“Recognizing that you are not where you want to be is a starting point to begin changing your life.” ~Deborah Day

It has never been easy for me to admit when I am wrong. To this day, I don’t like to make mistakes. Granted, I know I am far from perfect, but if I have some sort of control over a situation, I want things to be as right as possible.

That being said, I am a firm believer that nothing happens without a purpose. Good, bad, or ugly, every situation in which we are placed has a higher purpose. Often we fail to recognize that purpose until all is said and done, but everything happens to allow us to experience growth.

Writing my dissertation provided a big dose of humility for me. I had always prided myself as a decent writer. When charged with a writing task, I could produce a decent product. I had little experience with revising and editing my work until that experience. Though not always an easy pill to swallow, that work allowed me to identify my true strengths and weaknesses as a writer and work to improve the weakest areas.

Remember, all things happen for a reason. The Kenan opportunity was provided to me following my dissertation writing. Fresh off that humbling experience, I entered another. Having always thought of myself as having fairly good lesson and unit planning skills, I was surprised when I became flustered and uncertain when faced with creating an exemplar unit. It couldn’t be that hard…..this task I’ve completed countless times before. Yet, it was and is challenging. Because now this task is no longer just about my classroom and my students. Many other students and teachers will use what I create for their own practice. My planning has just graduated to a much larger scale. I really do have the ability to make a difference on a much larger scale than ever before.

My “aha” moment has been that realization. I have a huge responsibility, as we all do, to make learning and teaching better in NC. As Kenan Fellows we will all experience growth, professionally and personally, during our experience. Through that growth we will change and none of us will be the people we were when we started this journey. Are you ready for the change?