Frances Williams '20 reflects on her Compass Explorations experience during which she participated in a two-part, deep-dive workshop about leaning in and offering support to those around you.
My experience with the I've Got Your Back exploration workshop was perspective altering. I was introduced to new people and their stories. Coming from dancing my whole life, to be put in a studio with first-time dancers was a new experience. I was fortunate to work alongside my peers, as well as my dance teacher, Ms. Pearson, when she was truly in her element. Her dance company, Black Box Dance Theatre, does truly inspiring work with veterans such as Alfredo Hurtado, who was a pleasure to meet and dance with.
Alfredo's perspective and story meant a lot to me to hear and inspires me to this day, and I am truly grateful to have met such a wonderful person. Bringing real people's stories and struggles to dance gives life and emotion to each movement and getting to share these moments with people you may not know very well is unique.
One of my favorite activities from the exploration was being able to experience the different weight sharing. Physically and psychologically the group shifted weight from one another, letting each other take off the pressures of what was bothering them. These supports could be done by offering a shoulder to rest on or taking 100 percent of someone's weight when they really needed to be supported. Putting trust, and sometimes your entire body into the hands of your peers, when you needed to take the weight off, was a refreshing reminder of how supportive our community of Saints is.
During the exploration, we were able to reflect and write on our experiences multiple times. We got to define your own characteristics with the "I am..." statements, and how these qualities you obtain as an individual can cause stress or uncertainty. We paired our reflections with dance routines, that were self-choreographed, encompassing
emotional and physical support. No matter how big or small the challenge was, partners were able to support each other metaphorically through dance while actually taking their weight. I was very proud of the final project the group made, which was about a five-minute video of speech and support that we were able to broadcast to the school to promote our experience.
I truly learned more than I had expected during this exploration about myself and how to ask others for support when I am struggling, and I hope others did as well.
Frances Williams '20