Free your Wild

 I recently saw a post on Facebook that resonated so much with me I had to share it and kept it bookmarked in my mind for inspiration for this blog post.

"When we free our wild, that frees other people to free themselves too." - Glennon Doyle

This just connected with my psyche. Wow, I thought, how lucky am I that I get to do this each and every day through our wonderful drama developmental programme!! 

As a Drama teacher we are used to seeing the children play and create and imagine but our classes do so much more than just this. We get to see our students bloom and blossom in this safe and nurturing environment where they can be wild and free to 'just be me'. There are no judgements here, no right or wrong answers, just fun, expressive and creative space where individuality is encouraged.

My best moments are seeing their faces light up when they arrive for drama time or when they explain (in detail) how they chose and created their costume for that theme, or especially when I'm there in the thick of it, imagining and creating with them. Building up their wonderful imaginations and always being amazed at their adaptability and natural tendency to be positive. 😊   

Performers will know that feeling you get when you connect as a group on the stage, butterflies in your tummy and the realisation that you are creating something magical at that moment! Well, that is what it feels like to teach the HOG programme. It is remarkably broad and allows for the students to have the freedom of expression at every point in the lesson while building meaning relationships with peers. This is so important as part of cognitive youth development in terms of having a sense of belonging!

Over the last decade I have watched students walked into our classes shy, introverted children and grow into these amazing, confident young minds ready to conquer anything life throws at them, and I am always so proud to know that in some way the HOG family stamp is there-  we helped to mold and nurture their young minds, allowed them that space to 'find themselves' and there really is something so special about that.

And that is why our programme is not just about teaching drama, but teaching life! In this ever increasingly small and connected world so many of us feel the polar opposite- disconnected, self conscious and inadequate. We eed to show the youth that this is not reality - Let them be wild, let them be free, let them imagine and create and explore so they can be part of the change in the generations to come that value individuality in all its majestic shades, social connection, respect, empathy and inclusivity.

That's what we model. That's what we teach. Building the next generation one drama class at a time. 

Nastassja 

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