Using my Talents and Passions to Inspire Theirs
In 2018 I began visiting primary and secondary schools to sing and share an important message. Here's what happened, and why I think this is such an important and needed resource for 2019.
There are a few things in life I’m certain of. Like, that I will never eat a tomato and enjoy it.
I’m also certain that every one of us was created for a purpose, and made with a unique combination of talents and passions to help us achieve it.
It’s a super important message for ALL ages, crucially because it points to the Creator of talents, passions (and tomatoes) who gives us those purposes in the first place.
So what’s this got to do with school assemblies?
Well, it turns out if you ask someone what they’re good at and what they want to get out of life, the answer you tend to get is “Uhhh… *long pause* …pizza?” Sadly, we tend to overlook our gifts and spend most of our lives believing we’re no good at anything – this is particularly true of students where this kind of negative thinking can be really damaging, affecting everything from academic performance to mental health.
(Can I just add, if your talent is baking and your passion is Italian cuisine, pizza may well be an important part of your life and I salute you for it. I didn’t mean to belittle your marvelous, doughy achievements. Thank you for your service. 🍕)
As you may have picked up by now, one of my passions is to help people discover their God-given talents and passions, and my talents include singing and talking (I’m REALLY good at that last one). So last year, I set off on a “singing and talking adventure” that took me to Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire – even Oxfordshire – and into both primary and secondary schools. The adventure is called ‘The Bigger Than Dreams tour‘.
Absolutely LOVING the opportunity to sing to kids and help them explore their talents and passions. ❤️
— April Shipton (@AprilShiptonUK) October 2, 2018
Today, @HighnamAcademy invited us to lead an assembly and workshop. The children were brilliant and had some really profound thoughts! Thank you for having us folks! 😊 pic.twitter.com/HksdaHRaV0
Accompanied by my #1 fan, my Dad, who plays guitar for me, we lead everything from 20 minute assemblies to practical, 60 minute workshops to unpack the beauty of our individual characteristics, the exciting possibilities in our future when we step into those things, and the love of the One who gave them to us.
For the older ones, I might share my own ‘Talents & Passions story‘ – when God really clearly challenged me to sing even though I didn’t believe I was any good, and the journey of miraculous opportunities that followed.
The Bigger Than Dreams mission has become (are you ready for this) something bigger than I could have dreamed, and is now a resource for schools – how amazing is that?
God keeps blowing me away by opening doors and providing fun ways to reach people with his love, using the talents and passions he chose for me.
And I’ve not had to eat a tomato in ages. ❤
If you’re a teacher always looking for assembly ideas and you think this might suit your school, I’d be so happy to chat with you. Email me here: [email protected], drop me a Facebook message or give me a call.
If you don’t work at a school but you know someone who does, please feel free to share this page with them. You never know, they might be looking out for assembly resources right now. 🙂 Let’s tell more children that they have a unique skillset, purpose and future ahead of them.
