The only journey is the one within.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Who am I? What defines my uniqueness?

How do I identify myself? What do I want people to know about me?

As a guide, my mission this year has been to spark self-discovery and self-appreciation in each learner, aiming to boost their self-reliance. This means fanning the flames of their curiosity while stepping back—easier said than done—and trusting them to find their own answers. At Acton East Mountains, each learner is on their own hero’s journey, discovering the essential qualities of responsible citizenship along the way.

This brings us to our grand finale, the final quest: the study of naturalization and citizenship. Beyond just the legal procedures, we’ve delved into the bigger themes of identity, belonging, and community.

As learners navigate the twists and turns of naturalization, they’re also reflecting on their own identities and roles within their communities. Like every quest, this one offers a chance to gain insight into themselves and their place in the world.

Exploring the rights and responsibilities of citizens has given them time to think about what it means to be a member of their studio. What is their responsibility for their freedom? What does it mean to contribute to something bigger than themselves?

Overheard in the studio:

N: That’s not spider sense. That’s natural human instinct.

Every time someone distracts, spray them with a water bottle. – M, on how the guide should deal distractions during discussions

H: You can be different, but you can’t be 102 and look like a baby.

W: I like to be in the sun now ‘cause I want to get tan.

Yep, I miscalculated. -D, after being asked if he spit on his knee while swinging

R (guide): Who here is American? N: I’m actually Welsh too. R (guide): You’re a dual citizen of Wales and the US? N: I don’t know. I have to look at my phone.

More questions we’ve explored in the studio:

• How are mistakes related to mastery?
• Can you control what you think?
• What is a greater feat: inventing a form of communication, or writing a great work like a novel?
• What is the greater crime: killing one innocent person or burning a thousand historical books?
• Would winning the lottery make you happier?
• Is procrastination learned or innate?
• Is it more powerful to be given something or to earn it?
• Who do you think would value US citizenship more: someone who worked for it or someone who was born with it?

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