Week 36: Commitment, contribution, and community

We're winding down our first year here at Acton Academy Nanaimo, and these heroes dug deep this week to reach goals, complete work for badges, and rise to the challenge of finishing strong. Whether it was math unit tests, perfecting handwriting skills, time-telling challenges, or creative story writing, each picked their work and persevered. When it came time for Time in Nature or Spark Play I was met with groans from many - "Can I PLEEEEASE just do one more lesson on Dreambox??" Children choosing work, finding joy, purpose, and a deep sense of accomplishment is magic to witness.

On Tuesday morning we received an envelope - a mysterious package sent to us from a small town in Ontario. Lo and behold, inside were letters addressed to some of the learners at our Acton....from another Acton school! Everyone was so excited to learn about these children, their town, their Acton Academy, their pets and favourite sports, and to respond in kind with questions of their own. It was an experiment suggested to me by another Acton guide and I think it's safe to say, it was a success and something we will definitely continue next year! Not only did the sense of intrigue and excitement give them a powerful why to put pencil to paper and communicate through writing, it also connected them to something bigger than our studio. Being part of the Acton network is such a gift in so many ways, and the opportunities for connecting with and learning from others around the world are an exciting part of being an Acton hero. Future collaborations and exchanges are on our mind, whether that's with another school in Canada or one in Guatemala, Brazil, or Pakistan, there are so many opportunities and I can't wait to see where this leads for our heroes.

This sense of community is one of the greatest lessons I took away from the owner's conference in Austin last week. It reminded me that although we've chosen this unique path, a path that can sometimes feel lonely, we are never alone.

This reminder poured over into our studio as we reflected on our promises, not just to ourselves on our own Hero's Journey, but also the promises we make to one another when we choose Acton. Our promises to this community, and the understanding that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.

When we choose Acton, we're choosing to be part of a tribe of travellers that relies upon one another for support, commitment, integrity, and contribution. That our choices have the potential to either elevate the tribe or bring it down. And that with the great freedom we value so deeply at Acton, there is also great responsibility.

Our final week will be one of deep reflection, introspection, celebration, and recommitment - revisiting what it means to be a hero choosing Acton. I'll leave you with another excerpt from a powerful speech given during the conference, from a hero in his graduating year.

"Locations changed, but one thing always remained constant for me at Acton. Community. From the very beginning, the community of fellow travellers at Acton was a place where you didn't have to be cool to fit in. You didn't have to worry about saying the right things, wearing the right things, you could be you. As Acton Eagles, we constantly encounter new challenges that push us all out of our comfort zones.....one thing still remained constant, no matter what. Community. At Acton...you are basically forced to get along with your studiomates. While this may seem like an unwelcome challenge, it actually results in a superpower you develop as an Acton Eagle. You learn how to connect and build community with all different types of personalities, personalities you wouldn't normally have connected with. In my years as an Eagle, the connections I have built with those that I would not normally have chosen, are some of the strongest. To me, Acton isn't a school, it's a family. It's a community that welcomes failures. A community where you know everyone has your back because you have theirs."