PRESSURE MAKES DIAMONDS

Connect: Nukko Lake

We are back with a final update on our Connect: Nukko Lake group! This group has flown by, and it is very bitter-sweet that it is ending. However, I know that the kids developed some very valuable skills whilst being in this program.

For the second-last session, the kids worked on a cup-stacking challenge. For this, we gave the kids plastic cups that needed to be stacked in a tower position. They could not use their hands, but instead an elastic band with 3 strings attached to it. The kids had to work in groups of 3 using only the strings and rubber band to pick up the cups. The goal of this session was to get the kids working as a team and communicating, but also working under pressure. After this, we talked about how we felt working under pressure in our groups and the kids mentioned feelings of stress and worry. With this, we talked about how working under pressure can be stressful, but sometimes it pushes you closer to a successful outcome!

On our last day together, we did a celebratory final session! With this, we did a final review of all of the topics and activities we covered together as a group. We went around the table and each shared our favourite activity and what we learned from it. After the review, we kept it fun and made a spring break bucket list, filling it with ideas or plans the kids were looking forward to over spring break. Then to top it all off, we enjoyed ice cream sundaes together as a group to celebrate the group being over and starting spring break!

It has been so rewarding to lead this group. We talked about so many important topics like self-care, mental health, teamwork, pressure, and so much more. The kids seemed to have a lot of fun, and they took away some very important lessons with them, which is the most important part of doing these groups.

-Amy, BigsNBC Mentoring Coordinator