“What’s the most stressful situation you have handled, and what was the outcome?”
“Can you think of a time when you worked with someone difficult to get along with — how did you handle interactions with that person?”
“Tell me about a time when you set a goal for yourself and what you did about it.”
At The Village School, we often discuss our ‘Why’. Why do we emphasize character and community building? Why do we embrace struggle? Why do we believe we are best able to prepare the children we are trusted with for long term success? While considering which of the innumerable answers we have as a community, I was struck by the paradox presented in our most recent project.
In session 2, Discovery Studio’s Project and Writer’s Workshop was all about Building a Business. Learners were challenged to plan for a financially successful business that was tied to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. To this end, learners conducted market research, learned about competition, used mathematical skills to create a realistic financial plan, and wrote a persuasive pitch to present their business. The culmination of this work was a presentation of their product prototype, formal business plan, and a group pitch presented to a panel of local entrepreneurs judging as investors.
I am still teeming with pride for our learners and the conclusion of this project. A TV and table centered in front of the stage of the vast empty room. Tables angled to the left with three chairs and three accompanying name cards. The rest of the open space, filled by chairs set in neat rows of five on the ornate rug of the Parish Hall. Learners, ages seven to eleven, excitedly entering and finding a seat. Our judges, on that day referred to as Sharks, taking their designated seat. Discovery learners were not only prepared, poised, and polished, but also fielded questions that pushed the already extensive thinking they had done about their businesses.
However, my joy seeing the weeks of effort come together is only eclipsed by the admiration I have for our learner’s when reading their Session Reflections. Not one mentioned the laminated menus or powerpoint presentations prepared, but rather their answers all spoke to some part of the journey: the lessons learned, challenges overcome, and fears faced. It is these moments along the way that have already armed our learners with answers to the interview questions posed at the start of this post, all taken from Forbes’ article “Soft Skills are Essential to the Future of Work.”
“What’s the most stressful situation you have handled, and what was the outcome?”
“I didn’t know that I could talk in front of the sharks”
“A challenge I faced was being really scared and nervous to share to the sharks but I did it!”
“Can you think of a time when you worked with someone difficult to get along with — how did you handle interactions with that person?”
“It’s okay to not agree” “I have grown in my ability to be a leader. I like helping others!”
“I learned to be patient”
“Tell me about a time when you set a goal for yourself and what you did about it.”
“I learned hard work equals being proud”
“I learned that building a business is harder than it seems”
By engaging our learners in a project acquiring the hard-skills associated with building a business, we also offered them an opportunity to acquire all the soft skills that may someday get them their dream job. Looking forward to sharing more trailblazer inspired ‘Why’s!
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