07/20/2021
The idea of "being behind" is one that I have struggled with practically my entire life. My perception was that everybody else had everything figured out and that I was always just a step, or five, behind. I was always unaware of popular trends in middle school and didn't have the wherewithal/confidence to just be me. I graduated from college later than most of the people with whom I went to high school. I also always seemed to be behind in relationships. People got married and had kids, while I was still trying to figure out who I was. I changed careers, which left me feeling behind the teachers who had entered the classroom at 22. Throughout all of this, I thought I was behind, when in reality, I was just on my own path. A path that didn't necessarily look like others, but did enable me to become the empathetic, passionate, badass educator, wife, mom, and friend I am today. Every step brought me further along in my journey, whether I realized it or not in the moment. Every step taught me something once I learned how to intentionally reflect. Every step mattered once I gave it meaning and looked at it as a gift.
As we head into a new school year, I beg of you to not think about how "behind" your child may be or that they have suffered a "learning loss". It might not have been the learning that you had anticipated or saw for your child 2 years ago, but they still learned invaluable lessons over the last 18 months. They still have questions they want answered, causes they want to fight for, and passions to tap into. They learned what worked for them as a learner and what definitely did not.
Let us not think about education from a deficit mindset, but instead from a growth mindset. What will we learn this year? How will we grow? What goals will we work towards and achieve? How will we make learning accessible for every learner? How will caregivers and educators partner together?
I want to be a part of those discussions and answers and help your child take the next step on their journey.
