AFC Wembley x André Anderson
One of the most in-depth & personal chats I’ve had so far. Enjoy x
Freedom & Balance: Sketchbook 01
“This sketchbook exists for a few reasons. Firstly, documenting our story is deeply important to
the Freedom & Balance college. This sketchbook is our way of saying “we were here, we made things happen, and this is what we have learnt so far”. It all started in 2018 with the question “if we were to design our own learning system, how could we?” We are now two years deep into exploring that question. That is two years-worth of conversations, scribblings and experimentations amongst ourselves and our wider creative family. Think of this sketchbook as a type of end-of-year dissertation”
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Releases February 24th
A new way to journal
I don’t know who might find this helpful, but here goes…
I’ve been journaling differently in 2020. Beforehand, I would just write down anything that came to my mind to help process the thoughts and feelings I have at the time. This year, I started to theme my journals, and it helps me to do my Heartwork on a way deeper level.
For example, earlier this year I bought a notebook and called it “a love letter”. On the first page I would categorise types of people in my life (God, family, friends, lovers, myself, strangers, comrades, enemies) and then I would write a love letter to someone in that group. These were not the “oh I wuv you so much” kind of love letters. These were deep heart-to-hearts. Stories, questions, apologies, sentiments that I’m too afraid to say in real life (or have lost the opportunity to say altogether). I wrote to people I love, people I miss, people I dislike, people I’m afraid of. I didn’t hold back what I said in each letter; because after all, the notebook can’t criticise me or chat back lol. But at the end of the day, I was writing love letters, not hate mail, so I made sure each message ended with some resolve, some forgiveness, some understanding.
Reading these letters back, I’ve realised that I’ve written a type of autobiography, an insight into my life through the interactions of others; and at the end of the process I’ve understood myself more than I ever have. It’s an intense process, but a nourishing one too.
This winter, I encourage you to pick up a pen and pad and begin to write to yourself and your world. Speak honestly, but lovingly. You’ll be surprised where it takes you.
Why I call myself Headmaster
I am André Anderson, a Headmaster. That name was not given to me. I called myself that. Not because I have all the right answers, but because I’m dedicated to exploring the best questions. I call myself Headmaster because I made myself responsible for my own learning beyond what the education system has laid out for me. I’ve built a college with my friends to ensure that we are growing creatively beyond our 20’s; and to ensure our communities are continually growing too. I call myself Headmaster to explore what a Headmaster could be. I am an educator. I am an artist. I don’t separate the two. I treat curriculum like an art form. True education is creative. True educators are artists. I call myself Headmaster because I can’t spend my life looking for permission. I can’t raise my hand waiting to be picked. Sometimes you need to build your own lesson plan, and take every win and loss as learning.
Photography: Nathaniel Telemaque
You Sound Like Your Mother
The new curriculum by Freedom & Balance
Part 1: Friday 14th Aug
Part 2: Friday 21st Aug
Part 3: Friday 28th Aug
Credits
Curriculum Design: Andriana Lagoudes
Film: Andriana Lagoudes
Illustration: Erin Aniker
