group of DELTA heroes asked if they could go visit our Mosquito Squad neighbors. When I asked why they produced a card, cookies and milk that they had made and purchased all of their own volition to say thanks for being good neighbors!! This was totally unprompted.
Another organic ally and helper situation arose after our vote on the studio t-shirts. Traditionally, heroes submit designs, the studio votes on them and then we send it to the printer. This week however, after the vote, the heroes got together on their own and talked through the winning design; sharing ideas, discussing what they liked and didn’t like and continuing voting on changes to the design. The designer appreciated the suggestions, and the studio has the most collaborative design they have ever had.
Even with all their quest mentoring, DELTA heroes continue their daily math and writing mentoring. I can’t decide who it helps more- the Sam or the Frodo?
I know Sam is many a fans favorite from LOTR. But if those fans could meet and observe your CHOICE heroes for a week, they likely will switch their favorites. I was blown away all week long by your heroes selflessness, bravery, thoughtfulness and willingness to help others. They are truly embracing the idea of looking for a Frodo. And I don’t think it is just because that is the focus this session. I think it is because that is the kind of people they are choosing to become.