Mad Hatter Hero Spotlight: How Rhyla Overcame That Overwhelming Feeling
Anxiety can be a real obstacle for a child when learning to socialize and feel confident in a group. It is something that they never “grow out of” rather “lean in to” and find ways to cope and work around it. This doesn’t come without a strong system of support and the ability to overcome these feelings instead of being overwhelmed by it all. Being an anxious child presents many challenges like fear, confusion, missed opportunities, and even isolation.
This was the case for one of our eight-year-old students, Rhyla. She came to Mad Hatter Music School a year ago and struggled with anxiety. This affected her ability to participate in her previous group classes and had even led to her stopping gymnastics lessons. The feeling of being unsure of herself at such a young age was limiting her deserved enjoyment of the usual childhood activities. When she first signed up her Mum let us know that she was very passionate about learning piano despite having these issues.
To our surprise, her first day in class was an amazing sight for us as well as her Mum. We saw Rhyla coming out of her shell, joining in with the group piano lessons, and encouraging other students to make sure they felt recognized and comfortable.
A once shy and timid girl, Rhyla had blossomed into the happy and socially healthy student she has always been on the inside. Now being able to let that part of her personality shine through was like a weight being lifted. The group setting in our classroom allowed Rhyla to move out of her once all-consuming comfort zone, to now take other kids under her wing and making sure her newfound friends felt as accepted and comfortable as she always wanted to be.
To see this beautiful little soul go from not wanting to be noticed and missing out on doing the things she loves, to making a point in showcasing her pieces and overall progression while sporting her trademark bright and funky wardrobe selection was a quick and lovely transition.
When our Mad Hatter kids face some of these learning challenges like anxiety, we make sure they do not feel rushed or pressured to do anymore or less than they are comfortable with. From providing headphones for those days they feel like practicing to themselves, allowing a flexible “come and go” schedule, to making sure when the timing is right for them, they can share and perform as much as they choose.
The people who go the extra mile to make sure everyone around them feels accepted and comfortable are usually the ones that know exactly what it’s like to battle issues like anxiety. Rhyla has this exact type of energy and watching her learn to “lean in” to her struggles head-on only to come out the other side as bright and energetic as can be has been a true blessing for her and our Mad Hatter family to be a part of.
