Author shares her inspirational story about the power of “yet”

As the PTA sponsored PARP Week, Pick a Reading Partner, wound down, Bluebirds at BMPRSS gathered in the seats in the cafetorium, and settled in, all while wearing their comfy pajamas. They were about to hear a story, and nothing is better than cozying up with a good book. 

Author Sasha Forman was there to introduce the students, or reintroduce as some have read it, to her book “The Hoop Troop,” and its inspiring story of overcoming challenges.

In the story readers are introduced to Savannah and Hudson, classmates who decide to share hoop dancing with their friends when they enter their school’s talent contest. An issue arises when the two are taught how to hoop but come to realize they are not the best. They are discouraged, but with the help of their hoop teacher they learn they may not be the best “yet,” but with practice comes progress.

Ms. Forman, a sophomore at the University of South Carolina, explained how when she was young, she was introduced to the art of hooping, a combination of dance and hula hooping and it was something she became very passionate about. Her book was inspired after she taught young children how to hoop. She noticed how some of her students would get frustrated when the hoop fell to the ground.

“I would tell them keep practicing, they are learning a new skill,” Ms. Forman said. “A few weeks later, the students were doing better.”

“I reflected on the laughs and what they learned,” she said. “It gave me the idea this message, practice makes progress, would be great in a book.”

She learned to tell her students they may not be able to execute a skill YET, but to keep practicing and they would soon master it.

“Yet,” Ms. Forman told students, “Creates a powerful mindset.”

“It’s a really good reminder to keep going,” she said.

Together with her mom, Dana Forman, the two worked on their story, developing their idea, creating an outline and a draft before revising it, editing it and finally having it published. It took two years from start to finish, Ms. Forman said. 

BMPRSS Principal Tracy Taylor shared with students how she knew Ms. Forman’s mom, as the two had taught together years ago and Ms. Forman also taught for a time at BMPRSS.

“This is a very special author for me,” Ms. Taylor told the students. “I’ve known Sasha since she was as big as you.”

After reading a chapter from her book, Ms. Forman asked students what they were passionate about. They responded with sports, magic, Legos, ballet, figure skating and playing the violin.

She shared how she began hooping as a child, and that at first, she was not very good at it. But she loved it, and continued to work at it until she improved, just like the characters did in her book and how the students could get better too at the things they enjoy most.

And Ms. Forman also let the students know that there was more to come. She and her mom are working on a second Hoop Troop book, which brought cheers from the students.

Following her presentation, Ms. Forman stayed behind to sign copies of her book for the libraries in the school’s classrooms.