That moment when a student finds something they are passionate about...

I am part of a group that meets once a week that focuses on starting something.  The groups is composed of high school students and professionals in many different fields.  The professionals come in and mentor the students in whatever they are starting.  There are two focuses of the group.  First we talk  about what high school learning and routines look like from the students point of view.  Second we break off into different groups and the students are in an incubator type learning place where students and mentors work on making ideas a reality.  

"I knew this is when a student will stop being afraid of what people around him think and start doing something incredible."

Often in the group, it is a social hangout for students.  Some students really don’t know what they want to do or have a passion for something.  That changed yesterday for one student and I had the privilege to watch it happen. A student who had been dabbling in creating a T-shirt brand with a few other students shifted his focus to his passion.  The student approached me in an anxious way.  I would describe this student as intrinsic.  There was a look in his eyes of clarity.  As he began to speak, I could tell this was a big moment for him.  The student went in to what he wanted to do.  He was very clear and animated in his communication.  His body language showed he was very determined in his thoughts.  He had clarity.  As he described his idea to me, I couldn’t help but to get excited with him.  Not because his passion was mine, but because I knew I was witnessing a moment in this student’s life that he would remember forever.  I knew this is when a student will stop being afraid of what people around him think and start doing something incredible.

This moment is what I live for.  I love to see when a student's passion to do something outweighs their fear.  This is the moment that students really begin to learn.