MY REFLECTIONS ON LUMINARA ACADEMY’S LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM!
BY | MAR 21, 2024 |
Last week marked a milestone for Luminara Academy and for me personally. With a heart full of hope and a bit of nervous excitement, we introduced our first ever Essential Life Skills Program. This endeavour was born out of a deep reflection on how I could make a meaningful contribution to the world, especially in shaping our future generations. As a parent of two myself, this felt not just necessary but deeply personal.
Our program is designed to hone what I fondly term ‘life skills’. These are the competencies that matter in every walk of life – in school corridors, at the family dinner table, and eventually, in the professional world. We intentionally kept our inaugural event small. It was important for us to really connect with our participants, gauge their response to our curriculum, and learn firsthand from this initial venture.
Essential Life Skills: Launch Day!
The mix of excitement and jitters was palpable as we approached the launch day. As the kids began to arrive, with varied expressions of reluctance and curiosity, I realized that the week ahead would be as much a learning experience for me as it was for them.
Our first day was all about building life skills that are critical to human interaction – emotional intelligence. Participants undertook activities to build their emotional literacy, a prerequisite to cultivating emotional intelligence. Witnessing the transformation from tentative silence to enthusiastic participation was nothing short of magical. By day’s end, even the most reserved kids were actively engaging and enjoying the activities.
Essential Life Skills: The Week’s events
The second day brought an unexpected but welcome surprise. Several participants expressed how the program exceeded their expectations – that they were not just learning life skills, but having fun too! The constructive feedback about desiring more activities and learning more about leadership was an invaluable takeaway for us, guiding our future program enhancements.
Our week was packed with diverse and dynamic experiences – guest speakers, debates, team competitions, case analysis, quizzes, bubble soccer, and more. The learning curve was steep but incredibly rewarding, not just in terms of refining our program, but in understanding the deep-seated needs of our younger generation.
The Battles Kids Face
The revelations about the personal and academic challenges faced by these kids were eye-opening. We delved into issues pertaining to self-confidence, worthiness, feeling underestimated and how to build assertiveness, communication and leadership skills. This reinforced my belief in the necessity of programs like ours, which equip children with a toolkit of life skills to navigate the complexities of today’s world.
One of the most heartwarming outcomes was watching these young individuals, initially strangers to each other, gradually open up and build bonds. They shared pieces of themselves, their dreams, and their fears. Witnessing their blossoming camaraderie and trust in us as facilitators was a profound experience. Each child brought their unique spark to the program, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of their journey, however small.
How Luminara Academy Supports Our Youth
As we move forward, our commitment at Luminara Academy is unwavering. We aim to be a guiding light, helping to sculpt well-rounded, emotionally intelligent, and resilient individuals. To all the parents who entrusted us with their children, thank you. Your faith in us has allowed us to make a difference in these young lives.
Call to Action: We at Luminara Academy are just getting started, and we invite you to join us on this exciting journey. Whether you’re a parent looking to enrich your child’s life skills, or someone interested in learning more about our programs, reach out to us. Together, let’s empower the next generation with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. Let’s build a brighter, more resilient future, one child at a time. Take the First Step. Dive into our website, read our blogs and watch out for our upcoming Summer Programs!