Cal’s Got Talent! How Unleashing Potential Helped Cal Gain Confidence for the Afterschool Talent Show
Program: After School
At first, Cal was nervous. He’d never really been on stage and, even though it was mostly his peers in the afterschool program, a bunch of new faces were filtering in through the gym doors of Griffith Elementary School – family coming for the Unleashing Potential Talent Show.
Three judges sat up front, including the school principal, and they were measuring for personality, stage appearance and audience engagement.
Cal reminded himself that he had a real talent in singing, a talent he’d gotten from his dad. And he’d been practicing this particular song, Mint Condition’s “You’re Breaking My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)”, for the past two weeks. By now, he was used to being on stage. Cal also reminded himself that he had Ms. Krystal and his peers cheering him on; in fact, that was the thing he loved the most about Unleashing Potential’s afterschool program.
As he got on stage, Ms. Krystal handed him sunglasses and encouraged him not to focus on the crowd but rather to focus on things around the crowd. It was just like some of the aspects of conscious discipline, she reminded – learning how to regulate yourself and understanding how to calm yourself down.
This gave Cal confidence. As the music began to play, and he began to sing, the song resonated with people in the room. A few people moved to the rhythm. Some even sang along. This encouraged Cal to keep going.
In the end, the confidence paid off. Cal won first place during the talent show, which came with a $25 cash prize (compliments of Ms. Krystal). But winning wasn’t what mattered most to Cal; what mattered most was being in a program where he had staff and friends cheering him on, encouraging him to be the best he possibly could be.
*Actual student/name has been changed to protect child’s identity
