They weren't ready, not by a long shot, by their own admission. They knew what they knew, and they knew what they didn't know. It was what it was.
But they gathered for the competition willingly, despite their hesitations. They needed assurance that this wasn't for a grade, wasn't for advancing in rank--it was just a one-and-done contest.
It was easy to let loose in a virtual event with their mic muted. They joked around, made confident choices when they could, extrapolated silly clues and guessed when one answer seemed as good as another. They reviewed their answers and submitted their entry with plenty of time to spare, taking advantage of the wait by cracking jokes and comparing tongues colored by lollipops.
The winners were announced, and the team politely (if mutely) applauded the victors. The event ended; there were smiles when participation medals were awarded. I took them to the office for a round of cowbell and cheers, and announced their names on the PA at the end of the day.
They earned those medals just for showing up, being brave, and wading in over their heads.
More importantly, they learned that taking a risk and failing doesn't always end in shame. It does take away some of the fear of the unknown, making the ladder just a little bit shorter for the next high dive--one inch closer to success.
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| Image from Pixabay |
Great word choice throughout to set a celebratory tone!
ReplyDeleteSuch a powerful lesson for kids. I'm glad they took the risk anyway, and I'm sure you were their #1 Cheerleader.
ReplyDeleteLessons worth learning; "they learned that taking a risk and failing doesn't always end in shame." Being brave - and following through on a commitment, those are important as well.
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