I’ve recently become obsessed with a viral video of a 4-year old snowboarder who happens to hit the slopes dressed as a dinosaur. You may have seen the charming “powder-saurus” on the Today Show or Good Morning America. As I watched it for the umpteenth time on Instagram, I wondered what kept drawing me back to this one?  Besides her cuteness, I find the snowboarding dinosaur’s words uncensored and universal; they offer wisdom for all of us, both on and off the slopes.

I work in the world of adult learning – specifically running an organization that supports adult English language learners in Montgomery County, MD.  The words of our 4-year-old shredder resonated with me as they speak to the learning process for all of us -whether we are the designated learner or teacher.   A few lessons I took from her narrative:

1. Jump in 

Be ready to jump right in.  Maybe you need to say “let’s go” to give yourself a figurative push, but this is a moment – probably before every big hill, every class you take or teach, to say I am ready.

2. Encourage yourself and others 

Our own narrative can serve to support or inhibit us.  But, also learning can be a great collective effort. Our positive energy can support others just as much as we can support us.  At one point, young Aubrin says “Have fun Dad” – probably words he has said to her many times. You see the support for learning – and more importantly the fun in learning that is a key lesson to carry through the learning challenges. 

3. Have confidence, knowing that you will make mistakes

This is probably my favorite part.  Our 4-year old shredder is skiing on a narrow path through the trees; it’s probably a bit tricky to stay upright and on the path. She sing-songs through the path:

I won’t fall,

Maybe I will, 

That’s ok

Cause we all fall

Whether learning a new language, computer app, or skiing skill, it is important to balance two key perspectives. First, keep your confidence up – you can do this.  You can succeed. But you will probably fall or fail along the way, and that is okay; everyone does.  You will just need to pick yourself up and continue – laughing while you do it certainly helps!

4.  Find the moments where you are really succeeding and enjoy the ride.

Riding down the big hill, gaining speed, she feels the joy of what she has accomplished.  Have you taught a new lesson?  Seen a learner gain confidence in making a doctor’s appointment over the phone?  Learned a new idiomatic phrase? Scream it out - Weewhoo, weewoo!  May we all have some weehoo and weewoo moments in our day.

5. Sometimes you’ll get stuck.

You will get stuck, and you will do all the things you have been taught to right yourself or get back on track.  Those tools might not work. Acknowledge that you are stuck and ask for help.  Here’s to all the learners out there, no matter if you are a 4-year-old snowboard learner, an adult English language learner, or one of the many of us who had to learn new virtual video tools these last two years. 

We all have our stuck-asaurus moments—the key is acknowledging them and asking for help. Thank you to all the people of MCAEL who are there to turn the stuck-asaurus moments into weewhoo times.