Finding Confidence Through Improv with Jianna

We had a great time hosting an improv session at Open Dreams recently, during the inaugural Easter-Break Mentorship Bootcamp, #ODEB2026. It was a privilege to watch the pre-scholars step out of their comfort zones and lean into the "Yes, and" mindset.

Huge thanks to Jianna Pollack for leading the way and sharing her experience with us. From the high-energy rounds of the Freeze Game to the creative storytelling in "Day in the Life," the energy was all about supporting each other’s ideas and finding a collective voice.

We are grateful for the pre-scholars' openness and for Jianna bringing such great energy to the space. It’s amazing how much confidence can grow through a few silly games and a lot of spontaneity. Jianna has been in Cameroon for close to four months now, on an exchange and cultural immersion program supported by Middlebury College. She continues to take courses for Grinnell College and some at the Catholic University of Central Africa (UCAC), and in between, she has been travelling across the country, absorbing what she can of a place that is, in many ways, very different from what she knows.

For the past month, she has also been interning at Bright Foundation. During her very first visit, she was paired with a mentor Djimi Josias, who is serving as the Head of the recently introduced Technology and Innovation Department at Bright Foundation. From that moment, a dynamic relationship began to take shape; one that blended mentorship with meaningful collaboration.

Together, they have been working on a payment gateway for a project under development at Bright Foundation. The experience has gone beyond traditional mentorship; it has been a shared journey of building, learning, and applying software development skills in a real-world context.

What stands out most is her ability to move seamlessly between learning and contributing. She approaches challenges with curiosity, asks thoughtful questions, and takes the time to deeply understand concepts rather than rushing through them. This patience, often overlooked in fast-paced technical environments, has proven to be one of her most valuable strengths.

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