One of the many ideas that attracted me to the Acton philosophy is the belief that we are all on our own Hero’s Journey, while also providing a mechanism for encouraging excellence and helping us become the best us. As we met for Journey Meetings last week, it was so apparent that each hero truly is on their own journey. Each hero has different comfort, challenge and panic zones. Each hero is striving for different goals. Talking about our different zones and journeys during the meetings was enlightening. Watching the heroes experience them over the week was inspiring.
In the Spark Studio… many of the heroes found themselves in their challenge, or even panic zone right from the beginning as they were introduced to an intense obstacle course during our Monday field trip to Kona Karate. Jumping off and balancing on high obstacles were new (and maybe even terrifying) skills to many, and yet not one hero gave up. The heroes who found themselves in their comfort zone, were cheering others on – acting as true allies and helpers. In the end, there were smiles all around and all felt joy and pride for accomplishing something challenging. “That was hard!” and “I want to come back again.” were heard over and over.
A hero who identified Mr. Resistance as a great challenge during their Journey meeting, attacked him head on during Core Skills this week. While working to master a work, this hero wanted to give up so many times – it was just so hard! However, this hero battled Mr. Resistance verbally (“I’m going to knock you down Mr Resistance”) and physically (continuing to work on the work) and pushed through and mastered the work. The pride the hero felt afterwards was worth all the hard work.
Another hero set a goal to master the red drawers in the language room. When it came to the end of the week, this hero had finished the drawers, but hadn’t mastered the sight words or sounds yet. Rather than get upset, this hero’s response was “Ok, I’ll just do the drawers again until I master it!” We were so inspired by this young hero’s understanding that this is an individual journey, not a checkmark or race. This intrinsic struggle is what it is all about!
Some heroes find their challenge zone through social interactions. Loose parts play is such a fun and beautiful time to practice communicating and working together. This week many of the heroes made a house together complete with room signs, a kitchen table and accommodations for pets. Heroes crated balance beams that turned into frost covered slides. All the while giving them a chance to use and develop their incredible creativity and practice problem solving together.
Every afternoon before the Spark heroes leave for the day, we cheer, “I am brave. I am strong. I am wonderful. I can do hard things. I am amazing!” The heroes have added their own addition with their name. “I am (insert name here)!” The definition of “hard things” is different for each hero. Truly they are brave, strong, wonderful, amazing and are learning to do their own hard things every day.
In the Fire Studio… the life lessons were real this week.
Journey Meetings revealed that many heroes’ biggest challenge is Mrs. Distraction. It was inspiring to watch many of these heroes make real changes during Core Skills the following days; making the courageous decision to not sit by friends and voting to hold the studio accountable to higher standards during Core Skills time. Self discipline!
Other heroes’ biggest monster was Mr. Resistance. After verbalizing that Mr. Resistance was getting in their way, at least two separate heroes came to school the next day and knocked out precisely what they had been avoiding. It was beautiful to hear their true excitement that came solely through accomplishing something challenging for themselves; no extrinsic reward attached. Self motivation!
Through discussions at Journey Meetings some heroes decided to change badges or programs to better fit their comfort, challenge and panic zones. Some heroes were ready and excited to add passion badges. It is thrilling to figure out how we learn best, and what is really important to us. Becoming a life long learner!
One particularly joyful Journey Meeting was with a hero who is in his second year at CHOICE. In reflecting on his badges, he recognized he was perhaps already further half-way through this year, than he was at the end of the year last year. It was awesome to celebrate his progress in earning badges. Perhaps even more important is to celebrate his development of life skills that have led to that progress: Self discipline, self motivation, and becoming a life long learner!
During quest, the lessons continued. We had happy moments like receiving paychecks and enjoying the treats or entertainment they could purchase, collaborating with coworkers to find better ways to do business, and working hard to finish challenges. We also had heroes threatened with job loss for not pulling their weight, executives taking pay cuts to keep companies afloat, businesses negotiating with each other to mutual advantage, operations threatened by employees not keeping up on CE requirements, and consideration of taking on debt to meet wants and needs. And then discussions of inflation, currency value, and the necessary ingredients in a thriving economy. While the Fire Studio is engaging in a game of LIFE as part of their entrepreneur quest, we are all engaged in learning real life lessons each day at CHOICE.
We didn’t have any great pictures of the things we talked about above. So instead I am just including fun pictures from our field trip 🙂
As each hero focuses on their own Hero’s Journey, each is learning the lessons that they individually need. I am so grateful for the courage of our heroes and their parents who are willing to engage in their journeys and play the real game of LIFE with us every day!