Following on from last week's entry, I want to further explore how two traits developed through the Oxford Character Programme have helped me navigate my fifth week in St Lucia. In terms of workload, I have written most of the handbook's first draft, meaning that edits and designing can be the focus of my last week here, and any extra time it takes to finalise material included. Alongside this, I have delivered six more sessions, mainly in swimming and football, as well as getting the opportunity to play in with a local competitive scrimmage game of football. Playing in the heat and with talented, physical players was a tough challenge! But also, this offered an enjoyable reward to compete with players I have coached, or coached with, over the past few weeks.

Particularly when teaching swimming lessons this week, demonstrating and developing courage has been important. Swimming is a sport where it is easy to sympathise with participants' fear of failure, given that there is a genuine danger factor if swimmers are not properly supported, and breathing and swimming at a beginner level is an uncomfortable struggle. Furthermore, swimmers who are slightly more advanced looking to learn how to dive have another pain barrier to overcome, as belly flopping or entering the water from a height without a clean streamline is not an enjoyable sensation. Thinking about the bridge model discussed in our sessions, I tried to break tasks down into more manageable stages for participants- for example, diving from a sitting position, and then off of a side, before the blocks. Role modelling each progression, and offering praise and support as swimmers progressed, meant I could encourage courageous decision-making. Similarly, taking charge of a particularly chaotic preschool sports session required me to show persistent courage. At the risk of being ignored by disengaged young children in front of their teachers, I was persistent in trying to pursue a satisfactory level of classroom attention and introduction of objectives so that we could deliver a session full of movement exploration and enjoyment collaboratively. 

For me, I think transcendence, in terms of feeling purposeful in my work here, and appreciating the setting, opportunity, and joy of supporting sporting and personal development, is something I have been in touch with throughout. However, it has been rewarding in recent weeks to try to help other volunteers feel like they have also made purposeful contributions. One of my close friends here touched me by sharing his appreciation for my example, and for helping him take the experience in fully; whilst another said how she wanted to return next year to further immerse herself in the place and task. Yet, continuing to deliver sessions with small scale purpose means that an appreciation for a bigger picture does not forsake a grounding in realities. 

 As my time in St Lucia is starting to come to an end, I look forward to holistically reviewing my time and progress in my next entry.