A Year’s Journey: Where Do You Look for the Truth?
I’m on the edge of my seat, magically wide-eyed and trying not to blink I wonder “how is this going to go?” This is the process I have when I watch an amazing and unpredictable movie, my favorite kind. The kind where the writing diverts from the formula and instead throws you a curve ball full of magic. This movie watching process is often like a school year at Acton. This 24-25 school year was full of highs, lows, dramatic characters, magical chickens, and a mess—a beautiful messy process that threw us many curve balls and in the end always led to magic.
The embrace of the beautiful mess was my lesson learned this year. More than any other year I literally sat in the dirt of the studio and resisted every urge to clean and I held still among the chaos while learners combatted the Monsters of Distraction, Resistance, and Victimhood. I was definitely imperfect and threw myself some curve balls and had missteps however it is clear that this year everyone at Acton was learning the value of the long game journey, myself included. Guides, learners, and parents in many ways discovered that the challenge, the beautifully hard mess was where magical treasure is hidden. (If you’d like to hear extra inspiration here are the words of a wise Acton alumni about the meaning of challenge.) This year learners found treasure in the meaning of friendship, trust, responsibility, the love for materials, and a passion for hard work and imagination. What lesson did you learn as a parent? What treasure did you find this year?
As you close the chapter of the year with your child I invite you to remember this year’s overarching question “Where do you look for the truth?” Each session and daily we refer to this question with learners. As learners explored Space they questioned the truth of the unknown, as learners explored Indigenous People they questioned the truth of history and land, and as they explored this final session’s Passions Quest they battled where they looked for the truth of what they love. As each studio reflected on their journey and our overarching question they shared gems of treasure.
“My truth is deep in my heart, I know my truth.” “I was surprised when I was looking for the truth, it was easier to find than I thought. I look for fellow travelers and myself” “When I look now I have to find a trustworthy place to find the answer.” “When I started this Quest I definitely was different and now I think I know myself a lot more.”
I encourage you to consider where you look for the truth of your child’s learning or where you look for the truth of your growth as a parent, or where you look to know that your family is on the right path. As a parent and Director I am happy to step out of Socratic Guide question mode and share my answer of where I look. I look to the learners. When in doubt, I look at their eyes and hunger for them to shine. I listen to their feedback, I listen to their laughter, and I look to them when things go awry. Our magical children are wise beyond their years and always have the truth. Their light will shine the way to change our world and the world for others.
On this final day of the year I’d like to invite you to land the plane with your child by reflecting on growth rather than pressing for progress. Sit in the field, feel the sun, look your child in the eyes and wonder in their beautiful magic. Reflect on what they loved and what they learned. These moments are precious, allow yourself the gift to engage and simply love as you step off the plane together and prepare for another journey next year.
Thank you for sharing the journey with us, for sharing your gift of extra yarn, and your gift of your magical child with all of us!