The Opening Act
Imagine this….you are about to walk on stage. The lights are bright, dozens of eyes are watching you. Your heart races, your hands sweat, yet you know you’re ready. You’ve practiced, you’ve made a plan, you have a clear vision of what you want to say and share, and with that confidence, you step forward.
At first, everything flows just as you rehearsed. Then something shifts–the unexpected happens, something that is different from your plan. You feel the pressure, you must think on your feet, adapt, and carry on. You know that what you are doing is important to share and so you keep going. Will the audience remember your stumble or your message?
This was my life before Acton as a professional violist. I walked on countless stages to perform concerts and my most memorable performances were never the perfect ones, they were the performances where I had to rally, persevere, and live in the unexpected. These moments were most memorable because they defined my purpose–not to be perfect but to share my art, my journey, my unique voice.
Exhibitions are just like a musician’s journey on the stage. They are not meant to be flawless performances but living reflections of the learning journey. The purpose isn’t perfection — it’s preparation, practice, and courage. It is the high-stakes process of sharing what you’ve discovered and persevered through, because what you have to share matters.
Each Quest session goals are casted and learners begin the journey to discover lessons. This Quest focused on Building the Team (BTT) where learners played games, crafted promises, and formed their studio foundation for the year. The real magic comes in the lessons learners name at the end of the Quest journey—the proof of what was learned, practiced and will be carried forward.
“I learned that learning isn’t just about getting questions right or earning badges, it’s about failing and trying again. At Acton, we don’t call it failing we call it learning.”
“I learned to take feedback from my team to be more warm-hearted. Making change is hard but I learned I’m improving.”
“I learned to prioritize myself first instead of always being a leader. When fellow travelers are uncooperative, I need to be tough minded.”
“I learned that my hero’s journey is about learning, giving it my all, and leading with effort.”
Every sticky note promise, every tug-of-war, every Lip Dub rehearsal and final cut was part of forming your child’s foundation of trust, responsibility, and belonging at Acton Academy Oshkosh. What you witnessed in yesterday’s Exhibition was not the finale, but the beginning of a much bigger story — one that will unfold session by session, Exhibition by Exhibition.
Exhibitions are where you will witness this year’s question What is the Hero’s Journey unfold in real time. How will your hero change? How will their team evolve? How will your hero face setbacks and rise again?
As parents, you are part of this unfolding story too. How will you notice the moments your hero is practicing perseverance at home? How will you celebrate effort and courage, even more than results? How might you join your child in reflecting — not just on what went well, but on what could grow stronger next time?
The curtain has only just lifted. The opening act has begun and together, we get to witness the journey of your child and their team — not toward perfection, but toward purpose, growth, and the joy of becoming.
Thank you for sharing your learner and for being part of this beginning. I promise that the next steps of the journey will offer even more growth, discovery, and joy!