Cultivating Talent: It's all in learning that matters

I thought about talent on my walk to school this morning. I thought how the sharing of talents is an energizing and motivating experience for all involved. The Lower School Talent Show last Friday and the first speaker organized by the Upper School, student-led TILE Club were wonderful examples of this dynamic in action.

On Friday afternoon, about half-way through the LS Talent Show, I realized that the program was printed on both sides. I was counting along to the 39th act when I dropped my paper and noticed that the listings continued on other side of the paper. 

There were actually 51 different acts and over 100 students in grades 3-5 involved. What was amazing was not the quantity of students involved although to think that almost half of the students in grades three through five had devoted time and energy to develop a performance is certainly wonderful. Nor was it the quality of the performances although the originality, creativity, and freshness of the performances was stunning. For me, the amazing aspect of the performance was the confidence with each one of them took the stage and glow they had when they left. Their peers cheered when their names were called. They rushed to line the edge of the stage and be as close as they could to the action. Each one the performers walked on that stage and left that stage as a star. They showed their skills as they danced, and sang, played instruments, did magic, and gymnastics routines. But more than skills they showed courage, persistence, and deep caring for one another. These qualities come through when students are involved in performances they care about. The opportunity to show what they can do is fundamentally motivating and the experience lifted all of us. We do not know what we are capable of until we are motivated to stretch and try something beyond the usual, beyond the routine. We do not dream until some spark comes to us to inspire us to reach for new levels. The inclusive and supportive structure of the LS Talent Show allowed every participant to dare and dream, and allowed us all to share in the experience.

On Tuesday, a new Upper School club, the T.I.L.E. Club hosted their first speaker. TILE stands for Talks on Innovation, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship. The first chapter began in Portland Oregan and has since spread world-wide. Student led and organized, TILE Clubs arrange for speakers to present on a range of topics. The first talk at ASM featured Chreston Christensen. More than 25 students attended and participated in a lively discussion on a range of topics. They wanted to know about the learning that had mattered most from High School. What skills were most important in business? How had he gotten started in his business? What opportunities and issues did he see in the future? 

I visit classrooms every day. This was, by far, the most switched on and focused ‘class’ I have observed. They arranged the session. They invited the guest. They prepared the questions. This was learning that mattered to them.

Amazing things happen when we pursue learning that matters to us. The results exceed expectations when learners are committed, invested, and active. There are a number of lessons in these two events and, for me, they are all positive.