This is
an
inspiring
story
about
the
power of
connection
and
community.
Jason is
a
student,
Andrea a
teacher,
at the
Action
Center,
a
satellite
of PACC
Adult
Education
Centre.
The
Action
Centre
is a
community
centre
for
physically
disabled
adults.
The
centre
provides
programs
to
socialize,
stimulate
and
educate
their
clients.
When the
pandemic
hit,
in-person
classes
became
online
classes.
Not
everyone
was
comfortable
with
attending
virtual
classes,
including
Jason.
Yet, he
quickly
changed
his mind
once he
attended
the
first
class.
Andrea
tells us
about
Jason’s
transformation
as he
started
attending
online
classes.
“Jason,
aka
JaSonic
Hedgehog
aka DJ
Sonic”
by
Andrea
Pinto
“With
love and
joy, a
good
teacher
guides,
encourages,
and
influences
from the
sidelines,
always
allowing
the
student
to be
the
leader
of his
or her
own
life.”
When
classes
began in
September
2020,
Jason
contacted
me by
email.
He had
been
isolating
at home
with his
father
for six
months,
since
March,
and he
informed
me that
he would
not be
seeing
me until
the
pandemic
was
over. He
explained
that he
could
not take
the
chance
of
physically
coming
into our
centre,
placing
his dad
at risk,
citing
his
father’s
age.
Jason
felt
fearful,
worried,
frustrated,
and he
admitted
that he
often
felt
quite
depressed.
In
October
all
classes
went
online,
and I
encouraged
Jason to
try a
Zoom
class. He
said he
felt
really
depressed
“because
of the
pandemic”
and
wasn’t
interested,
but was
willing
to
attend
one
class
just to
see.
After
that one
class,
Jason
decided
to join
not just
that one
course,
but
every
single
course
that I
was
offering,
all nine
of
them!!
Jason’s
love of
music
Jason
loves
playing
music.
He had
been my
DJ for
Zumba
class
when we
were
physically
present
at the
center.
With the
simplicity
of using
Zoom
share-screen,
Jason
found
that,
from the
comfort
of his
home, he
could
continue
providing
music
for our
online
Zumba
class,
as well
as
Exercise-to-Music
class. I
also
suggested
that he
could
provide
music
during
break-time
for all
9
courses.
Jason
rose to
the
occasion
and
noticeably
began to
shine:
showing
up
bright
and
chipper
for
every
class,
offering
an
impressive
diversity
of
music,
and even
adding
new
technology,
both
software
and
hardware,
so that
the
musical
experience
would be
even
more
beneficial
for him
as well
as for
all the
others.
Within a
week of
being
online,
Jason
was a
different
person,
happy,
upbeat,
laughing,
joking,
full of
life and
positivity.
Learning
new
technologies
Jason
learned
to use
Zoom
technology,
as well
as new
software
technology
for
music.
As he
practiced
more and
more, he
became
more
proficient,
to the
benefit
and
enjoyment
of all.
Best of
all to
my great
delight,
Jason’s
self-confidence
and
self-esteem
blossomed.
Which in
turn led
to his
asking
someone
in the
class to
be his
girlfriend...
yes
online!!
This
sweet
event
was
witnessed
and
happily
applauded
by his
classmates.
The
pandemic
was
still
present,
yet
Jason
was
living
in a
mental
space
filled
with
possibility.
With
that
stance
came
feeling
good
about
self,
and
feeling
good
about
life,
with its
accompanying
positivity,
optimism,
and a
greater
sense of
wellbeing
and
happiness.
Jason
expands
his
horizons
Jason
then
began
his own
personal
Zoom
meetings
for
online
acquaintances
and
friends
and
temporarily
experimented
with his
own
personal
online
DJ
broadcasting,
affiliated
with an
online
radio
station,
where
people
from
different
parts of
North
America
joined
to
listen.
He was
thrilled
at the
possibility
of
offering
the
music of
his own
choosing.
A bonus
was the
pride he
felt
upon
receiving
positive
feedback.
With
guidance,
encouragement
and
influence,
Jason
became
consciously
aware of
his awesome
inner
strength,
and he
became
more and
more
confident
at
understanding
and
using
this
strength
to his
advantage,
which
gave
Jason a
greater enjoyment of
his own
life.
Jason
would
tell you
that
if he can
do it,
so can
you,
whether
you are
student,
teacher,
administrator,
“...or
whatever,
lol”.
Bravo,
bravo,
Jason!!
I am so
incredibly
in awe
of
wonderful
you!!
Links:
PACC
Adult
The
Action
Centre