Clodagh Leonard: My 10 years as a Soar Facilitator
“And just like that the Karaoke’s over”.
“This song has been spinning around my head as I prepare for my last week in Soar. I started working in Soar 10 years ago after a chance encounter with Tony Griffin in a phone shop. He rocked up looking to get this seed of an organisation set up with a phone contract. Anyone who has had the pleasure to know Tony will know he is a far more convincing salesman than most. So, while I was unable to get the commission from that particular contract Tony managed to convince me to quit my job and follow the road less travelled. The magic of that encounter is the essence of Soar. In that moment in that phone shop, I felt more seen than I could possibly put words on. Tony asked me what about my life and my work made me happy, made me passionate, made me feel alive. I didn’t have an answer. To be honest I didn’t know that was an option.
All to often we approach life as a sure bet. We go to school, go to college or get a job, hit all the necessary milestones and then sit and reflect about what it was all for. Soar is a rallying cry against that. It is a mission to ask the questions now when we can change the outcome. It is a hope that we can expect more from ourselves and do the hard, brave work of pursuing it. It is that moment when you see a stranger upset and instead of thinking ‘I hope they are ok’, you ask them. You reach beyond the restrictive rules of society, of politeness, of doing what is expected. Instead, you are courageous enough to face rejection in the hope of real connection. It isn’t just an organisation it is a commitment to being vulnerable and open and real.
The greatest privilege I have had over the last decade is seeing how this plays out with young people in schools across Ireland. We reckon I have worked with 22,000 young people in my time at Soar, but who knows. Let’s not let maths get in the way of a good story. In that time, I have encountered remarkable bravery. I have seen teenagers come out as transgender to their entire year group. I have seen a young man apologise for bullying another student and give context to his behaviour by remarking on his own struggles. I have seen teenagers talk about struggling with drug use, caring for parents, dealing with heartbreak and the pressure of high expectations. However, living with your whole heart isn’t just the tough stuff. It is the incredible strength it takes to be your authentic wild self. I have danced to Taylor Swift on countless tables in countless classroom across the country as we all embraced the joy that comes with shrugging off pressure and judgement, saying to hell with it, This is Me!
In this time, I have also had the honour of being surrounded with colleagues that believe that you must walk the walk. People who don’t just empower others but endeavour to live the lessons they teach. I have worked with people who spend their spare time creating art and music, volunteering for other charities, running marathons. People who are constantly striving to become better versions of themselves. Who drive the length and breath of the country, meeting at the Red Cow at 5am, singing at the top of their lungs. Together we have navigated breakups, births, deaths, marriage. We have jumped into the sea, cried in the back seats of cars, shared towels and tents. We have been a family.
And just like that… like any family… like the teens we work with, there comes a time to leave home. I have been so remarkably fortunate to call Soar home for such an important part of my adult life. But we cannot grow and stand still at the same time. I have a new journey that it is time to embark on and I am so grateful to my Soar family for their support in this transition. Soar is in such generous, wise, powerful, trustworthy hands. I cannot wait to see what this next generation do.”
In the words of Tony Griffin. “It’s Time to Go For It”