Through the Values Activity, I have found that some of my values have changed since I started this action back in October of 2024. I am continuing Stage Management as my action, however, with a focus on documenting information to be passed down in a physical book.
My three most important/ least important values:
This time, while completing the values activity, I found that my three most valued ideas or concepts are recognition, friendship and community. I have found a new appreciation for the effect that the peers that surround us have on our lives and our perceptions of ourselves. I do believe that these three concepts define my values.
Recognition for a job well done or for progress being made in an ongoing research or problem to be solved can boost self-esteem and motivate the individual to continue or improve, seeing as their actions are appreciated.
Friendship, also known as ongoing relationships with others, can help to improve mood and to expand or broaden perspectives and beliefs. Conversations can help to solidify one’s self-understanding, leading to better understanding oneself and others.
Community builds connections which become useful when problems arise in daily life. Knowing someone who knows how to repair a piece of furniture can be helpful and being part of a community of give and take means that as long as you contribute your personal skills, others will be willing to help you when the problem falls in their area of expertise.
These values mean a lot to me. Being able to count on friends, family, peers and community members helps me to improve myself, my skills, my self-esteem, knowledge and more.
The three values that the Values Activity said I valued least were belonging, spiritual growth and responsibility. Only one of these values are different than the last three least important values to me in my last values activity post.
Similarly to last time, I have more trouble agreeing that the definitions of the values fit than believing they are some of my less valued ideas.
Belonging is very similar to community and friendship, two of my most valued concepts, however, as it was worded in the activity as “I believe it is important for people to feel connected to and liked by others” I do not agree that it is the most important thing in the world. Being “liked” has been taken out of context in the age of social media. I believe that to experience situations where people do not agree with you on certain matters allows for a widened perspective of what the world is like. To have meaningful debates or conversations with people allows for opportunities to learn new perspectives.
Spiritual growth is another tricky topic to choose as a least valued idea. I do believe that it is important to work on bettering yourself, whether that be through religious, spiritual or other methods, however, there is a time and place to sit back and let yourself reflect upon where you have found yourself and to think about what traits you have picked up that you wish to carry with you and which traits or habits should be dropped or worked on.
As I talked about last time, responsibility can be not motivated by the person’s willingness to do a task out of the goodness of their heart. Sometimes incentives such as money, treats or praise can help an individual to complete a task they would rather not complete. I do believe that we should work toward not needing these incentives, however, I do still believe that having certain tasks that are not favorable require incentive is alright.
Values in Action:
Community and friendship are two values I employ in my day-to-day life as a high school stage manager. Creating a community within my crew of support, understanding and willingness to help one another out in difficult situations. When a crew member needs volunteers for an event outside of stagecraft, there are crew members willing to put in the time and effort to help them. When a crew member is struggling with a difficult task, other crew members will sit down with them to help them better understand to be able to stay in the crew.
Future Situations of Values in Action:
In the future, I will find opportunities to recognize the work of others and speak of their efforts and work. To be able to recognize others’ work is to be able to recognize them. By speaking of someone’s art and admiring how they used certain techniques or colours, I will be able to boost their self-esteem and motivate them to continue. By thanking a crew member for their work, I will continue to grow positive relationships with my community.
United Nations 17 sustainable development goals:
Like the first values post I completed, quality education remains best aligned to my action and values. Quality education is what I plan to work on in this action, to relay information in a written format to aid in the legacy-based learning style that the stagecraft course aligns with.
My passion remains best aligned with consumption and production. I completed my grade 12 capstone product on ethically sourcing and producing my own clothing for my senior year and I have long been passionate about the waste I produce.
Stage management will align itself with the sustainable development goal of quality education, as I will be recording my knowledge found through four years of stagecraft and creating a “handbook” which will then be handed down when I leave the program.
Melea Chew Roberts
