Gentle Strength
Nanatahala National Forest, North Carolina
“Nothing can be done except little by little.” -Charles Baudelaire
Eagerly anticipating the fellowship and learning at NCCAT, I sit wondering what might be gained from such an experience as NCCAT and participation in this Kenan Fellowship–“Leading Educators to Homebase.” Though I have participated in many different types of professional development activities, I don’t believe the NCCAT experience will be quite like what I have done before. I look forward to learning, not only more about how to use technology in the classroom, but also about what the Kenan Fellows program expects from me and what my mentors at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction need for me to do as well. Over the past few weeks there has been a barrage of e-mails with information about Moodle, and Curriki, and blogs and all manner of other things for me to keep up with and do—coming at a rate that would make one’s head spin. Admittedly, it seems a little overwhelming. However, I am reminded of a quote by French poet Charles Baudelaire, “Nothing can be done except little by little.” My expectation is that my experiences during my fellowship will allow me to grow personally and professionally and that the growth I experience will affect the other teachers and students I work with positively. The picture above is the Nanatahala River, where we will be white water rafting on the third day of our NCCAT experience. It never ceases to amaze me that something as gentle as water can build strength and power to a point that it can carve paths through mountains….but it does it little by little. My great expectation is that the NCCAT experience will give me more clarity in regards to my purpose and work in the Kenan program. My expectation for myself is that I will be able to form my project and complete what will (hopefully) be a great work for my fellow teachers, the program, and the state of North Carolina…even if I have to chip away at the mountain bit by bit.