For two weeks, youthLEADarts is running programs with grade 7 and 8 students at Assikinack Elementary in Barrie, Ontario. With the Seven Grandfather Teachings and LEAD values as guides, students are embossing self-portraits, writing poetry, exploring drama and making short films about who they are and what connects them.
All of these arts are allowing them to recognize and voice both what they fear and what they look forward to. There were plenty of poems about sports and wanting to play professionally, but there were equal amounts written about being worried and stressed. As they create and connect, students are being deeply honest about how they feel about the world around them, their place in it and how they embody the Grandfather Teachings. Many share a feeling of anxiety. Arts are providing them the opportunity to air their concerns and as they proceed, to acknowledge how precious everything is and to find safety and freedom from worry, by speaking up.
Grade 8 student, Gabriel shares his thoughts below.
I am Worried
By: Gabriel
I am worried because I don’t know what’s next.
I wonder if the world is all in God’s hands.
I hear birds tenderly tweeting between leaves in the trees.
I see the shimmering light reflecting off a flowing creek and realize how precious everything is.
I want to know.
I am worried because I don’t know what’s next.
I pretend like it doesn’t matter to me.
I feel like nobody could care less.
I touch the spiky grass and realize how precious everything is.
I worry we don’t have time.
I cry because we don’t try for our own sake.
I am worried because I don’t know what’s next.
I understand no one is perfect.
I say we should try.
I dream of us having more time.
I ask people to help but they ask me not to pry.
I hope we don’t die.
I am worried because I don’t know what’s next and that it’ll end just because we were shy.