A Cultural Mosaic
“We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” —Jimmy Carter
All session long Español Quest has had the anchoring of a mosaic image. The Quest map, each Studio’s window painting, and during daily discussion learners have explored Latin culture as a collection of beautiful tiles—a collection of beautiful people and places. Each country has its own identity and learners loved discovering the varieties of food, dance, and nature found in each new country of exploration.
Throughout this Quest Guides and I have featured Latin heroes (of which there are many) almost daily. Knowing the people and learning about their life’s journey and how each hero has changed the world has allowed learners a clearer bridge of cultural understanding. From Ms. Cece’s Mexican mother’s visit to Acton to hearing of my Cuban violin friend Lizbet Martinez who at 12 altered the perception of Cuban immigrants and to learning stories of Frida Kahlo, Carlos Santana, Rita Moreño, Antonio Banderas, and the Mirabel sisters the concept of what it means to be Latin is much clearer and deeply meaningful. Remembering real heroes is the first step to seeing yourself as one too.
Perhaps your learner has recently surprised you with this Quest question: How do you want to be remembered? Maybe it was the movie Coco’s hit song Remember Me that inspired learners or the glowing pictures on the studio ofrenda of past loved ones or the consistent hero stories; whatever the inspiration you can almost daily overhear a learner asking another this question. Typically it is in a tough time but even more special it’s during a chit chat. Just this week here’s what I’ve heard with my fly skills.
“Do you want to be remembered as someone who is kind or someone who hurts others? Your actions and choices decide this.”
“Do you want to be remembered as someone who is generous or someone who focuses on themselves?”
“If you you were to be in the hero book what would people remember you for?”
This last question was a thrilling chit chat and the highlights were “I want to be remembered for being brave and going to outer space.” “I want to be an animal doctor and help them with so much love.” “I want to inspire everybody with my music and my singing skills.” “I want to be the craziest scientist that has so much imagination!”
The question of remembrance naturally ties in all the radiant character qualities that learners have been growing. This question embraces the different passions, interests, and strengths of each learner. Plus, when we introduced this question we also followed up with “How do you want your Acton Studio to be remembered?” and “How would you describe the Acton culture?”
These answers warmed and surprised with variety! “We are kind and help people no matter what.” “People will know we are hardworking.” “We like to have fun and get a little goofy.” “We are resilient and never give up.” “We have a lot of freedom because we care and we’ve earned privileges with hard work.” “We don’t leave anyone behind.”
This session we’ve been reveling in reflection and goal setting and honoring differences has been one of this session’s greatest gifts. At Acton, our differences are our greatest strengths. Just like former President Jimmy Carter beautifully shared we are a mosaic of different people with so many beautiful differences. Loving the rainbow of differences is what binds our Acton culture. Dr. Seuss may say it best, “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.”