Session 7, Week 1
What does it mean to find your passion? Is it that feeling when time disappears? When a challenge feels exciting rather than exhausting? When you want to share something you love with everyone around you? This week at CHOICE, heroes in every studio are exploring exactly what this means.
spark studio
This week in the Spark Studio, heroes explored the concept of passion from the inside out.
It started with a question: What does passion actually mean? Heroes looked at examples from others’ lives and then turned the lens on themselves, reflecting on what truly lights them up. The answers were as unique as the heroes themselves. Something as simple as finding bugs in the grass or as big as performing in front of a crowd, every answer was right, because every answer was real. There is something beautiful about listening to young heroes name what they love. They have such a genuine, unburdened love of life and learning that it comes pouring out of them without hesitation.
During the Montessori work cycle, heroes took that spirit of passion and channeled it into creation. They decided which materials to use, designed their own Montessori works, gathered feedback from fellow heroes, and then used that feedback to make their work better. Seeing their creativity fuel a challenge is beautiful.
Several heroes also stepped up to lead their own afternoon launches this week, and what a gift it was to watch. Launches in Spark Studio can take many shapes: telling a story, sharing a video, leading a group game, each followed by a question or two to open up discussion. Two heroes led the group in a game and then guided a reflection on the feelings that came up while playing. Another hero shared stories from a trip and then invited everyone to use the CHOICE work cycle to design their own animal. It was a week full of storytelling, self-discovery, and heroes choosing to step forward and lead.
fire studio
As we began the final session of the year, the Fire Studio is taking time to focus on something special – – each hero’s own journey this year at CHOICE. One of the most enjoyable parts of the week has been listening to Heroes reflect back on where they started. Many can still remember exactly what intimidated them, worried them, or felt overwhelming before their very first day. Looking back now, it is remarkable to see how far they have come.
Some of the life skills the heroes develop in the Fire Studio are adjusting to change and learning to navigate new dynamics in their relationships. This session the FS heroes are divided into a boys studio and a girls studio, and they all really enjoy the change in energy in each studio. The heroes are learning how to get along with and not get distracted by their friends. Many of the heroes are running partners with their friends, giving them the opportunity to develop a tough mind and warm heart. Holding your running partner accountable to excellent work can be much harder when they are your friend and you don’t want to hurt their feelings. Heroes learning to have hard conversations with each other = life preparation!
Testing maybe isn’t anyone’s passion, but it is a good practice for future life experiences. As we focused for 30 minutes each day on “testing” in the language arts section of the IXL program, heroes took on the challenge with courage and a growth mindset!
A number of Fire Studio Heroes are currently pitching to join the DELTA Studio next year. As part of that process, they are responsible for planning and leading a Day Quest. These Heroes have chosen a passion they care about, worked with their DELTA Blurps to develop the idea, created launches and videos, entered challenges into Journey Tracker, organized supplies, stayed within a budget, and then brought their vision to life. It has been beautiful to watch heroes sharing their passions with each other.
DELTA Studio
Passion took many forms in the DELTA Studio this week:
Pickleball courts arrived this week and the DELTA heroes are absolutely loving them. There is something joyful about watching heroes throw themselves into something new with that kind of enthusiasm.
Heroes also got behind the wheel at go-kart racing this week. More than a few discovered a brand new passion racing around the course, loving it even more than they thought they would. That is one of the best things about trying something new: you never quite know what might light you up.
Launchpad heroes made a trip to the Davis Technical College, touring all kinds of programs and exploring what is possible next year.
DELTAs also had the opportunity to spend time mentoring Spark heroes. There is something powerful about a young hero pouring into an even younger one.
Session 7 in Delta Studio does not have a formal quest, and that means this time looks a little different for different heroes. Some are enjoying the fruits of a year of hard work, with time to breathe, play, and celebrate what they built. Others are working their tail off to finish strong.
Passion looks different for every hero. It shows up in a marble run, a Day Quest, a go-kart lap, a hard conversation, a launch, a game of pickleball. There is a lot of passion at CHOICE and that is something we’re really grateful for!