“Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.”

- On Children by Kahlil Gibran

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Mr. John Jimenez. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s Youth Host. You can get to know more about him in episode 123. John is one of Wenceslao’s teachers at City Arts and Leadership Academy. As they share their masks, play our Adventure Card Game, and discuss parenting, poetry, skateboarding, rebelliousness, and living in an immigrant household, it’s inspiring to see a teacher-student relationship take on a new dynamic…

(0:20) During Ashanti’s introduction, we celebrate Mohandas’s high school graduation.

(2:10) John introduces himself.

(2:50) John and Wenceslao make their masks together.

(3:15) John shares the front of his mask - funny, loud, outgoing, proud father. And he shares the back of his mask - anxiety, stressed.

(4:45) Wenceslao shares the front of his mask - learner, calm/quiet, fun, creative. Then he shares the back of his mask - shy, insecure, stressed.

(7:55) Wenceslao and John play the card game Everforward Club: The Adventure. Question 1: Name a relationship that needs to end.

(9:55) Question 2: How are you different when you are alone or with others?

(12:30) Question 3: Tell us about a time when you felt like you were good at something.

(14:40) Question 4: What is a hidden talent that you want to work on more?

(18:00) Question 5: Are you more afraid of success or failure?

(19:35) Question 6: What can you start in your life right now to become a better person?

(22:40) Wenceslao asks John some questions in order to gain some more perspective on social-emotional learning in the classroom. He also shares some poems with John. And, as a new parent, John shares some thoughts on parenting.

(45:35) John reflects on his immigrant upbringing and how he’ll apply the experience to raising his son. Then, he and Wenceslao discuss the relationship between passion and freedom.

(57:45) John and Wenceslao share some closing thoughts and reflections about the podcast.

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at [email protected] 

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Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Website: branchspeaks.com

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