Leap Year has rolled around once again, and with it comes a sense of excitement and possibility. A few years ago, we wrote about “Leap Year Proposals” – encouraging teachers, parents, and students to try their luck by taking on a part, monologue, or scene that they would not have thought of tackling before. Of course, the last Leap Year was 2020; and at that point, no one knew what challenges were in store for the entire world, much less an acting troupe!
Four years later, we have the opportunity to reflect with our students on the chances they have taken and the challenges they have faced. Which is to say: last Leap Year may have been about taking leaps of faith; this time, we want students to measure how far they have come. Do they feel more confident battling stage fright? Have they tried different kinds of roles – and if so, what kind of experience was that? Or maybe your students look back and feel as if they have still-hidden goals that they would like to achieve in the coming months – in that case, this may be just the time for a gentle, encouraging push.
2020 showed us that we can never know what lies ahead, or indeed just how much faith we will need. This Leap Year, encourage your students to take stock of all they have accomplished – and to move ahead with hope.