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When Alpha 'Called', A Student's Crises (case study)
Blog post description.
7/22/20264 min read
The Catch
Back in 2004, I was among a group of kids ready for the usual Sunday School lesson. That day something unusual happened after the lesson which caused the trajectory of my life to change forever. I was made after the Bible lesson of the day to tutor the rest of the male students on a Bible lesson. Although the lesson wasn't something I had to come up with myself, it was a memorable event. Since that day, I have been moved to tutoring children, first as a Sunday School tutor and then later as a mathematics, science and computing tutor. Although it has not been a rosy journey as expected, it has been a successful journey for most of my students both at church, in school and as a home tutor. With students studying in Duke, Utah, Illinois Institute of Technology, among others in the USA. Several others in the UK and in Ghana in fields including Pharmacy, Medicine, Physician Assistance, Actuary, Economics, Blockchain, Software Engineering and Engineering among several others.Well as a leader, you have to direct and be directed. I have thus been receptive to coaching and mentorship since the Sunday school days. Receiving direction from tutors/lecturers, leaders at school and church as well as from employers. To enable abled performance at school as it is, in my leadership roles and even as a tutor. A handy example is when I was to deliver the sermon during a youth week of the church from which I was made to tutor on Sundays. This time around, the 'director' or 'coach' was the head pastor. The message: 'The burning chariots and the youth's future'. In this instance, several weeks and meetings were spent with the General Overseer. The catch, to receive training to speak in accordance with the doctrines and permitted use cases of the congregation and the pulpit. It was a tiresome experience combining regular university education in Mathematics and Economics with part time home tutoring and then the coaching for the sermon. In the end it was a resounding success. It was an eye opener. Even though I felt I could have been a lot better had there not been other pressing needs for my time and mind. It exposed the essence of being teachable and being available to learn despite odds especially on issues of utmost importance.
The dichotomy, Jordan and Myself
Having been a tutor of a Sunday school for 10 years from age 14 and seeing many children pass through my tutoring, its only normal to expect high standards since these children are mostly coming to church with their parents. Parents know of me and my teaching I had no option than to deliver. Making issues worse, I had to combine my coaching sessions with University education and home tutoring. Failing or falling short of expectation wasn't an option.
Now let's consider Jordan's case, his parents know him and what he can do, his parents also know Alpha and what Alpha can do. That presupposes great expectations not from Jordan per sey but from Alpha. The main concepts or principles to harness to propel Jordan, Competitiveness, Can do spirit, Resilience and Collaborative goal setting. Jordan and his parents are fine with being fine, but he may not necessarily be catching up with his peers. Competitiveness and Resilience stands in. Collaborative goal setting and can do spirit does the other half. Collaboration means working together to catch up, can do spirit buttress same. For Jordan he wouldn't have to work and therefore crosses a hurdle already. His parents are fine with fine and that settles another but finally Alpha isn't and that presents the opportunity to inculcate teamwork, grit, hard work and mental strength to cement outcomes.
High Standard for Jordan, my ask and postulation
Jordan's performance is fine but you can't be fine with just fine, you know why? Alpha your 'school' is not fine and you love school, you said that in your last survey Jordan. So we are to ensure you get to the level of your peers. This is what we will do, we are getting a 'supremum'' peer and an 'infinimum'' peer. You are going to collaborate to achieve this goal. Currently, let me put your performance at say 70%, we are to take it to 80% by the end of the next 4-8 weeks. Unfortunately, this time I pick those peers. We are going to work together to ensure you reach the 80% goal by the 6th week.
Core Skills Routine, what Alpha has
For Jordan's personal core skills routine with me, we were to build three main skills: we are trying together to be competitive. We are seeking to get Jordan to see the essence of catching up with Alpha together with his 'supremum'' and 'infinimum'' peers. So his solution bait: "I want to schedule personal time with you where we engage in these activities. Play scrabble, Monopoly and chess". For chess, you have to try as much as possible to checkmate me in 15 minutes: take it as though you are ELO rated: level 2300. For monopoly, please be a better entrepreneur: Buy a hotel in 15 minutes. Get more wealth on the card. With Scrabble, your marks should be higher than mine after every 5 minutes. You should outperform your previous scores.
Support, Motivation and Grit: being an Alpha Guide
Jordan you already have two peers for your specialised workshops. An 'infinimum' and a 'supremum'. The goal, we are working together to reach the 80% score. They are there to cushion you. The 'infinimum's score 68%, the 'supremum's 76%. You know all of you three are to get to 80% by 6th week or the others outperform you. If you all get to 80% before the fourth week. Three things happen Alpha currency to unlock rewards, a themed celebration and a field trip to hunt for hidden treasures . The three of you are my main focus for the next three weeks we have to catch up. You have to make Alpha proud.
Aside: A case study as a guide in Alpha: a specialized school in USA.
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