Canggu, Bali

Canggu is a town on the coast of Bali. Many people go for the beach and for surfing. While I was in Canggu there happened to be a surfing competition going on. I had never seen one of these before, so I was eager to watch. They had different age groups competing, one group I watched was these four young boys who were 8-10. These young surfers looked so small out in the big waves. Before they went out into the water, I noticed that each boy had a group of people that were there to support them and cheer them on. Every time one of the boys caught a wave, their little community went wild. Even while waiting for a wave, the teams on the shore would call out words of encouragement. When a boy was not able catch a wave or fell prematurely, they would still yell their support. When the surfers returned to shore after competing, each was met with cheers and congratulations. I honestly do not know who won the competition, not just because my understanding of competitive surfing is lacking, but also because the reception that met each boy when they returned was big and joyful. You could not identify a winner based on how each boy was greeted. This was a really sweet thing to see. 

    This made me reflective of how we are supportive of the students in our classes. Not every child comes from a home life where they have the care and support that they need, which makes it so important for us to rally behind each of our students. Creating a classroom environment where each students feels recognized and has the space to try, even if they make mistakes. I think this lends itself to the idea of allowing for creativity and innovation within a classroom setting. Beyond just telling students what they need to know, allowing them to innovate and explore different possibilities on their own is so powerful. All the while lending the scaffolding and support that they need to succeed, cheering on their progress while they are doing the hard work and the learning. Watching those young boys surf reminder me how important it is for everyone to have someone cheering them all. We all need this and it is something I can give my students.