Finding our why.

I was recently part of a competition for a dynamic job opportunity in my district.  It is both a huge and humbling privilege to be part of the process.  I am surrounded by dynamic and dedicated, highly respected educators, and also am privileged to be a part of this group.

A few years ago, I went through a similar interview process, which, at the time, we jokingly referred to as  the speed dating approach to career development.  We had the opportunity to be interviewed by 5 or 6 rightsholder groups, one after the other over a 2 or 3 hour period.

I was unsuccessful  in that interview process, but at the same time, and in alliance with our district strategic goals, I was working directly with our upper admin focused on expanding our international department.  Partnerships were created, plans made and a new ‘WHY” was firmly set in place.

What was happening at the time was that we were struggling to provide ongoing course offerings in the high school in select courses.  We were watching the world change, and our students were choosing with their feet.  Many students were taking online courses, distance courses and choosing to attend school varying degrees of part time.  As a result, our numbers were falling drastically.  This meant we could offer some courses once every other semester, making it increasingly difficult for students wishing to graduate with required prerequisites.

This affected so much within our system; course offerings, employment, athletics and electives.

So, within three or four months of that interview process, I found myself  on a flight to Beijing where I was to take over a BC certified school.  It was a phenomenal experience leading an international school.  Teachers from all over the world became BC certified and it was fantastic being part of a system that is so highly regarded on the global stage.  My time was rich with travel opportunities to places one only dreams of, meeting people from all over the world and enjoying what many might call a ‘PEAK learning experience’.

Find your why

I remember one time, in my second year of this work, I was working at a school in Kaifeng, a city about 3 hours by plane away from Beijing, and here were some challenges with the owners of the school.  International education in China is a high stakes business. Millions of RMB are on the line and if a round eyed Canadian Lady, even though unknowingly, gets in the way, she might just have to go.

I had been working there for just over a month, and we were working on preparing the students to leave the school and come study in BC.  What I didn’t know at the time, was that the owners didn’t want the students to leave the school as the loss of tuition and student numbers would come at a huge personal financial loss.

I remember the day so clearly, as I was chatting with staff about the day to day classroom work, when I was asked by the office assistant to meet in the Board room.  I had never actually been to the board room, and immediately my instincts told me something was up.  Before I knew what was happening, I was sitting on side of a large table and large table and I was being interrogated by a lawyer and 2 police officers.  My time in China was primarily in Beijing, so any Mandarin that I had was a totally different dialect.  The lawyer present was able to translate a little of what was being said, but really, I had very little input on the conversation.  I often refer to this as  “the time I almost became The Third Michael”.  I remember taking out my phone, and with knees shaking, underneath the table I texted my superintendent letting him know I was being interrogated.  Truth be told, I really didn’t know what else to do.  I was hours away from any consulate, and in a city with very few other foreigners.  I was worried I might be seeing the writing on the wall.

Without a moment’s hesitation, and with the wit I have always admired, he simply texted, “Why, what did you do?”.

After the two hour long interrogation ended (in a dialect I didn’t understand and with no other colleagues in the room),  the officers drove me to the police station where I was told I would need to surrender my passport.  In my barely passing Mandarin, all I could tell them was that I needed to go to my apartment and get my passport.

They drove me to my apartment, and unescorted, I went up to my room, threw everything I could into my suitcase, tucked my passport firmly into my bra, ran down the back staircase, hailed a cab and took the hour and half ride to the nearest city that had an airport in it. 

Within a few hours, sick with terror and fear, knees still shaking, I landed in Seoul Korea.  I made my way back to BC and got on with my job.

Find your why

Now that I find myself in a place where a dream has been deferred, instead of looking for the next adventure to pursue; instead, it is time to FIND MY WHY.

There is a quote from either Victor Frankl or B.F. Skinner and it goes something like this; between a stimulus and a response, there is space.  And it is in that space where we can find hope, creativity, choice, freedom, possibilities and ideas.  And, for right now, all of us need to be in that space.  All of us have struggled and coped and managed our ways through this pandemic.  We have started new habits, tossed out old, and are rejigging or recalibrating our new normal.

All of us are Finding our Why.

Because, here is what is important.  It is in the stillness and the quiet moments that follow big life altering events where we find or make meaning of experiences.

It is in the trail time, the mountains climbed, that hard dark, uncomfortable moments, the seemingly endless minutes of dis ease where the light comes in.

It is an interesting and exciting process rejigging my path.  Because, alas, something different awaits.  My job is to make sure I remain focused on my why and be creative and open to the possibilities on new ideas.

Any you?  WHAT IS YOUR WHY?