I recently took a trip to Central Australia with my boys. We had a fantastic family trip visiting Uluru, Kata Tjuta (the photo here is actually of my sons in Walpa Gorge, Kata Tjuta), Kings Canyon and then Alice Springs.
There was so much learning that happened during our tour - about our land, its people, culture, identity...and even football (we were in Alice for the wonderful Lightning Carnival and my boys were lucky enough to play a scratch match with the mob from Ngaanyatjarra to help in their prep for the carnival).
I couldn't help but think each day as we walked and walked and immersed ourselves in the deep ochre of this ancient landscape what a huge country this is....the expanse, the distance, the space...and how this helps to put things into perspective.
Like this image of the boys at the base of the cliff at Walpa Gorge, our travails might seem big to us, and almost insurmountable...especially at the beginning of our journey....but in the scheme of things may be a little less overwhelming.
Now halfway through the second #BastowLSDA course of 2015 with our Mildura crew, I am sure some participants are feeling this a bit. And that's normal! I know I've been asked "does the workload get much more than this?" and I've read e-journal entries expressing frustration and discomfort with the load of coursework. I sense others might be struggling to get up to date with their PoUs and feeling panic...or the guilt of inertia. Meantime, I am starting to see emerging 'aha!' moments...planning C21 walks around their schools, creating a PLN of their whole town, seeing the reach of social media when you ask your extended PLN for advice and assistance, witnessing the "I've never smiled so much in a year of teaching" presentations from our colleagues at Canterbury PS.
With 2 months to go, it's important to see things in perspective. Step back a bit, like I did in this photo, and see the bigger picture. Use your term break time to do this....And ask yourself why you signed up for the course in the first place. Revisit what is driving you to spend your time in an already pretty jam packed busy schedule to build your capacity as a leader further, to stretch and challenge your thinking. Consider your moral purpose. Think about your school team, your school, your students.
And then draw a deep breath, like we did as we approached these looming cliffs, and take that first step forward because every journey begins with a first step and every journey needs to maintain enough momentum to keep moving forward.
Mandela said "It always seems impossible, until it's done."
Keep doing and make the seemingly impossible, possible. You'll be as impressed as we are about how much you've learned and how far you've come, once you're done.
It's a month later Nikki and I have been reminded of my own capacity to learn and grow through the leadership of others. And we're not done with the course yet. Thanks, :)
ReplyDeleteHey Ange, our absolute pleasure - to work with educators with the genuine enthusiasm and commitment that you have is a privilege we don't take lightly.
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