By Giannira Giunti
Starting something new always comes with a mix of excitement, curiosity… and that flutter in your stomach stirred up by uncertainty. This year, the Discovery tribe took on a challenge as bold as it was difficult: to live their Studio experience entirely in English. Full immersion—like jumping into a pool without checking the water temperature.
Some Pumas jumped right in, smiling. Others stood at the edge, wondering if the water might be too cold. Because speaking in another language—beyond the words—is about being exposed. It’s about not knowing. About failing out loud.
But isn’t that what we all do all the time? When we change jobs, start a new career, raise a child for the first time. That feeling of “What if I don’t understand anything?” shows up more often than we like to admit. And right there, in that space of not knowing, real learning begins.
To make the transition fun, we turned it into a game: every word we (Guides) spoke in Spanish earned a point against us. The Pumas kept track of our “slips” with tally sticks, delighted to catch us. Because play sharpens the muscles of intention. The older Pumas from Studio Ascend stepped up as mentors, offering support. Games, challenges, spontaneous translations, exaggerated gestures—anything to help those just diving in.
What started as a challenge became a space of cooperation: if one Puma didn’t understand, another would explain or translate. If someone got stuck, others waited. No one laughed at mistakes. Quite the opposite—effort was celebrated.
“Gianni, I only said one word in Spanish this time!” a Puma tells me proudly, as if each English word is a conquered step.
This process is still challenging—for the Pumas and for us as Guides. Often, when I see their confused faces, I feel the urge to jump in, to translate, to ease the path. But I’ve learned that sometimes, what they need is space. Space to try, to fail, and to try again. That’s where the growth happens—not just as English learners, but as human beings. Each one finds their own rhythm, their own way to face the challenge and move forward.
We’re now in Week 2, and the effort is beginning to bloom. The youngest Pumas—Catalina, Lara, Isa, and Vicentte—are starting to join the conversations, even if it means pausing to think or offering just a single sentence. Around them, the tribe listens with quiet support, gently passing English cards to help them find the words. And then, little by little, these brave young heroes speak: “I agree because…” “I will choose to…” Their voices are still soft, but there’s a quiet spark of confidence flickering underneath. As the minutes pass, I catch it in their eyes—a shift, a light. It’s the look of someone beginning to believe: I can do this.
This journey isn’t just about learning English. It’s about learning how to be uncomfortable without giving up. It’s about facing the unknown and trusting that, with time and persistence, you’ll build the skills you need.
And you… when was the last time you jumped into something unfamiliar, and discovered you could handle it?
