Like most other kindergarteners, Jayden Hinman enjoys exploring the quiet and noisy wonders outside. Even in small-town Southern Illinois, we can access all of creation and its exciting mysteries if we only pause to take it in. Jayden teaches us this lesson through her natural curiosity and leadership traits that may seem small initially but provide nuanced clues that help us identify who among us will lead, down the road.
Jayden Hinman
Exploring Leadership in the Legos
When you walk into Jayden’s classroom amidst the kaleidoscope of colors on the walls, your eyes can’t help but be drawn to a particular corner of the room.
Her artwork, vivid in its blend of vibrant purples and sunny yellows, stands out. While some might dismiss these color choices as the whimsical preferences of a kindergartener, those versed in the psychology of color might see it as a telling window into Jayden’s emerging character. For example, purple, historically, has been the color of royalty. Creativity, wisdom, and ambition blend into what we consider “royal” features and hint at a drive to tackle new art projects or invent ways to solve problems. Her other favorite color, yellow, is all about sunshine, radiating happiness, energy, and intellect. It’s not surprising that Jayden, with her vibrant personality, finds this color appealing. The sunny hues in her art may echo her ability to bring an aura of positivity into a room. She’s a child who can turn group activities into joyous occasions, leading her peers not through royal authority but by inspiration.
Jayden’s beloved three cats, Trouble, Salem, and Poppy, also provide opportunities for responsibility to come into play. Just like feeding Poppy or cleaning up after Trouble requires a certain level of commitment, so does taking up the reins of leadership, even at the kindergarten level. Helping her teacher distribute art supplies or comforting a classmate who misses a parent showcases her budding sense of duty to those around her.
Imagine you were granted a single wish through use of a magic wand. When posed this question, Jayden doesn’t ask for a grand castle, an overwhelming supply of toys, or even a trip to Disney World. No, her wish is minimal and sweet: candy. Jayden’s choice is a snapshot into the essence of childhood, that relatively worry-free kingdom where ordinary joys conquer more involved desires. Her wish for the simple bliss of candy speaks volumes about the importance of retaining curiosity and the ability to find happiness in the little things, a trait that will carry her far in leadership and life. However, she is rather picky about the candy. M&M’s, Twizzlers, Tootsie Rolls (kind of) are okay, but don’t you dare mistake her for a Skittles or Jolly Rancher girl.
It’s tempting to dismiss the whims and wishes of childhood as fleeting or without influence. However, as educators, parents, and community members, we have the unique privilege of seeing firsthand how these fragments form a more complete idea of self. When Jayden chooses a favorite color, loves a pet, and makes a humble wish, these are not inconsequential moves but part of a vast network of actions that snowball into direct, productive effects on our classrooms, communities, and, by extension, our collective future.
She’s a child who can turn group activities into joyous occasions.
