The Workshop Jitters

It was Tuesday at 3:45pm and I waited patiently for students to arrive for program.   Fifteen minutes later, a group of 30 adults greeted me at the door.  

“Hi! We’re here for the pop-tart making class led by Community MVPs!” 

Great!  I thought.  Though, where in the world were my MVPs?  By now it was 4:30pm and program begins at 4:00pm.  

MVPs knew that recipe backwards and forwards and each person had perfected their speaking part to a tee.  And yet now, at 4:45pm, I was standing in front of 30 adults I had never met before, trembling with fear, awkwardly trying to ease their confusion.

All I kept thinking was where are my community MVPs?  

And then my alarm went off.   It was 7:00am – I had dreamt all of this.  I call it the pre-workshop jitters.  

No matter how many times we perfect a recipe or how many “yes, I’ll be there” texts I receive from students, there is still a teeny tiny part of me that is nervous, nervous that some unknown occurrence will inhibit every one of my students from attending a workshop. Silly?  Yes, I know.  

The best part of it all [besides waking up and realizing it was all a dream] is how I get this same feeling each and every time and Community MVPs, with their awesomeness, amaze me – each and every time.   You’d think I’d learn by now, huh?  Nope, it seems despite having no kids of my own, I take on the role of a worried parent waiting for their kids to make curfew.  [Gee, sorry Mom & Dad]

They wow me with their ability to be patient as folks ask lots of questions or miss the directions the first time and ask again.  Or their ability to take a step back and not do their favorite parts of a recipe because they see value in folks trying it out for themselves.  Yet, they were always ready and willing to show how a certain skill or part is done – when clarification was needed.    

Most importantly, I love their bravery in standing up and speaking to a room full strangers, sometimes five, ten, twenty years older than them.  

My heart was bursting with joy and pride as I watched and listened to them talk about what made our pop tarts healthier than ones from the store and as they led a “getting to know you” activity.  They had each person grab an M&M and answer a fun food question based on the color of their sweet treat.  You could see the room become more at ease and comfortable as each person in the room went around and shared, because many of these folks hadn’t met either!  

MVP's did this. They created a safe and inviting space.  I’ll admit, I am a sucker for ice-breakers but this one was good – so good.

As we cooked in the kitchen, I loved seeing the inner child in each adult break through as they used heart and moon shaped cookie cutters to make their pop tarts.  Watch out Kellogg – you’ve got some competitors!  

The class ended with a closing question, led by Community MVP participant, Malik.  “How did it feel to be taught by teenagers?” 
And then there was silence.  It was such a well thought-out, honest question, and I couldn’t wait to hear their answers.  Once one gal opened up the compliments came flooding in.  You would have thought Community MVPs were balloons as their bodies sort of puffed up with joy & affirmation as they heard kind words from once strangers and now friends.  

The final words I heard from one workshop participant was the cherry on top of an already incredible sundae.  She recognized two of my MVPs from the school she worked at and, just by chance, was put in the same group as them!  [I wish I had actually planned for that to happen.]  But she was so moved and excited by how well they did, to see them shine in moments of leadership and empowerment made her night.

This workshop - made. her. night.  

I was smiling from ear to ear, trying to keep my cool and failing miserably, because - it made my night to hear that.  

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